Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri), the chair of the Senate Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight, says "reform" is coming to Native contracting despite complaints of a one-sided approach.

McCaskill chaired a hearing in May that looked at Alaska Native corporations and the government contracts they receive. She is worried about the lack of competition for some contracts and says Native corporations are treated more favorably than other small businesses.

"Reform in this area is going to happen. It's not a matter of if, but a matter of when," a spokesperson told The Anchorage Daily News.

At the hearing, three Alaska Native witnesses testified about the benefits of the 8(a) program at the Small Business Administration. Native corporations fear they will be penalized for their success and have formed Native 8(a) Works to counter McCaskill's claims.

Get the Story:
Native corporations fight back with PR (The Anchorage Daily News 9/29)

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