§3762. Direct housing loans to Native American veterans

(a) The Secretary may make a direct housing loan to a Native American veteran if-

(1) the Secretary has entered into a memorandum of understanding with respect to such loans with the tribal organization that has jurisdiction over the veteran; and

(2) the memorandum is in effect when the loan is made.

(b)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall ensure that each memorandum of understanding that the Secretary enters into with a tribal organization shall provide for the following:

(A) That each Native American veteran who is under the jurisdiction of the tribal organization and to whom the Secretary makes a direct loan under this subchapter-

(i) holds, possesses, or purchases using the proceeds of the loan a meaningful interest in a lot or dwelling (or both) that is located on trust land; and

(ii) will purchase, construct, or improve (as the case may be) a dwelling on the lot using the proceeds of the loan.

(B) That each such Native American veteran will convey to the Secretary by an appropriate instrument the interest referred to in subparagraph (A) as security for a direct housing loan under this subchapter.

(C) That the tribal organization and each such Native American veteran will permit the Secretary to enter upon the trust land of that organization or veteran for the purposes of carrying out such actions as the Secretary determines are necessary-

(i) to evaluate the advisability of the loan; and

(ii) to monitor any purchase, construction, or improvements carried out using the proceeds of the loan.

(D) That the tribal organization has established standards and procedures that apply to the foreclosure of the interest conveyed by a Native American veteran pursuant to subparagraph (B), including-

(i) procedures for foreclosing the interest; and

(ii) procedures for the resale of the lot or the dwelling (or both) purchased, constructed, or improved using the proceeds of the loan.

(E) That the tribal organization agrees to such other terms and conditions with respect to the making of direct loans to Native American veterans under the jurisdiction of the tribal organization as the Secretary may require in order to ensure that the pilot program established under this subchapter is implemented in a responsible and prudent manner.

(2) The Secretary may not enter into a memorandum of understanding with a tribal organization under this subsection unless the Secretary determines that the memorandum provides for such standards and procedures as are necessary for the reasonable protection of the financial interests of the United States.

(c)(1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the principal amount of any direct housing loan made to a Native American under this section may not exceed $80,000.

(B) The Secretary may make loans exceeding the amount specified in subparagraph (A) in a geographic area if the Secretary determines that housing costs in the area are significantly higher than average housing costs nationwide. The amount of such increase shall be the amount that the Secretary determines is necessary in order to carry out the pilot program under this subchapter in a manner that demonstrates the advisability of making direct housing loans to Native American veterans who are located in a variety of geographic areas and in geographic areas experiencing a variety of economic conditions.

(2) Loans made under this section shall bear interest at a rate determined by the Secretary, which rate may not exceed the appropriate rate authorized for guaranteed loans under section 3703(c)(1) or section 3712(f) of this title, and shall be subject to such requirements or limitations prescribed for loans guaranteed under this title as the Secretary may prescribe.

(3) Notwithstanding section 3704(a) of this title, the Secretary shall establish minimum requirements for planning, construction, improvement, and general acceptability relating to any direct loan made under this section.

(d)(1) The Secretary shall establish credit underwriting standards to be used in evaluating loans made under this subchapter. In establishing such standards, the Secretary shall take into account the purpose of this program to make available housing to Native American veterans living on trust lands.

(2) The Secretary shall determine the reasonable value of the interest in property that will serve as security for a loan made under this section and shall establish procedures for appraisals upon which the Secretary may base such determinations. The procedures shall incorporate generally the relevant requirements of section 3731 of this title, unless the Secretary determines that such requirements are impracticable to implement in a geographic area, on particular trust lands, or under circumstances specified by the Secretary.

(e) Loans made under this section shall be repaid in monthly installments.

(f) In connection with any loan under this section, the Secretary may make advances in cash to provide for repairs, alterations, and improvements and to meet incidental expenses of the loan transaction. The Secretary shall determine the amount of any expenses incident to the origination of loans made under this section, which expenses, or a reasonable flat allowance in lieu thereof, shall be paid by the veteran in addition to the loan closing costs.

