OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015

Floor Speech

Date: June 10, 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Housing and Property

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, as cochair of the Native American Caucus, I am standing with my colleagues here today to support investing in Native American housing.

The United States cannot fulfill its Federal trust obligation to Indian Country without increasing investments in Native American housing.

Here are two facts about Indian country: almost 9 percent of the homes in Indian country still lack complete plumbing facilities and 30 percent of the homes in Indian Country rely on wood for heating.

Another fact is that Native Hawaiian grants have been completely zeroed out of this bill. The Native American Housing Block Grant is a primary Federal source to address housing backlogs and provide sufficient maintenance throughout Indian Country, but this bill flat-funds this account from 2014 at $650 dollars.

While level funding is better than a cut, my colleagues should know that this is the same level of funding provided in fiscal year 2004. We can and we must do better.

Again, to meet its treaty obligations, the United States must increase this investment for Indian housing.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward