Alaska SJR 26: Supporting the ability of Alaska Native corporations to participate in the United States Small Business Administration's 8(a) Business Development Program.

Bill Text

SJR026B -1- CSSJR 26(RES)
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
ORIGINAL
34-LS1420\N

CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 26(RES)

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY THE SENATE RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Offered: 3/10/26
Referred: Rules

Sponsor(s): SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ARCTIC AFFAIRS
A RESOLUTION

Supporting the ability of Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by federally 1
recognized tribes in the state to participate in the United States Small Business 2
Administration's 8(a) Business Development Program. 3
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 4
WHEREAS the United States Congress enacted 43 U.S.C. 1601 (Alaska Native 5
Claims Settlement Act) in 1971 to resolve aboriginal land claims in the state and to promote 6
economic self-sufficiency for Alaska Natives through the creation of Alaska Native 7
corporations; and 8
WHEREAS there are 229 federally recognized tribes in the state, each with a 9
government-to-government relationship with the United States, and the trust responsibility of 10
the United States extends to Alaska Native tribes and Alaska Native corporations; and 11
WHEREAS Alaska Native corporations were established to create economic 12
opportunity, provide employment, and improve the health, education, and welfare of Alaska 13
Native shareholders and future generations; and 14
WHEREAS entities owned by federally recognized tribes in the state serve vital roles 15

34-LS1420\N
CSSJR 26(RES) -2- SJR026B
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

in promoting the economic development, self-governance, health, education, and welfare of 1
Alaska Native communities; and 2
WHEREAS the United States Small Business Administration's 8(a) Business 3
Development Program is a federal program designed to assist socially and economically 4
disadvantaged businesses in accessing federal contracting opportunities; and 5
WHEREAS Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by federally recognized 6
tribes in the state are expressly eligible to participate in the 8(a) Business Development 7
Program under federal law in recognition of the federal government's trust responsibility to 8
Alaska Natives and the unique circumstances of how the plenary powers of the United States 9
Congress were exercised over the organizational structure of Alaska Natives; and 10
WHEREAS the participation of Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by 11
federally recognized tribes in the state in the 8(a) Business Development Program has created 12
thousands of jobs for residents of the state, including veterans and residents of rural and 13
underserved communities, and has helped build a skilled workforce across the state; and 14
WHEREAS revenue generated through the participation of Alaska Native 15
corporations and entities owned by federally recognized tribes in the state in the 8(a) Business 16
Development Program is reinvested in the state through shareholder dividends, job training, 17
scholarships, cultural preservation, health care, infrastructure, and community development; 18
and 19
WHEREAS Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by federally recognized 20
tribes in the state participating in the 8(a) Business Development Program operate in a wide 21
range of industries, including construction, engineering, energy, defense, logistics, 22
information technology, health services, and professional services; and 23
WHEREAS the participation of Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by 24
federally recognized tribes in the state in the 8(a) Business Development Program has 25
strengthened the state's economy by increasing competition, fostering entrepreneurship, and 26
ensuring that federal money spent in the state provides lasting benefits to residents of the 27
state; and 28
WHEREAS the 8(a) Business Development Program has proven to be an effective 29
and efficient tool for federal agencies to meet mission needs while advancing the federal 30
policy goals of economic inclusion and self-determination for Alaska Natives, including 31

34-LS1420\N
SJR026B -3- CSSJR 26(RES)
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by federally recognized tribes in the state; and 1
WHEREAS periodic proposals to restrict, eliminate, or undermine the participation of 2
Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by federally recognized tribes in the state in 3
the 8(a) Business Development Program threaten jobs in the state, rural economies, and the 4
ability of Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by federally recognized tribes in the 5
state to fulfill obligations to shareholders and tribal members; 6
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature strongly supports the continued 7
authorization for Alaska Native corporations and entities owned by federally recognized tribes 8
in the state to participate in and fully implement the 8(a) Business Development Program; and 9
be