Intertribal Life Newspaper -

WASHINGTON-Native American Tribes are hopeful an update to a century-old law will spur tribal economies and create a uniform approach to contracting procedures involving the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service.

The Buy Indian Act, created in 1910 to set aside government procurement contracts for Native-owned businesses, affects only the BIA and IHS. Still, in 2015 the Government Accountability Office reported only 12 percent to 15 percent of IHS contracts went to Indian-owned businesses, and it suggested sweeping reform is needed to increase contract opportunities.

Sen. John...