WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye announced today that the Senate approved S. 109, a bill to amend the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act to provide Federal housing assistance to the Hawaiian Home Lands.

S. 109 authorizes the provision of affordable housing block grants to low-income Native Hawaiian families who are eligible to reside on the Home Lands, and federal loan guarantees for housing constructed on the Home Lands.

The authorization for affordable housing block grants ranges from $33 million in Fiscal Year 1999 to $37 million in Fiscal Year 2003, for a total authorization of $175 million over the five-year period covered by the bill. The authorization for federal loan guarantees is $8 million for each of the five years, for a total of $40 million.

"We began this effort nine years ago when the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held hearings on the needs of the Hawaiian Home Lands program on each island. Homesteaders came before the Committee to relate their personal experiences, and sadly, their frustrations with the long waiting list for assignments of Home Lands. Today, at last, we have the means to bring federal resources to address the overwhelming need for housing, and with this program, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and other private, non-profit housing assistance organizations will be able to work together to assure that Native Hawaiians are afforded the same housing opportunities that other citizens of Hawaii and the United States enjoy," said Senator Inouye.

Timing of action by the House of Representatives on S. 109 is uncertain, but Senator Inouye is also seeking the inclusion of the provisions of S. 109 in the omnibus appropriations measure that is currently scheduled to be considered in the House and Senate on Tuesday, October 20, 1998.