Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) has a lot on his plate as the chairman of the new
Subcommittee
on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs.
Young plans to examine the
Bureau of Indian Affairs budget and workforce closely. He said tribes and Alaska Natives should be in charge of their own affairs.
"The agency has in fact grown," Young told Morris News Service-Alaska. "I'm saying, 'no.' That money being spent needs to go to the tribes and the organizations that are doing the work. I think instead of cutting we can redistribute the dollars and still have adequate funding. That's what I'm going to attempt to do. It's a huge morass."
Young also plans to address economic development and energy opportunities. He wants to look at regulations and laws that hinder growth in Indian Country and in Alaska.
"How can you improve your economic or social well being if you're precluded from developing your resources if you wish to do so?" Young said.
Finally, Young said he will defend the 8(a) minority contracting program at the
Small Business Administration. He supports reforms but opposes efforts to limit contracts for Indian and Alaska Native businesses.
"It's a classic example of when the Native community is successful, people try to tear it down," Young said. "One of the reasons I'm chairman of this committee, I'm going to make sure the SBA regulations can be adopted, but I'm not going to allow any legislation that's detrimental. I'm going to watch this issue very closely."
Get the Story:
As chair, Young plans to examine BIA funding
(Morris News Service-Alaska 1/20)
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energy and economic development (1/12)
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on key panel (1/6)
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