Rep. Gabbard Supports Native Hawaiian Small Businesses

Courtesy photo.

On Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard delivered a congressional update at the 4^th Annual Native Hawaiian Organizations Association (NHOA) Business Summit Conference, held at the Prince Waikīkī Hotel. HH(NHOs), 8(a) certified companies, and other locally-owned businesses with Federal contracting officers and government representatives.

The congresswoman spoke about continuing the legacy of Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka in Washington by working across party lines to deliver results for Hawaiʻi. She also updated attendees on recently secured federal funding and upcoming opportunities for Hawaiʻi businesses, including:

• $2M in appropriations funding for Native Americans/Native Hawaiian Outreach under the Small Business Administration, which helps facilitate Native contractors’ participation in the SBA 8(a) business development program
• Authorization in this year’s omnibus spending bill that provides NHOs with greater access to larger valued direct awards with the Veteran’s Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, and National Cemetery Administration
• Important provisions for Hawaiʻi in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Defense Appropriations bill, including funding for the Homeland Defense Radar—Hawaiʻi, more than $311 million for Hawaiʻi military construction projects, more than $50 million for DOD Impact Aid Schools in Hawaiʻi and across the country, and more