And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: posted to Paths-L by Larry Kibby COMMITTEE SENDS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BILLS TO THE FULL SENATE Washington, D.C. - The Senate Indian Affairs Committee today unanimously approved four bills introduced by Chairman Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.) to boost economic development on Indian reservations. "In this time of national economic prosperity, it is absolutely shameful that most Indian reservations resemble third-world nations," Campbell said. "The average unemployment rate in Indian country is over 50 percent. The problems is simple: decades of federal intervention and stifling regulations. One of my top priorities as Chairman is to get government out of the way so business can prosper on reservations like it does in the rest of America." The "Native American Business Development, Trade Promotion, and Tourism Act of 1999," encourages business development and trade promotion by Native Americans by creating a business development office in the Department of Commerce. This office will give tribal entrepreneurs a one-stop shop for information on federal programs tailored to help businesses. The "Indian Tribal Economic Development and Contract Encouragement Act of 1999" expedites the Interior Department's approval process for contracts on reservations by setting deadlines for the Secretary to act. The bill also requires tribes to disclose their sovereign immunity in contracts. The third business bill, the "Indian Tribal Regulatory Reform and Business Development Act of 1999," creates an authority to review federal laws in an effort to identify the obstacles to private investment and economic development on Indian lands. The committee also reported out amendments to the "Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act Amendment of 1999." The committee also passed the "Four Corners Interpretive Center Act," introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and cosponsored by Campbell, and the "Mineral Leasing Act Amendments of 1999," introduced by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) ------------------------------------------------------------------ For further legislative news regarding Indian Country, go to: http://www.senate.gov/~scia ------------------------------------------------------------------ Reprinted under the fair use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
