WHEREAS, we, the members of the National Congress of American Indians of the United States, invoking the divine blessing of the Creator upon our efforts and purposes, in order to preserve for ourselves and our descendants rights secured under Indian Treaties and agreements with the United States, and all other rights and benefits to which we are entitled under the laws and Constitution of the United States to enlighten the public toward a better understanding of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution; and

WHEREAS, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is the oldest and largest national organization established in 1944 and comprised of representatives of and advocates for national, regional, and local Tribal concerns; and

WHEREAS, the health, safety, welfare, education, economic and employment opportunity, and preservation of cultural and natural resources are primary goals and objectives of NCAI; and

WHEREAS, the Indian Financing Act of 1974, P.L. 93-262 (IFA) is intended, among other things, to provide capital on a reimbursable basis to help and utilize Indian resources, both physical and human, to a point where Indians will fully exercise responsibility for the utilization and management of their own resources and where they will enjoy a standard of living from their own productive efforts comparable to that enjoyed by non-Indians in neighboring communities; and

WHEREAS, Title IV of the IFA authorizes Indian Business Grants for the purpose of stimulating entrepreneurship and employment by providing equity capital through non-reimbursable grants to establish and expand profit making Indian-owned businesses on or near reservations; and

WHEREAS, Section 201 of Title II of the IFA authorizes: (a) the Secretary to guarantee the unpaid principal and interest due, not to exceed 90 per cent on any loan made to Indian organizations; and (b) reimbursement of lenders for any losses in an amount not to exceed 15 percent of the aggregate for such loans, but not to exceed 90 per cent of the loss on any one loan;

WHEREAS, Indian businesses could benefit from having the ability to receive loans and grants that are a combination of the authority provided in Title IV and Title II of the IFA; and

WHEREAS, adequate lending authority and additional funds for grants and technical assistance are needed to properly implement the IFA;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NCAI hereby urges the U.S. Department of Interior to amend Title II of the Indian Finance Act (IFA) to allow the Secretary to combine grants under the Indian Business Grant Program authorized by Title IV with loans under the Loan Guaranty Program authorized by Title II, as may be requested by the borrower or lender; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCAI hereby further urges that Congress appropriate and authorize for the IFA for FY 2001 and succeeding fiscal years at a minimum the following amounts: $5,000,000 for technical assistance under Title V of the IFA; $10,000,000 for Indian Business Development Grants, including $5,000,000 for small business and $5,000,000 for individual business.

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2000 Mid-Year Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska, on June 25-28, 2000 with a quorum present.

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Susan Masten, President, NCAI

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Juana Majel, Recording Secretary

Adopted by the General Assembly during the 2000 Mid-Year Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska on June 25-28, 2000.