Representatives Troy Downing (R-MT) and Janelle Bynum (D-OR) and Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Modernization Act (NAHASDA) (H.R. 8092/S. 4276).
Key provisions of the bill include:
- Consolidating environmental reviews required for federally funded tribal housing projects;
- Exempting tribal housing projects from Build America, Buy America requirements;
- Expanding access to federal homelessness programs, including the Continuum of Care program, housing assistance and supportive services for Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians;
- Promoting tribal sovereignty by allowing tribes to set maximum rent policies;
- Modernizing the Section 184 lending program to expand private financing options;
- Supporting tribal veterans by codifying the existing Tribal HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program; and
- Reauthorization of the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) through 2032 in the House version and 2033 in the Senate version.
Why It Matters: NH&RA is meeting with bill co-sponsors to expand BABA exemptions to other affordable housing programs.
Call to Action: If you live in or own properties in the states/districts of the co-sponsors, please thank your members for introducing the legislation and ask them to exempt other affordable housing programs from BABA requirements.
