Join the Monthly Legislative Committee Meeting
First Thursday of every month at 1:00 pm Eastern Time. Visit NAIHC’s YouTube channel for previous meetings and presentations.
Advocacy Resources
Tribal leaders, housing program directors, board members, and advocates are welcome to use and share NAIHC’s talking points and one-pagers on current legislative and funding priorities. NAIHC created these documents to help guide future advocacy work and promote tribal housing funding opportunities in each Congressional cycle.
August 18, 2023 – CALL-TO-ACTION!
Contact your respective Congressional Delegation and urge them to keep the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA) Amendment #1078 in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bill. On July 27, the Senate approved Amendment #1078 to reauthorize and amend NAHASDA and now NAHASDA goes to conference committee.
The Senate Committee on Armed Services and House Armed Services Committee have primary jurisdiction over reconciling the NDAA, although significant influence from the House Financial Services Committee still affects NAHASDA. Use the contact information for these committees along with the materials below to support Amendment #1078 and NAHASDA, including the addresses to send a tribal resolution. Immediate action is appreciated!
Supporting Materials:
- Sample Tribal Resolution
- List of Congressional addresses to send support documents
- One-page background on NAHASDA and recent legislative activity
- Fiscal Year 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations
- Amendment No. 1078 text
- House Financial Services Committee Contact Information
- House Armed Services Committee Contact Information
- Senate Committee on Armed Services Contact Information
Contact Ryan Edwards at [email protected] for questions or more information.
NAIHC’s Advocacy Mission
More than Just a Roof: Advocating for Quality Housing in Tribal Communities
For the last 25 years, Tribal housing programs have utilized the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act, or NAHASDA, to improve housing opportunities throughout tribal communities. NAHASDA is a critical mechanism for Tribal housing programs to receive funding while providing more control over affordable housing decisions and flexibility to address specific housing needs. Although NAHASDA expired in 2013, Congress still funds its programs each year. Reauthorizing NAHASDA would provide tribal housing programs with greater certainty to provide services and resources for the next decade. Join NAIHC in urging Congress to reauthorize NAHASDA.
NAIHC encourages tribal housing directors, board members, and advocates to meet with their respective Senators and Representatives in Washington, DC, and in their home districts. Contact NAIHC when your tribal and program representatives visit Washington, DC, for assistance scheduling meetings with Congressional and federal officials.
Current Tribal Housing Priorities
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- Reauthorize NAHASDA
- Bipartisan provisions in the Senate THUD Appropriations bill
- Bipartisan package of tribal provisions (including NAHASDA) in National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
- Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget Requests
- Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) – $1.642 million but no less than $1.083 million
- Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) – $100 million
- Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) – $7 million
- Section 184 Loan Guarantee Program at $10 million
- Title VI Loan Guarantee Program – $1 million
- Native Hawaiian Homelands Block Grant – $20 million
- Tribal HUD-VASH – $7 million
- Pass the Native American Rural Homeownership Improvement Act – S. 2092 & H.R. 6331
- Pass the VA Native American Direct Loan Improvement Act – S. 4505
- Support the Tribal trust Land Homeownership Act – S. 3381
- Also included in the NDAA package along with NAHASDA
- Reauthorize NAHASDA
Reauthorize NAHASDA
NAIHC needs help telling Congress to reauthorize NAHASDA. Contact your respective Congressional delegation and urge them to support the reauthorization provisions that are currently attached to the THUD Appropriations bill, which has a chance of being enacted into law this year. Congress must pass the appropriations bill, and the Senate version already includes NAHASDA reauthorization provisions. Join fellow advocates and tell Congress to keep the NAHASDA language and pass the bill.
Extend Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
Urge Congress to pass a one-year extension for the Tribal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program that was created in response to Covid-19. Tribes were awarded nearly $900 million to operate ERA programs. However, funding expired on September 30, 2022, and now tribes may have to return unspent funds to the U.S. Treasury Department. Many tribal communities need more time to expend funds and provide vital services to their members. Tell Congress to extend the Tribal ERA Program.
What You Can Do
Sign-Up to Join NAIHC’s Advocacy Network
The National American Indian Housing Council asks you to sign-up to join our Action Network. This will allow you to stay informed on issues that may directly affect you or your community. We will then contact you with relevant information around policy issues and occasionally ask you to contact your representative. This is your opportunity to become an advocate and take action on issues that matter to you!
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