Congressional probe an attack on economic future

On the surface, the recent attacks on Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) for receiving large no-bid federal contracts appears to be only directed at Native Alaskan 8(a) contracting. However, tribal federal contracting, in the lower 48, could be harmed if Congress decides to change the tribal 8(a) program that was created, in the first place, to remove institutional barriers to tribal economic development.

This is not just about Indians: All minority 8(a) contracting could suffer if drastic changes are made to the 8(a) set-aside program. Today we are witnessing increasing calls to end all types of affirmative action programs: minority 8(a) set-asides could be added to that doomed list. I hope our friends from the various minority groups will stand beside us and let Congress know that we are holding them accountable for a fair and equitable investigation of ANC’s federal contracting.

From the news coverage, it appears that the ANCs are the focus of this investigation although they were awarded these contracts by federal agencies imbued with the power to award such contracts. A March 5 Washington Post article stated that federal lawmakers Rep. Thomas M. Davis (Republican from Annandale, Va.), Chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, and the panel’s ranking Democrat, Rep. Henry A. Waxman of Los Angeles, Calif., called for a congressional investigation of 8(a) contracts awarded to ANCs.

The National Indian Business Association has learned from other minority groups that there are a lot of factions we do not know about, including hidden agendas, and the real who and what is behind why they are calling for this investigation. If so, ANCs and tribal governments and potentially the whole 8(a) program could become a causality of a political battle.

Recent studies indicate the American Indian economy is at least 20 years behind the mainstream economy. Even with the advent of tribal gaming, only a handful of tribes have realized a substantial financial turn of fortune. These tribes are now diversifying their financial portfolios and creating joint-ventures that will help them build sustainable economic futures beyond gaming.

by: Pete Homer / National Indian Business Association

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