[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 114 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S5167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BARRASSO (for himself and Mr. McCain):
  S. 3234. A bill to amend the Native American Business Development, 
Trade Promotion, and Tourism Act of 2000, the Buy Indian Act, the 
Indian Trader Act, and the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to 
provide industry and economic development opportunities to Indian 
communities; to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise to speak on S. 3234, the Indian 
Community Economic Enhancement Act of 2016.
  For years, Indian communities have experienced serious socio-economic 
challenges. Unacceptably high rates of unemployment, remote locations, 
and a lack of infrastructure are just a few of the problems affecting 
either the quality of life for Indian people or the ability to build 
strong sustainable economies.
  The Federal programs available to facilitate or create economic 
opportunities are not structured to effectively target these 
communities. The Federal bureaucracy underlying various programs also 
inhibits economic growth as well.
  The Committee on Indian Affairs, which I chair, has conducted several 
hearings, listening sessions, and a roundtable on economic development. 
The primary concerns from Indian tribes, business owners, and tribal 
organizations have largely focused on access to capital. The Federal 
mechanisms for increasing available capital that have been used by 
Indian tribes or businesses to some degree include loan guarantees, tax 
credits, tax-exempt bond financing, community development financial 
institutions, CDFIs, and procurement programs.
  This bill is intended to address several of these mechanisms by 
amending four key Federal laws affecting Indian communities: Native 
American Business Development, Trade Promotion, and Tourism Act of 
2000; Native American Programs Act; Indian Trader Act; and the Buy 
Indian Act.
  By amending these laws, the bill would benefit Indian communities by 
increasing access to capital for Indian tribes and businesses, 
increasing opportunities for Indian business promotion, and creating 
mechanisms and tools to attract business to Indian communities.
  This bill will amend the Native American Business Development, Trade 
Promotion, and Tourism Act of 2000 in four ways. First, it would 
require interagency coordination between the Secretaries of Commerce, 
Interior, and Treasury to develop initiatives encouraging investment in 
Indian communities. It would elevate the Director for the Indian 
programs in the Department of Commerce. The bill would make permanent 
the waiver of the requirement for Native CDFIs to provide a matching 
cost share for assistance received by the Treasury CDFI. In addition, 
the bill would establish the Indian Economic Development Fund to 
support the Bureau of Indian Affairs Indian loan guarantee and CDFI 
bond guarantee program for Indian communities.
  The bill would also amend the Native American Programs Act to 
reauthorize the economic development programs For economic development 
programs governed by this act, the bill would prioritize applications 
and technical assistance for building tribal court systems and code 
development for economic development, supporting CDFIs, and developing 
master plans for community and economic development.
  This legislation would also amend the Indian Trader Act. The bill 
maintains current law and actions taken thereunder, but simply adds 
authority for the Secretary of the Interior to waive the licensing 
requirement for traders under this statute where an Indian tribe has a 
tribal law governing trade or commerce in its Indian lands.
  The bill would amend the Buy Indian Act to facilitate the use of and 
more accountability for the Buy Indian Act in procurement decisions by 
the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service.
  Through this bill, more jobs at the local level would be created and 
small businesses are assisted. Indian tribes could engage in more 
cohesive community development and infrastructure building. In 
addition, Federal bureaucracy is diminished, thereby reducing the costs 
of economic development.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this 
important and beneficial piece of legislation for Indian communities.
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