Johnson Introduces Bill to Promote Native American Small Business Development

Johnson Introduces Bill to Promote Native American Small Business Development

U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) today introduced legislation designed to promote small business development in Indian Country, creating new jobs and increasing prosperity.

"Fostering small business growth is an important step toward increasing employment opportunities and improving local economies in Indian Country," said Johnson, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. "Economic hardship and staggeringly high unemployment rates are an unfortunate reality for many Native American communities. However, given the proper resources, I believe that Native American-owned businesses can develop and thrive."

The Native American Small Business Development Act (NASBDA) would establish a permanent Office of Native American Affairs within the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). It would also create three grant programs to promote new Native American-owned businesses.

A bipartisan group of seven Senators have agreed to cosponsor Johnson's bill, including Ranking Member of the Small Business Committee, John Kerry (D-MA); and Vice Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, Byron Dorgan (D-ND).

Johnson has introduced this bipartisan legislation in the past, and is optimistic that previous support for the legislation will aid the bill this year. In 2003, the legislation was passed in the Senate as part of the Small Business Administration 50th Anniversary Reauthorization Act of 2003, S. 1375. Similar legislation was passed in the House of Representatives, but a final version of the two bills was not negotiated.

http://johnson.senate.gov/~johnson/releases/200510/2005A24713.html