Washington, D.C. —
Senator John Thune (R-SD) today announced the Senate Small Business Committee, of which he is a member, approved a provision to implement the Office of Native American Affairs Pilot Program. This two-year pilot program, which Senator Thune co-wrote with Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), would enable the Office of Native American Affairs to develop a self-assessment tool to assist Native American communities in determining and implementing economic development practices best suited for each reservation.
"As it stands, Native American communities have a vast array of economic development opportunities before them, but they lack the necessary tools to assist them in choosing which opportunities will work best for their distinct set of circumstances," Thune said. "Our provision, which poses no costs to taxpayers, will help tribes with this most basic economic development issue and allow them to choose the best way to focus resources and foster economic growth."
The pilot program was included in a larger bill, S. 1671, the Entrepreneurial Development Act, which was marked up and passed out of the Small Business Committee. The legislation now awaits consideration by the full Senate.
"As it stands, Native American communities have a vast array of economic development opportunities before them, but they lack the necessary tools to assist them in choosing which opportunities will work best for their distinct set of circumstances," Thune said. "Our provision, which poses no costs to taxpayers, will help tribes with this most basic economic development issue and allow them to choose the best way to focus resources and foster economic growth."
The pilot program was included in a larger bill, S. 1671, the Entrepreneurial Development Act, which was marked up and passed out of the Small Business Committee. The legislation now awaits consideration by the full Senate.