Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act would codify existing Bureau of Indian Affairs procedures for reviewing and processing mortgage packages on Indian lands. The bill seeks to improve access to homeownership in Tribal communities. Homeownership rates in Tribal communities continue to lag behind the national average due, in part, to administrative delays in the Federal review process. In Oregon, State lawmakers have worked to address this challenge by creating a flexible grant program that Tribes can use to address their own local housing needs, but it is still the responsibility of the Federal Government to provide sufficient resources. Years of underfunding and understaffing at the BIA have reduced agency capacity and slowed down the review and approval of mortgage and leasing packages. Given the urgent housing needs in Indian Country, it is essential that the BIA conduct these reviews in an efficient and timely manner. S. 723 would help expedite the mortgage review and processing procedures and, ultimately, help to promote Tribal ownership. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.”