Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) is asking the Small Business Administration for a "status report" on Alaska Native contracting.

Snowe, the ranking Republican on the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, said is concerned about "fraud and abuse" in the SBA's 8(a) program. Alaska Native corporations have received large government contracts through the program.

"As you are undoubtedly aware, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the SBA Inspector General (IG) have issued a series of reports, testimonies, and studies identifying alarming concerns with the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) and Alaskan Native Corporation (ANC) programs," Snowe wrote in the July 21 letter to SBA Administration Karen Mills.

Snowe took part in a July 16 hearing that looked at the issue. Along with Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri), she questioned why Alaska Native corporations receive certain exemptions that don't apply to other small businesses.

Snowe asked the SBA to provide her with the status report by July 31.

Relevant Documents:
Sen. Snowe to SBA (July 21, 2009)

Related Stories:
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)