Reps. Davids (D), Crane (R) Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Housing Access for Tribal Veterans

October 7, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve how unused housing vouchers are managed and distributed. The legislation would allow Tribes to voluntarily give back vouchers they do not plan to use, so the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) can redirect assistance to Tribal communities facing a shortage. "Native veterans hold a special place in my heart,” said Davids, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin. “ My mom and grandfather both served in the Army, and as a Native person, I know how much our communities value the veterans who have served our country. Tribal Nations know best what their communities and veterans need, and respecting Tribal sovereignty means giving them the flexibility and resources to meet those needs. I'm grateful to work with Rep. Crane on this bipartisan effort to ensure more Native veterans get the housing they need after returning home .” "The Tribal HUD-VASH program helps house Tribal veterans in need, but the current system is not as efficient as it should be,” said Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) . “Some Tribes have leftover vouchers they cannot use while others lack the resources to take care of our veterans. Our legislation aims to resolve this longstanding issue by getting unused vouchers into the hands of Tribes that can put them to use. This is a sensible approach that makes better use of existing support without expanding the size and scope of the federal government. As the representative for more than half of the Tribes in Arizona, I'm honored to advocate for these heroes by reforming and modernizing this process. I appreciate Rep. Davids' willingness to work across the aisle. We've made real progress together before, and I look forward to building on that success with this bill.” Native American veterans experience some of the highest rates of homelessness in the United States. To address this, Congress created the Tribal HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (Tribal HUD-VASH) demonstration program , which provides rental assistance and supportive services to Native veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Although the program has helped many veterans secure stable housing, it lacks a clear process for Tribes to return vouchers they cannot use or to request additional ones. As a result, valuable housing support sits idle while veterans in other Tribal communities wait for help. The new Tribal Veterans Voucher Flexibility Act directs HUD to establish a voluntary program for reallocating unused Tribal HUD-VASH vouchers to Native veterans who need them most. Under the bill, Tribes and Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs) can notify HUD via digital, phone, or mail correspondence if they have surplus vouchers or request additional assistance for their communities without impacting their future allocations. Required to launch within 180 days of enactment, the program creates a streamlined process to strengthen Tribal HUD-VASH and expand Native veterans' access to earned housing assistance. Within that same timeframe, HUD must submit a congressional report detailing voucher usage and shortfall metrics, distribution recommendations, and an assessment of whether to increase overall program funding. This is not the first time Davids and Crane have partnered on legislation to assist Tribal communities. Davids previously introduced the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act , which would bolster U.S. Small Business Administration outreach to Tribal entrepreneurs navigating the unique complexities of running a business on a reservation. Crane co-led the measure, and it has twice passed the House with strong bipartisan support. Issues : Veterans & Armed Forces