William Redmond: “as a Member from a State representing large Native American populations, I have taken a special interest in helping…”

“as a Member from a State representing large Native American populations, I have taken a special interest in helping Native Americans and tribal businesses foster entrepreneurship and rigorous reservation economies. Too often our Nation's Indian policies stifle tribal economic development in favor of big government solutions that continue to retard the developments of viable reservation-based economies. More devastating is that the rules and regulations that come with Federal control discourage private enterprises from investing and establishing businesses on reservations. The absence of a private sector to create wealth and employment for Native American people remains one of the biggest problems tribal leaders must confront. I have risen today to join my colleagues to pay tribute to Chief Phillip Martin, whose belief in free enterprise and self-reliance inspired the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to overcome its dependence on the Federal Government by creating a productive role for itself in the national economy. Chief Martin recognized long ago that the key to becoming a self-governing tribe was in building a tribal government and educating and training their people.”