Senator Boxer: Support for Native American Small Business

September 13, 2007

Too many Native Americans remain in poverty.  While amazingly diverse, Native Americans, including American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians, are too often found in the bottom ranks on wealth and income.  I am pleased to join a bipartisan effort to help remedy this situation.

I am cosponsoring the Native American Small Business Development Act of 2007, authored by Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD).  This legislation would establish the Office of Native American Affairs within the Small Business Administration (SBA).  This Office would implement SBA programs for the development of business enterprises by Native Americans.

This bill is aimed at encouraging people to become entrepreneurs by starting, operating, and growing small businesses.  It will help those entrepreneurs develop management and technical skills and increase access to capital markets.  By building small businesses, employment opportunities will naturally grow, as well.

I am excited about the fundamental economic change that this legislation may bring to struggling Native Americans across our nation and will be working for its passage.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

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