[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 169 (Friday, December 7, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             NATIVE AMERICAN SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 5, 2001

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, today the House of Representatives passed 
an important bill, the American Indian Small Business Development Act, 
and I was pleased to support it. This bill creates a three-year pilot 
program that would provide grants to Small Business Development Centers 
(SBDC) for the purpose of assisting Native Americans start or expand a 
small business. These pilot projects will complement programs already 
in place that are designed to provide culturally-tailored business 
development assistance by allowing Indian tribe members, Native 
Alaskans and Native Hawaiians to access additional one-on-one 
counseling and other technical assistance that is provided by the 
SBDCs.
  I am proud of the successful work that the SBDCs perform in 
Minnesota. They provided support and long-term counseling services last 
year to over 3,500 existing and prospective businesses, including to 77 
Native Americans. With the bill we passed today, they will be able to 
expand and respond even more to the overwhelming need for assistance in 
our Native American communities.
  Mr. Speaker, some Tribal leaders in Minnesota are concerned that the 
bill today doesn't include the Native American Business Development 
Centers. These centers were created to address unique Native American 
cultural and economic problems and opportunities that were not being 
addressed by the Small Business Administration. I share their concern. 
However, I feel that we need to create as many opportunities as 
possible for Native American entrepreneurs and look forward to working 
with the SBDCs and Minnesota tribes to make sure these resources are 
put to good use.
  The average unemployment rate on Indian lands is 45 percent. Congress 
has a responsibility to make sure we support all programs that are 
designed to foster economic development and to assist Native Americans 
to create new small business opportunities. I'm pleased we addressed 
this issue today and look forward to working with my colleagues to make 
sure all programs benefiting Native Americans are fully supported by 
this Congress.

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