Thompson Introduces Bill to Address Flawed Alaska Native Corporation Program
November 18, 2010 (WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced the introduction of legislation to eliminate the preferences and special rules for Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) to place them on equal footing with other eligible 8(a) program participants. The legislation is a companion to S. 3959 in the Senate, introduced yesterday.
Chairman Thompson released the following statement with the introduction of the legislation:
“Our concerns about ANC's have always involved the manner in which their special status discourages federal agencies from using small, minority and disadvantaged businesses. Several investigations have shown that they do not hire native Alaskans or return benefits to native Alaskan shareholders. This adversely affects development of those businesses,” said Thompson.
“This bill will help correct this situation by assuring that ANCs are not granted a privileged status that both protects them from legitimate competition from other businesses and fails to return a fair share of profits to native shareholders.
“We cannot allow the important and necessary goals of the (8a) program to be undermined. Small, minority businesses must be given a fair opportunity to succeed, and I am hopeful that this legislation will bring us one step closer those goals. I look forward to working with Senator McCaskill has we move forward,” said Rep. Thompson.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Dena Graziano or Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978
