February 3, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC – Derrick Watchman, Chairman of the Board for The National Center for American Indian Economic Development, testified today before a House Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee hearing focused on federal economic development programs in Indian Country. Watchman shared some of The National Center’s policy priorities and provided specific examples of how existing statutes could function better and legislation that would boost economic opportunity across tribal communities. Watchman was invited to testify on behalf of The National Center by Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Teresa Leger-Fernandez (D-NM).
Joining Chairman Watchman at the hearing, titled “Making Federal Economic Development Programs Work in Indian Country,” were Hope Silvas, Chairwoman of the Shivwits Band of Paiutes; Rodney Butler, President of the Native American Finance Officers Association’s Board of Directors and Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation; and Haven Harris, Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Native American Contractors Association.
As Chairman Watchman noted in his testimony, The National Center has been involved in federal economic development policy since shortly after the organization’s founding in 1969: “The National Center took advocacy into its own hands to broaden existing programs and create new ones specifically designed to overcome barriers to business and procurement assistance, capital access, employment opportunities, and other development tools.”Left image: Chairman Derrick Watchman testifies before the House Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee.
“For decades, The National Center has utilized federal grants and cooperative agreements to deliver our services and expertise to tribes and Native entrepreneurs,” said Chairman Watchman. “Though Congress authorized these programs with worthy aspirations, agencies often complicate their deployment and effectiveness. We know they can be strengthened with legislative fixes and Departments fulfilling their statutory requirements. The National Center looks forward to working with the Subcommittee to ensure bipartisan economic development programs work for the people and communities they are meant to benefit.”
Federal economic development priorities identified by The National Center include:
- Implementation of the NATIVE Act to bolster tourism in tribal and Native communities. The National Center entered into a cooperative agreement with Department of Interior (DOI) that led to the creation of the Native Edge Tourism Technical Assistance Center, yet that program has been paused and it is unclear how Congressionally appropriated NATIVE Act money is being spent.
- Reauthorization of the Indian Incubators Program with increased annual funding so the Bureau of Indian Affairs can seek additional applicants.
- Full Buy Indian Act compliance (and required reporting) at DOI and the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure required contracts and purchases with qualified Indian economic enterprises.
- Strengthen the Indian Loan Guarantee Program by recruiting new hires with banking experience.
- Appointment of a qualified Native professional as Director of the Office of Native American Business Development at the Department of Commerce and deploy $2.3 million from MBDA funds to the Office, as Congress directed in its FY2026 Joint Explanatory Statement on Commerce Appropriations.
- Appointment of qualified Native professionals at other long-vacant senior positions in the Executive Branch.
- Authorization of the Small Business Administration’s Office of Native Affairs.
- Passage of Tribal Tax and Investment Reform legislation to eliminate the “essential governmental function” restrictions on tribal government bond issuances and provide for parity in tax treatment of Tribal Nations as taxing authorities.
You can watch the hearing and view hearing documents, including witness testimony, on the House Natural Resources Committee’s website. Chairman Watchman’s testimony is also available on The National Center’s website. The National Center will be releasing an updated Policy Brief, developed in conjunction with 17 other Native-serving organizations, in the coming days.
