Measures For Native Hawaiian Home Ownership Pass Senate Committee

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Three bills pushed by Sen. Brian Schatz and Sen.Mazie Hirono to increase home ownership for Native Hawaiians cleared the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee earlier today.

Two of the measures would amend the Native Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (HHCA). One would expand housing program eligibility and succession authority to those who are one-quarter Hawaiian. Another authorizes the Hawaiian Homes Commission to set interest rates on home loans based on market conditions. Both were sponsored by Schatz and co-sponsored by Hirono.

The other measure, sponsored by Hirono, reauthorizes the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant. This bill provides an avenue for Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries to secure financing to purchase a home on Hawaiian Home Lands. Schatz, a member of the committe, co-sponsored the measure.

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— Kery Murakami

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