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Policy & Advocacy

Indian Country's Federal Policy Priorities

LATEST: 

Joint Indian Country Economic Policy Brief for the Incoming Trump Administration (PDF 914 kb)

Joint Indian Country Economic Policy Brief for the 119th Congress (PDF 861 kb)

Across Indian Country, Tribal Nations are forging impressive records of economic progress. From operating nation-owned enterprises to cultivating tribal citizen-owned businesses to preparing their people to access new job opportunities through workforce education and training, Tribal Nations are methodically building sustainable economies to support thriving Native communities. As they do, they are also helping to power the regional economies that surround them, generating jobs, income, and a good quality of life for growing numbers of Native and non-Native people. 

Driving this remarkable yet uneven renaissance is tribal self-determination, specifically the responsibility each Tribal Nation exercises to create a robust economy based on its cultural values, particular circumstances, and long-range priorities. To support Tribal Nations, the federal government must fulfill its binding trust and treaty obligations to take key actions to foster – and remove the barriers impeding – their economy-building efforts. Past Administrations and Congresses have done just that, often in a bipartisan fashion. 

Consider, for example: 

  • Passage of the Native American Business Development, Trade Promotion and Tourism Act of 2000 and Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act of 2020 – both Republican-sponsored – which established and strengthened the Office of Native American Business Development within the Department of Commerce and featured several policy and funding measures to spur economic growth in Native communities
  • Passage of the Native American Business Incubators Program Act – signed into law by then-President Trump – which created a program providing grants to establish and operate sorely needed business incubators in Indian Country
  • Finalization of the modernized Community Reinvestment Act regulations, which feature critical new provisions specifically designed to increase banks’ investment in Indian Country
  • Treasury’s new proposed rule affirming the tax-exempt status of tribally chartered corporations wholly owned by Tribal Nations, which removes a longstanding barrier for tribal business development and growth
  • Proposed updates to Treasury regulations to improve the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act implementation to increase Tribal Nations’ flexibility to provide needed benefits to their citizens to lift them out of poverty
  • Expansion of Public Law 102-477 – signed into law by then-President Trump – and subsequent adoption of the revised 477 Interdepartmental MOA that enhances Tribal Nations’ ability to merge federal program funding for workforce development, economic development, and related initiatives into streamlined, comprehensive tribal plans that enhance the economic impact of federal dollars in Native communities 

Featured below are key policy steps the Administration, federal agencies, and Congress should take to enhance and grow the federal government’s support of Tribal Nations as they build and sustain vibrant economies that benefit not just Native people, but all Americans. These consensus priorities are endorsed by the briefs' 15 contributing Native organizations. In addition to the documents for the Trump Administration and 119th Congress, you can also view earlier versions of policy documents (for both Congress and the Administration) updated in March 2024.

Tribal Economic Development Policy Documents

NCAIED: Key Indian Country Economic Development Legislation Passes Senate Committee

July 21, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC – Earlier this week, the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship approved the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act (S. 1156). The legislation, sponsored by Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), would create a permanent Associate Administrator at the Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA) within the Small Business Administration (SBA). Currently, the ONAA is established only administratively, which means it is often subject to inconsistent and insufficient funding levels, shifting missions and priorities, and does not always have a direct report to the SBA Administrator. S. 1156 would establish the ONAA by law and require that it be led by an Associate Administrator with a direct report to the SBA Administrator.

The Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act was one of 11 bills that was packaged and approved by an 18-1 vote at the Committee on Wednesday, July 19. Other bills in the package included the Community Advantage Loan Program and Small Business Lending Company provisions. Additional co-sponsors of S. 1156 are Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK).

“The National Center applauds the tireless work of Senators Hickenlooper and Lummis to pass the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act,” said Chris James, President and CEO of The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. “As a former Associate Administrator at SBA, I understand the importance of having an advocate for Indian Country with a direct line to the Administrator. Making this position permanent will mean the unique economic and entrepreneurial needs of our community – and government-to-government consultation – will always be a priority at SBA. I look forward to this vital legislation becoming law to ensure that we always have at seat at the table in an agency that plays a critical role in boosting our economy.”

Establishing a permanent ONAA at SBA led by an Associate Administrator has long been a priority of the National Center, including supporting a similar bill filed by Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) in the previous Congress. The National Center has also advocated for creating a similar office at the Department of Commerce. Legislation that elevated and boosted funding for the Office of Native American Business Development within Commerce became law in 2020.

About The National Center: The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. With over 50 years of assisting American Indian Tribes and their enterprises with business and economic development – The National Center has evolved into the largest national Indian specific business organization in the nation serving over 500 clients and providing over $4 billion in contracts to its clients. The National Center has nine offices throughout the nation with its home office located in Mesa, Arizona. The National Center is actively engaged in helping Tribal Nations and Native business people realize their business goals and are dedicated to putting the whole of Indian Country to work to better the lives of American Indian people – both now…and for generations to come.

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Enhancing Marketplace Competitiveness – ADMINISTRATION
Enhancing Marketplace Competitiveness – CONGRESS
Land and Energy Development – ADMINISTRATION
Land and Energy Development – CONGRESS
Growing Native Food Economies – ADMINISTRATION
Growing Native Food Economies – CONGRESS
Fostering International Native Commerce – ADMINISTRATION
Fostering International Native Commerce – CONGRESS

Our Impact This Year

  • Contracts Awarded

    $840M

  • Attendees at RES

    4,600

  • Current Clients

    1,516

  • States Traveled

    23

  • Crystal Williams * Vice-Chair of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana
    Crystal Williams * Vice-Chair of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana

    The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana is a proud supporter of The National Center. We believe in its mission and have experienced first-hand the value of an organization focused solely to advancing tribal economies across the United States. Indian Country continues to benefit from the skill, dedication, and tireless work of The National Center and its team.

National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED)
953 E Juanita Ave
Mesa, AZ 85204
Phone 888-962-2433
Contact
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