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News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth
For Immediate Release
Contact: Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449

HOUSE PASSES HERSETH BILL FOR NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS

Makes it Easier for Native American Vets to Become Homeowners

May 23, 2006, Washington, D.C. - Late yesterday, the House passed the Veterans Housing Opportunity and Benefits Act. The package bill includes a measure sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Herseth to help Native American veterans become homeowners.

The Native American Veterans Housing Loan Program provides direct home loans to eligible Native American Veterans who wish to purchase, construct, or improve a home on Native American trust land. The bill will allow more veterans living on trust lands to take advantage of this important benefit, which is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2008.

Since the inception of the pilot program in 1992, the VA has made more than 440 direct loans to Native American veterans - including 20 from South Dakota. The direct loans are generally limited to either the cost of the home or $80,000, depending on which is less.

Herseth said, "This is an important and successful program that been proven to help Native American veterans in South Dakota and across the country in becoming home owners. Native Americans are proud and patriotic Americans who serve their country in high numbers, and once they return from their service they should have every opportunity to purchase and own a home."

Herseth is the Ranking Member on the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee for Economic Opportunity. Last year, Herseth passed legislation to extend the pilot program until 2008; this bill makes it permanent. A similar version of this legislation passed the House last year, but minor changes in the Senate/House Veterans' Affairs Committee conference required reconsideration before the full House.

For a veteran to be able to participate in this program, the veteran's tribe must have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the VA. To date, the VA has entered into MOUs with a total of 70 Native American tribes and Native Groups throughout the country.

The veterans package also includes:

H.R. 3665, which would expand grants to disabled veterans to modify their homes for accessibility, including adding wheelchair ramps; HR 3279, which would reauthorize a Department of Labor program that gives grants to agencies and organizations providing job placement, training and housing to veterans; and HR 419, which would extend through 2006 the President's National Hire Veterans Committee.

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