§4101. Congressional findings
The Congress finds that-
(1) the Federal Government has a responsibility to promote the general welfare of the Nation-
(A) by using Federal resources to aid families and individuals seeking affordable homes in safe and healthy environments and, in particular, assisting responsible, deserving citizens who cannot provide fully for themselves because of temporary circumstances or factors beyond their control;
(B) by working to ensure a thriving national economy and a strong private housing market; and
(C) by developing effective partnerships among the Federal Government, State, tribal, and local governments, and private entities that allow government to accept responsibility for fostering the development of a healthy marketplace and allow families to prosper without government involvement in their day-to-day activities;
(2) there exists a unique relationship between the Government of the United States and the governments of Indian tribes and a unique Federal responsibility to Indian people;
(3) the Constitution of the United States invests the Congress with plenary power over the field of Indian affairs, and through treaties, statutes, and historical relations with Indian tribes, the United States has undertaken a unique trust responsibility to protect and support Indian tribes and Indian people;
(4) the Congress, through treaties, statutes, and the general course of dealing with Indian tribes, has assumed a trust responsibility for the protection and preservation of Indian tribes and for working with tribes and their members to improve their housing conditions and socioeconomic status so that they are able to take greater responsibility for their own economic condition;
(5) providing affordable homes in safe and healthy environments is an essential element in the special role of the United States in helping tribes and their members to improve their housing conditions and socioeconomic status;
(6) the need for affordable homes in safe and healthy environments on Indian reservations, in Indian communities, and in Native Alaskan villages is acute and the Federal Government shall work not only to provide housing assistance, but also, to the extent practicable, to assist in the development of private housing finance mechanisms on Indian lands to achieve the goals of economic self-sufficiency and self-determination for tribes and their members; and
(7) Federal assistance to meet these responsibilities shall be provided in a manner that recognizes the right of Indian self-determination and tribal self-governance by making such assistance available directly to the Indian tribes or tribally designated entities under authorities similar to those accorded Indian tribes in
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Amendments
2008-Pars. (6), (7).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Short Title of 2010 Amendment
Short Title of 2008 Amendment
Short Title of 2005 Amendment
Short Title of 2004 Amendment
Short Title of 2002 Amendment
Short Title of 2000 Amendments
Short Title
Findings of 2005 Amendment
"(1) there exist-
"(A) a unique relationship between the Government of the United States and the governments of Indian tribes; and
"(B) a unique Federal trust responsibility to Indian people;
"(2) Native Americans experience some of the worst housing conditions in the country, with-
"(A) 32.6 percent of Native homes being overcrowded;
"(B) 33 percent lacking adequate solid waste management systems;
"(C) 8 percent lacking a safe indoor water supply; and
"(D) approximately 90,000 Native families who are homeless or underhoused;
"(3) the poverty rate for Native Americans is twice that of the rest of the population of the United States;
"(4) the population growth of Native Americans that began in the latter part of the 20th century increased the need for Federal housing services;
"(5)(A) under the requirements of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.), members of Indian tribes are given preference for housing programs;
"(B) a primary purpose of the Act is to allow Indian tribes to leverage funds with other Federal and private funds;
"(C) the Department of Agriculture has been a significant funding source for housing for Indian tribes;
"(D) to allow assistance provided under the Act and assistance provided by the Secretary of Agriculture under other law to be combined to meet the severe housing needs of Indian tribes, the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 [1441] et seq.) should be amended to allow for the preference referred to in subparagraph (A) by granting an exemption from title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.) and title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.); and
"(E) federally recognized Indian tribes exercising powers of self-government are governed by the Indian Civil Rights Act (25 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.); and
"(6) section 457 of the Cranston-Gonzales [Cranston-Gonzalez] National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12899f) should be amended to include Indian tribes, tribally designated housing entities, or other agencies that primarily serve Indians as eligible applicants for YouthBuild grants."