Alaska Native corporation contracting came under heavy fire at a House Government Reform Committee hearing on Wednesday.

Republicans and Democrats on the panel said Alaska Native corporations appear to be abusing special rules that allow them to obtain no-bid contracts worth millions and potentially billions of dollars. They said other minority groups are being cut out of the small business program.

The Government Accountability Office reported no wrongdoing among the corporations but called for more federal oversight. The GAO found that Alaska Native contracting grew from $265 million in 2000 to $1.1 billion in 2004.

Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) and Alaska Native leaders defended the success of the program. They said federal contracts are providing revenues that are distributed directly to Alaska Natives and are used to provide services for Alaska Natives.

Get the Story:
House panel rakes Native contracts (The Anchorage Daily News 6/22)
pwlat

GAO Report "Contract Management: Increased Use of Alaska Native Corporations� Special 8(a) Provisions Calls for Tailored Oversight":
Abstract | Highlights | Full Report

Relevant Links:
Native American Contractors Association - http://www.nativeamericancontractors.org
House Committee on Government Reform -

Related Stories:
House hearing on Alaska Native corporation contracting (6/21)
GAO calls for more oversight of Alaska Native contracts (04/28)
Sen. Stevens defends Alaska Native contracting (04/13)
GAO warns of Alaska Native contract abuse (4/12)
Business Week: Choctaws land shady Katrina contract (4/5)
Alaska Native corporations await GAO report (03/20)
Defense rider targets Alaska Native contracting (4/25)
Opinion: Congressional probe will hurt Indian business (03/21)
Alaska Native corporation contracts under scrutiny (3/7)
Non-Native companies benefit from Native contracting (08/13)
Alaska Native subsidiary wins defense contract (06/29)
Alaska Native subsidiary awarded NASA contract (06/25)
Native firm leases Stevens building for $6M (12/18)
Supreme Court rejects appeal of Native preference case (12/16)
Court rejects union claim against Native contract (06/09)
Native corp close to $2.5B contract (09/09)
Alaska Native deal criticized (6/14)
Native Corp. survives bankruptcy (5/30)