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