Luján Joins Bipartisan Group Of Senators To Introduce Bill To Advance Native American Housing Programs

Bill Will Reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA)

Nambé, N.M. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Vice Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in introducing the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2021. This bipartisan legislation builds on successful Native American housing programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) authorized by the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA), including the Indian Housing Block Grant and Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant programs. Bills that would reauthorize NAHASDA have been introduced in every successive Congress since 2013.

“In this country, every family deserves access to safe and affordable housing. Yet for many families living in Tribal and Native communities, housing options are limited,” said Senator Luján. “That’s why I’m proud to co-sponsor this legislation to reauthorize NAHASDA and implement critical reforms to update housing and infrastructure projects. This bill would ensure Tribes and Pueblos have the resources needed to provide families with more opportunities for safe and affordable housing in their communities.”

The bill is supported by the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC).

“The National American Indian Housing Council is pleased to see Senators Schatz and Murkowski continue the Committee’s bipartisan support of tribal housing programs by re-introducing a NAHASDA reauthorization,” said NAIHC Chair Adrian Stevens. “This bill would help native communities by including vital improvements to NAHASDA, providing 10-year authorizations for tribal housing programs, and establish an Assistant Secretary of Indian Housing at HUD to give tribes a greater voice in important policy and budget discussions. NAIHC looks forward to working with the sponsors of this bill and all members of Congress to get NAHASDA reauthorized this Congress.”

Full bill text is available here.

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