Native American Housing Enhancement Act
Kucinich gave the following speech in Congress on December 18, 2005:
Speaking in support of H.R. 797, the Native American Housing Enhancement Act of 2005, Congressman Kucinich said:
"Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Frank], and I want to thank him for his advocacy for Native American housing. I rise in strong support of H.R. 797, the Native American Housing Enhancement Act of 2005, sponsored by the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Renzi]. I want to thank him for the quality of spirit which led him to propose this.
"I would like to say that I have had the opportunity to visit with many tribal communities over the last few years. I understand the need for this legislation. I also want to thank the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Ney] for his advocacy on this issue. He and I have worked together on this housing issue, and I am glad to be here with him.
"This bill requires federally recognized, self-governing Indian tribes to comply with the Indian Civil Rights Act, title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, if they received financial assistance from the Agriculture Department for farm housing.
"Under current law the Department can provide loans to farm owners to improve housing conditions for themselves or their workers. The Indian Civil Rights Act prohibits tribes from making laws that restrict freedom of religion, freedom of speech or freedom of the press. It also sets out the requirements pertaining to fair due process for people who are arrested.
"The measure also exempts tribes currently in compliance with the Indian Civil Rights Act and tribes acting under other federally affordable housing programs in compliance with certain sections relating to fair housing and other civil rights laws which overlap with provisions in the Indian Civil Rights Act.
"Finally, the bill provides consistency across tribal housing programs by treating tribes applying for housing programs within the USDA the same as tribes applying for housing programs within HUD. It allows tribes to comply with title II of the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 rather than title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when securing Federal funds for USDA housing programs.
"This bill will encourage home ownership and enhance housing opportunities for Native Americans around the country. It gives tribes more flexibility when developing housing improvement projects. Native American housing needs considerable improvement. Approximately 90,000 Indian families are homeless or underhoused. Nearly 33 percent of Native American homes are overcrowded, while 33 percent lack adequate solid waste management systems, and 8 percent lack a safe indoor water supply. This is a good bill that will supply tangible benefits."
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