00 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 44 01 Supporting the ability of Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by federally 02 recognized tribes in the state to participate in the United States Small Business 03 Administration's 8(a) Business Development Program. 04 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 05 WHEREAS the United States Congress enacted 43 U.S.C. 1601 (Alaska Native 06 Claims Settlement Act) in 1971 to resolve aboriginal land claims in the state and to promote 07 economic self-sufficiency for Alaska Natives through the creation of Alaska Native 08 corporations; and  09 WHEREAS there are 229 federally recognized tribes in the state, each with a 10 government-to-government relationship with the United States, and the trust responsibility of 11 the United States extends to Alaska Native tribes and Alaska Native corporations; and 12 WHEREAS Alaska Native corporations were established to create economic 13 opportunity, provide employment, and improve the health, education, and welfare of Alaska 14 Native shareholders and future generations; and 15 WHEREAS entities owned by federally recognized tribes in the state serve vital roles 01 in promoting the economic development, self-governance, health, education, and welfare of 02 Alaska Native communities; and 03 WHEREAS the United States Small Business Administration's 8(a) Business 04 Development Program is a federal program designed to assist socially and economically 05 disadvantaged businesses in accessing federal contracting opportunities; and 06 WHEREAS Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by federally recognized 07 tribes in the state are expressly eligible to participate in the 8(a) Business Development 08 Program under federal law in recognition of the federal government's trust responsibility to 09 Alaska Natives and the unique circumstances of how the plenary powers of the United States 10 Congress were exercised over the organizational structure of Alaska Natives; and 11 WHEREAS the participation of Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by 12 federally recognized tribes in the state in the 8(a) Business Development Program has created 13 thousands of jobs for residents of the state, including veterans and residents of rural and 14 underserved communities, and has helped build a skilled workforce across the state; and 15 WHEREAS revenue generated through the participation of Alaska Native 16 corporations and entities owned by federally recognized tribes in the state in the 8(a) Business 17 Development Program is reinvested in the state through shareholder dividends, job training, 18 scholarships, cultural preservation, health care, infrastructure, and community development; 19 and 20 WHEREAS Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by federally recognized 21 tribes in the state participating in the 8(a) Business Development Program operate in a wide 22 range of industries, including construction, engineering, energy, defense, logistics, 23 information technology, health services, and professional services; and 24 WHEREAS the participation of Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by 25 federally recognized tribes in the state in the 8(a) Business Development Program has 26 strengthened the state's economy by increasing competition, fostering entrepreneurship, and 27 ensuring that federal money spent in the state provides lasting benefits to residents of the 28 state; and 29 WHEREAS the 8(a) Business Development Program has proven to be an effective 30 and efficient tool for federal agencies to meet mission needs while advancing the federal 31 policy goals of economic inclusion and self-determination for Alaska Natives, including 01 Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by federally recognized tribes in the state; and 02 WHEREAS periodic proposals to restrict, eliminate, or undermine the participation of 03 Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by federally recognized tribes in the state in 04 the 8(a) Business Development Program threaten jobs in the state, rural economies, and the 05 ability of Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by federally recognized tribes in the 06 state to fulfill obligations to shareholders and tribal members; 07 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature strongly supports the continued 08 authorization for Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by federally recognized tribes 09 in the state to participate in and fully implement the 8(a) Business Development Program; and 10 be it 11 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature recognizes the 12 participation of Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by federally recognized tribes 13 in the state in the 8(a) Business Development Program as a critical component of the state's 14 economy and a successful example of federal policy that promotes self-sufficiency, 15 opportunity, and long-term economic development; and be it 16 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the President of the 17 United States, the United States Congress, and the United States Small Business 18 Administration to preserve, defend, and fully utilize the ability of Alaska Native corporations 19 and entities owned by federally recognized tribes in the state to participate in the 8(a) 20 Business Development Program and to oppose efforts that would weaken or eliminate its 21 unique provisions applicable to Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by federally 22 recognized tribes in the state; and be it 23 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature affirms its support for 24 Alaska Native self-determination and the federal trust responsibility embodied in 43 U.S.C. 25 1601 (Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act) and related federal programs, including those 26 supporting the sovereign authority of federally recognized tribes in the state. 27 COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President 28 of the United States; the Honorable Pete Hegseth, United States Secretary of Defense; the 29 Honorable Brandon Beach, Treasurer of the United States; the Honorable Kelly Loeffler, 30 Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration; Nicole Borromeo, President, 31 ANCSA Regional Association; Benjamin Mallott, President, Alaska Federation of Natives; 01 Curtis McQueen, Executive Director, Alaska Native Village Corporation Association; and the 02 Honorable Lisa Murkowski and the Honorable Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senators, and the 03 Honorable Nicholas Begich, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in 04 Congress.