Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 3.djvu/991

 PUBLIC LAW 106-464—NOV. 7, 2000 114 STAT. 2013 value to self-determination, self-reliance, and independence, Native Americans suffer higher rates of unemployment, poverty, poor health, substandard housing, and associated social ills than those of any other group in the United States; (9) the United States has an obligation to assist Indian tribes with the creation of appropriate economic and political conditions with respect to Indian lands to— (A) encourage investment from outside sources that do not originate with the tribes; and (B) facilitate economic ventures with outside entities that are not tribal entities; (10) the economic success and material well-being of Native American communities depends on the combined efforts of the Federal (Government, tribal governments, the private sector, and individuals; (11) the lack of employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in the communities referred to in paragraph (7) has resulted in a multigenerational dependence on Federal assistance that is— (A) insufficient to address the magnitude of needs; and (B) unreliable in availability; and (12) the twin goals of economic self-sufficiency and political self-determination for Native Americans can best be served by making available to address the challenges faced by those groups— (A) the resources of the private market; (B) adequate capital; and (C) technical expertise. (b) PURPOSES. —The purposes of this Act are as follows: (1) To revitalize economically and physically distressed Native American economies by— (A) encouraging the formation of new businesses by eligible entities, and the expansion of existing businesses; and (B) facilitating the movement of goods to and from Indian lands and the provision of services by Indians. (2) To promote private investment in the economies of Indian tribes and to encourage the sustainable development of resources of Indian tribes and Indian-owned businesses. (3) To promote the long-range sustained growth of the economies of Indian tribes. (4) To raise incomes of Indians in order to reduce the number of Indians at poverty levels and provide the means for achieving a higher standard of living on Indian reservations. (5) To encourage intertribal, regional, and international trade and business development in order to assist in increasing productivity and the standard of living of members of Indian tribes and improving the economic self-sufficiency of the governing bodies of Indian tribes. (6) To promote economic self-sufficiency and political self- determination for Indian tribes and members of Indian tribes. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 25 USC 4302. In this Act: (1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY. —The term "eligible entity" means an Indian tribe or tribal organization, an Indian arts and crafts

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