![Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act hearing June 6, 2007](/news/images/housing060607.jpg)
Tribal and Indian leaders testified on the need to reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act at a House subcommittee hearing on Wednesday. With the law set to expire this summer, tribal witnesses said it was vital to act soon. "It is critical that we protect the nearly $6 billion dollar investment the Federal government has made towards Indian housing over the past decade through NAHASDA," said Cheryl Parish, Executive Director of the Bay Mills Indian Community Housing Authority in Michigan and vice chairwoman of the National American Indian Housing Council. Jacqueline Johnson, a former Department of Housing and Development official who now serves as executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, said the law has enabled tribes to make their own decisions. "Tribes have increased capacity to address the disturbing housing and infrastructure conditions in Indian Country through developing and managing their own programs and in many cases leveraging NAHASDA dollars with tribal dollars," she testified. Orlando J. Cabrera, the assistant secretary for public and Indian housing at HUD, said supports reauthorization. He cited several provisions the administration wants to see in the legislation. The hearing was held by the subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity of the House Financial Services. Several lawmakers, including Rep. Maxine Waters (D-California), the subcommittee chairwoman, supports reauthorization. Other tribal panelists included Sami Jo Difuntorum, the executive director of Karuk Tribe Housing Authority in California; Aneva J. Yazzie, the CEO oft he Navajo Housing Authority; Wendsler Nosie Sr., the chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe of Arizona; and Mark Chino, the president of the Mescalero Apache Tribe of New Mexico. Hearing Information:
Reauthorization of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act | Webcast Relevant Links:
Office of Public and Indian Housing, HUD - http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih
National American Indian Housing Council - http://naihc.net Related Stories:
Explosions destroy home on Rocky Boy Reservation (05/03)
House approves bill to extend Indian home loans (04/25)
NAIHC hosts annual legislative conference in DC (02/13)
Jodi Rave: Without funds, NAIHC fires half of staff (2/9)
Navajo Nation selects new CEO for housing authority (2/9)
Pequot family first to receive loan for housing (1/31)
Yakama man named head of Indian housing group (01/12)
Ex-Indian housing aide doesn't recall Abramoff (12/11)
Editorial: Bickering stalls Navajo housing (11/24)
Opinion: Downfall of top Navajo housing official (11/23)
Mashantucket Tribe helps families own homes (09/28)
Native homebuyers on the rise, data shows (9/26)
NAIHC to launch homebuyer website at briefing (9/25)
Mescalero Apache Nation awarded housing funds (08/30)
Jodi Rave: HUD releases block grants for tribes (07/10)
Judge clarifies HUD decision on funding freeze (7/6)
SCIA letter criticizes HUD Indian housing freeze (7/3)
Small tribes affected most by freeze of HUD funds (6/30)
Bush holds back housing money from tribes (6/29)
Jodi Rave: Tribal housing hurt by HUD decision (6/29)
Indian Affairs Committee hearing on housing (6/28)
Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing (06/26)
Indian home loan program expands to more states (06/20)
Upcoming Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearings (06/12)
Indian housing training funds slated for cut (3/2)
Special Interests: Lobbying for Indian housing (3/2)
Program to help urban Indians become homeowners (02/27)
Upcoming Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearings (09/12)
Former HUD official Liu drops lobbying effort (09/01)
HUD expands home loan program in Oregon (08/08)
Aloha! Michael Liu leaving HUD for private sector (05/05)
Senators question Bush administration's budget cuts (02/17)
Native veterans question Bush administration budget (02/17)
Official cites 'tight' budget for Indian housing (2/9)
Indian housing funds see no major increase (11/24)
Congress restores Bush's cuts to Indian programs (11/22)
Bush says housing program he's cutting is 'working' (08/12)
Tribes challenge policy affecting federal housing funds (05/04)
Indian housing funds face cuts in Bush budget (04/14)
Tribes tackle budget woes under Bush administration (4/13)
Housing campaign seeks to build 100,000 homes (02/27)
Senate panel shares criticism of Bush budget (02/12)
Tribal leaders pressing Congress on funding (02/11)
Native American Bank offers new mortgage program (01/21)
Indians fight discrimination when renting homes (11/21)
Indian housing funds face more scrutiny (3/4)
Bush budget restricts spending on Indian Country (02/10)
Senate clears new funds for Indian programs (01/24)
Housing scarce for thousands of Indian families (01/22)
Indian housing bill signed into law (11/15)
A busy year for Congress on Indian affairs (10/22)
Senate renews Indian housing law (10/8)
Court rules tribes immune from discrimination law (8/14)
Bush names Liu to Indian housing post (6/22)
Native Corp. to appeal housing denial (6/4)
Alaska Native housing plan rejected (5/29)
Audit: Alaska Native dorm improperly approved (4/17)
HUD Budget: No big benefit for Indian Country (4/12)
Martinez to clean HUD house (2/21)