(g) Without regard to any provision of this chapter (other than a provision of this section), the Secretary may-

(1) take any action that the Secretary determines to be necessary with respect to the custody, management, protection, and realization or sale of investments under this section;

(2) determine any necessary expenses and expenditures and the manner in which such expenses and expenditures shall be incurred, allowed, and paid;

(3) make such rules, regulations, and orders as the Secretary considers necessary for carrying out the Secretary's functions under this section; and

(4) in a manner consistent with the provisions of this chapter and with the Secretary's functions under this subchapter, employ, utilize, and compensate any persons, organizations, or departments or agencies (including departments and agencies of the United States) designated by the Secretary to carry out such functions.

(h)(1) The Secretary may make direct loans to Native American veterans in order to enable such veterans to refinance existing loans made under this section.

(2)(A) The Secretary may not make a loan under this subsection unless the loan meets the requirements set forth in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (E) of paragraph (1) of section 3710(e) of this title.

(B) The Secretary may not make a loan under this subsection unless the loan will bear an interest rate at least one percentage point less than the interest rate borne by the loan being refinanced.

(C) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of such section 3710(e) shall apply to any loan made under this subsection, except that for the purposes of this subsection the reference to subsection (a)(8) of section 3710 of this title in such paragraphs (2) and (3) shall be deemed to be a reference to this subsection.

(i)(1) The Secretary shall, in consultation with tribal organizations (including the National Congress of American Indians and the National American Indian Housing Council), carry out an outreach program to inform and educate Native American veterans of the pilot program provided for under this subchapter and the availability of direct housing loans for Native American veterans who live on trust lands.

(2) Activities under the outreach program shall include the following:

(A) Attending conferences and conventions conducted by the National Congress of American Indians in order to work with the National Congress in providing information and training to tribal organizations and Native American veterans regarding the availability of housing benefits under the pilot program and in assisting such organizations and veterans in participating in the pilot program.

(B) Attending conferences and conventions conducted by the National American Indian Housing Council in order to work with the Housing Council in providing information and training to tribal organizations and tribal housing entities regarding the availability of such benefits.

(C) Attending conferences and conventions conducted by the Department of Hawaiian Homelands in order to work with the Department of Hawaiian Homelands in providing information and training to tribal housing entities in Hawaii regarding the availability of such benefits.

(D) Producing and disseminating information to tribal governments, tribal veterans service organizations, and tribal organizations regarding the availability of such benefits.

(E) Assisting tribal organizations and Native American veterans in participating in the pilot program.

(F) Outstationing loan guarantee specialists in tribal facilities on a part-time basis if requested by the tribal government.

(j) Not later than February 1 of each year through 2002, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report relating to the implementation of the pilot program under this subchapter during the fiscal year preceding the date of the report. Each such report shall include the following:

(1) The Secretary's exercise during such fiscal year of the authority provided under subsection (c)(1)(B) to make loans exceeding the maximum loan amount.

(2) The appraisals performed for the Secretary during such fiscal year under the authority of subsection (d)(2), including a description of-

(A) the manner in which such appraisals were performed;

(B) the qualifications of the appraisers who performed such appraisals; and

(C) the actions taken by the Secretary with respect to such appraisals to protect the interests of veterans and the United States.

(3) The outreach activities undertaken under subsection (i) during such fiscal year, including-

(A) a description of such activities on a region-by-region basis; and

(B) an assessment of the effectiveness of such activities in encouraging the participation of Native American veterans in the pilot program.

(4) The pool of Native American veterans who are eligible for participation in the pilot program, including-

(A) a description and analysis of the pool, including income demographics;

(B) a description and assessment of the impediments, if any, to full participation in the pilot program of the Native American veterans in the pool; and

(C) the impact of low-cost housing programs operated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and other Federal or State agencies on the demand for direct loans under this section.

(5) The Secretary's recommendations, if any, for additional legislation regarding the pilot program.

(Added Pub. L. 102–547, §8(a), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3637 ; amended Pub. L. 104–275, title II, §202(a), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3330 ; Pub. L. 105–114, title II, §201(b), (c), Nov. 21, 1997, 111 Stat. 2282 , 2283.)

Amendments

1997-Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 105–114, §201(b), designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted ", in consultation with tribal organizations (including the National Congress of American Indians and the National American Indian Housing Council)," after "the Secretary shall", struck out "tribal organizations and" after "educate", and added par. (2).

Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 105–114, §201(c), added subsec. (j).

1996-Subsecs. (h), (i). Pub. L. 104–275 added subsec. (h) and redesignated former subsec. (h) as (i).

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 3729 of this title.