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Hearings

Native 8(a) Contracting: Emerging Issues

The Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations will hold a hearing titled, “Native 8(a) Contracting: Emerging Issues.” The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

Recognizing the positive impact that the SBA’s 8(a) program could have on tribal communities living in devastating poverty with little to no economic opportunity, Congress created the exceptions in the law for enterprises owned communally by tribes, Alaska Native Corporations and Native Hawaiian Organizations – community-based organizations required to provide social, economic and cultural benefits to their Native owners in perpetuity. The hearing will assess the past, present, and future issues surrounding the program in order to ensure it is operating in accordance with Congressional intent.

To view a livestream of the hearing, please click here

Hearing Notice 

Hearing Memo 

Witness List 

Witnesses 

Panel One:
Mr. Seto Bagdoyan
Director
Forensic Audits and Investigative Service
United States Government Accountability Office
Washington, DC
Testimony 

Panel Two:
Mr. Joe Valandra
Executive Director
Native American Contractors Association
Washington, DC
Testimony

Ms. Annette Hamilton
Chief Operating Officer
Ho-Chunk Inc.
Winnebago, NE
Testimony 

Mr. Edwin A. (Skip) Vincent
Chairman and Founder
The Hawaii Pacific Foundation
Honolulu, HI
*Testifying in his role as board member of the Native Hawaiian Organization Association (NHOA)
Testimony 

Ms. Jana Turvey
President and CEO
Leisnoi
Anchorage, AK
*Testifying on behalf of the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association 
Testimony 

Ms. Christine V. Williams
Managing Partner
Outlook Law LLC
Anchorage, AK
Testimony 
 

*Witness testimony will be posted within 24 hours after the hearing’s occurrence

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