Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this package and an amendment that includes additional funding for the Native American CDFI Assistance Program.

The CDFI Fund's Native Initiatives program seeks to level the economic playing field by providing awards to organizations that make credit, capital, and other essential financial services available to underserved and impoverished Native communities.

In the past, this program has provided funding to organizations like Lei Ho'olaha, which provides financial training and loans to charter schools and community centers in Hawaii to help make them creditworthy.
It also provides funding to the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, which helps provide access to capital for people living in Native Hawaiian communities to help them purchase affordable homes, start new businesses, and to help drive commerce.

We must build upon this progress in Native communities and increase the funding for the CDFI Fund's Native Initiatives to build businesses, create jobs, empower these Native communities, and spur economic growth. Please support this amendment.

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