Haley Stevens: “The Manager's amendment currently before the Senate includes an amendment to section 8014. That section addresses the…”

“The Manager's amendment currently before the Senate includes an amendment to section 8014. That section addresses the procedures that must be followed by Department of Defense agencies which seek to outsource certain civilian functions to private contractors. Since 1990, this provision has been included in the Defense appropriations bills for each of the last ten years. Throughout that time, section 8014 has provided for certain exceptions to the procedures, including an exception when the private contractor is a Native American-owned entity. This exception has been included in furtherance of the Federal policy of Indian self-determination and the promotion of economic self-sufficiency for the native people of America. The exception for a private contractor that is a Native American-owned entity is an exercise of the authority that has been vested in the Congress by the U.S. Constitution in Article I, Section 8, Clause 3, often referred to as the Indian Commerce Clause.”