Lawmakers back Native corporation contracting
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Filed Under:
Business
|
Politics
The
Alaska Legislature held a joint hearing on Monday to discuss the 8(a) contracting program at the
Small Business Administration.
Lawmakers hailed the participation of Alaska Native corporations in the program as a big success. Native representatives testified about the benefits that government contracts have brought to their communities.
"[T]he fact that we are still here answers that question," said Barney Uhart, president of
Chugach Alaska Corporation, The Anchorage Daily News reported. Without government contracts, Chugach would not have been able to break out of bankruptcy, he said.
Native corporation participation in the program has raised eyebrows among some on Capitol Hill. In a notice published in the
Federal Register today, the SBA proposed some changes to the program in response to concerns. Comments are due by December 28.
Get the Story:
Native leaders enlist legislators in contracting battle
(The Anchorage Daily News 10/27)
Federal Register Notice:
Small
Business Size Regulations; 8(a) Business Development/Small Disadvantaged
Business Status Determinations; Proposed Rule (October 28, 2009)
Related Stories:
SBA plans changes to Native contracting program
(10/23)
McCaskill promises Native
contracting 'reform' (09/29)
SBA asked
for status report on Native contracts (08/03)
Editorial: No 'loophole' in Native contracting
(7/31)
Murkowski seeks hearing on Native
contracting (7/30)
Amendment to limit
Native contracts dropped (7/24)
Opinion:
Contracts help Alaska Native people (7/23)
NPR: Alaska Native contracts under scrutiny
(7/20)
Senate hearing looks at Alaska
Native contracts (7/17)
Senate hearing
on Native corporation contracts (7/16)
Jobs stay local under Alaska Native ownership
(7/16)
Tex Hall: Hunting Indians at
Capitol Hill hearing (7/15)
Report cites
unfair advantage for Native firms (7/15)
Alaska Native corporations prepare for hearing
(7/14)
Interview: Ho-Chunk CEO on Native
contracting (07/01)
Senate panel probes
Alaska Native corporations (6/24)
Alaska
Native corporation worried about probe (5/20)
Alaska Native corporations under more scrutiny
(5/19)
Copyright © Indianz.Com