[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 170 (Monday, December 10, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2247]
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, in regard to H.R. 2538, the Native 
American Small Business Development Act, I would like to include in the 
Record the following letter I received from the Red Lake Band of 
Chippewa Indians.

                            Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians,

                                   Red Lake, MN, December 5, 2001.
     Re Inclusion of Native American Business Development Centers 
         as Eligible to Apply for the Native American Small 
         Business Development Act Funding (Advocacy)

     Hon. Betty McCollum,
     Western Avenue North, Suite 17,
     Saint Paul, MN.
       Dear Congresswoman McCollum: We appreciate your sponsoring 
     the Native American Small Business Development Act (H.R. 
     2538) and the inclusion of Executive Order 13175--
     Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments 
     in the bill.
       The Upper and Lower Red Lakes form over one-third of the 
     reservation's surface area. The Red Lake Reservation is home 
     to members of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. The Red 
     Lake Chippewa have lived on the shores of Red Lake since the 
     early 1700s. The band reserved the Red Lake Indian 
     Reservation when they ceded some 2.9 million Acres of 
     surrounding lands to the United States in trust in 1889. An 
     11-member Tribal Council now governs the reservation.
       As you know, Native American Business Development Centers, 
     funded by the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) 
     have delivered specialized business development services to 
     the American Indian community since 1972. You may not know 
     that in 2001, the forecast is that these centers, which will 
     receive $1,583,500 in funding, will generate $118,305,884 in 
     contracts and financing. This, by any economic measurement is 
     an excellent return on the investment for the federal 
     government.
       There are eight Native American Business Development 
     Centers nationwide staffed by Professional American Indian 
     tribal members who understand cultural and economic barriers 
     facing Indian communities (see attached listing). Native 
     American Business Development Center's personnel focus solely 
     on American Indian economic development and have the 
     expertise to serve the unique needs of Indian tribal members.
       Native American Business Development Centers deliver 
     services required for successful work in Indian Country and 
     include specialization in:
       Government to government relationship between the federal 
     Government and respective tribal governments (special 
     programs and unique resources based on the relationship);
       Histories of Indian tribes--as separate and independent 
     political sovereign communities within the United States;
       Tribal loan and grant programs for economic development;
       Reservation trust land status and collateral financing 
     issues associated with it;
       The lack of infrastructure due to isolation and remoteness. 
     Roads, sewers, electricity, telephone lines/Internet access 
     (61% of reservation homes lack telephones/Internet access), 
     plumbing; tribal business codes, tribal court systems and 
     laws pertaining to economic development;
       Utilization of Indian specific agency programs, such as the 
     Department of Defense--Five Percent Indian Incentive for the 
     use of Indian Subcontractors Program;
       Indian Preferences under Subsection 7(b) of the Indian 
     Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (1975), the 
     Johnson-O'Malley Act of 1934, the Snyder Act of 1921, and the 
     Buy Indian Act of 1910;
       Cultural barriers (Native American Business Development 
     Centers have successfully worked with tribal councils for 
     over 30 years).
       The MBDA and Small Business Administration when serving 
     multiple populations created the Native American Business 
     Development Centers to address unique cultural and economic 
     problems and opportunities that were not addressed.
       As you know, the 19th Century Indian preference statutes 
     continue today with ``Indian Preference'' legislation--it is 
     a continued recognition and respect of the federal 
     government's commitment to honor treaties with Indian tribes 
     and uphold the intent of the United States Constitution.
       We respectfully request that you consider an amendment to 
     your well-intended bill that would include Native American 
     Business Development Centers as eligible (and ideally suited) 
     to apply for the Native American Small Business Development 
     Act funding.
           Sincerely,
                                               Bobby Whitefeather,
                                                         Chairman.





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