SEMINOLE NATION, Hollywood, Fla. – At the close of the National American Indian Housing Council’s annual convention, newly elected Board Chairman Bobby Yandell announced that the U.S. House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee’s proposed budget would increase IHBG funding by 9% ($1.22 billion).
“We thank Rep. Tom Cole for his leadership to secure more funding for Native American housing programs that have long been underfunded,” said Chairman Yandell. “We’re off to a promising start in the budget process and our advocacy is paying off. But we need to keep the pressure on Congress for funding increases because our people need safe, quality homes.”
Yandell, Executive Director of Choctaw Nation Housing Authority, credited the leadership of Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, for securing funding.
“I am very proud to announce that I, along with the help of Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz, was able to secure more than $1.34 billion for Native American housing programs and $150 million in discretionary appropriations for Tribal Transportation programs, as part of the six-bill appropriations package that passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate late last week,” said Rep. Cole in late March.
“These historic gains will work to address the pressing housing and transportation needs of Tribal communities, as well as increase the standard for this necessary funding in the future,” said Congressman Cole. “As a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, it will always be a priority of mine to ensure that the needs of Tribal communities are represented here in Washington, D.C., and I am very happy to have secured this essential funding.”
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 was passed in March, appropriating $1.34 billion to Native American Programs. Included in that $1.34 billion was $1.11 billion made available for the Indian Housing Block Grant program, allocated using the formula under section 302 of NAHASDA.
On June 26, 2024, House Republicans on the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee released a proposal for FY25 funding, ahead of the markup June 27th. This proposal laid out $1.455 billion programs funded under NAHASDA, including $1.22 billion for the Indian Housing Block Grant program.
This would mean $110 million more dollars made available for funding operations, maintenance, and construction on Tribal lands. It also includes a $100,000 boost to the Section 184 loan program. The rest of the NAHASDA programs remain at level funding.
Yandell reminded Tribal housing leaders that their advocacy needs to remain strong through December while the budget is being negotiated. “This is a positive step in the right direction, but it’s not the end of the road,” he said. “It won’t be the end of the road until the federal budget is passed and it becomes a reality.”
For more information, contact Douglas Marconi, Sr. at [email protected] or (202) 454-0943.
Photo: NAIHC Board Chairman, Bobby Yandell
Photo Credit: Tammie Billey
