Rounds Receives Dr. Carson’s Commitment to Address Tribal Housing Concerns
Looks Forward to Supporting him as Next Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, today questioned Dr. Ben Carson during his confirmation hearing to be Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
“There is a strong concern on the part of Native Americans in rural areas that the current formula in which funds are being distributed by HUD was not following that which had been recommended by some senior staff, and in fact was following an old guideline,” said Rounds during his questioning. “Would you please consider that we find a fairer way to give these folks…the resources they need so they get a chance at housing as well?”
“Thank you for advocating for them,” replied Carson. “This is a situation that has weighed heavily on my mind as I’ve learned more and more about it…the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act has been waiting to be re-upped after six years. I’m looking forward to the Senate reauthorizing that act in the very near future. The amount of red tape on the reservations right now is astonishing. On tribal lands, if you want to build a house, you have to get permission from HUD, permission from the [Department of the] Interior, and if you want to put a driveway on it you have to get permission from the Department of Transportation. We need to bring back a little bit of common sense and have the people associated with those tribes involved in that decision making.”
