Rep. Mazie K. Hirono Votes to Expand Support for Native Hawaiian Small Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Rep. Mazie K. Hirono voted to expand a federal program to support small businesses owned by Native Hawaiians, Alaska Natives and Indian tribe members.
The amendment, HR 2284, to the Small Business Act passed by a vote of 351 to 73.
In a floor speech this week, Rep. Hirono noted recent studies showed that Native Hawaiians lag the state average in per capital income, while suffering from a high poverty rate.
She said, "Native Hawaiians are committed to changing these statistics through innovative educational and entrepreneurial programs."
The bill would expand and improve assistance provided by Small Business Development Centers, particularly to companies certified under Section 8(a) to qualify for federal contracts.
Rep. Hirono said Native Hawaiian organizations that have taken advantage of the 8(a) program have provided hundreds of well-paying jobs in Hawaii.
She added, "The profits from these enterprises have been plowed back into the Native Hawaiian communities to provide essential social, health and cultural benefits traditionally funded by government or not at all."
Rep. Hirono said the Small Business Development Center program pays for itself. Clients served by the program generated additional tax revenues of $248 million in 2005, nearly three times the cost of the program to taxpayers.
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