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Tribal finance leaders press Congress for tax parity, capital access and permanent Treasury tribal office
Summary
Native financial officers told the Senate Indian Affairs committee that reforms to tax treatment, set‑asides for New Markets Tax Credits, expanded Indian Loan Guarantee Program authority and permanence for Treasury’s Office of Tribal and Native Affairs would accelerate tribal economic development and access to capital.
Rodney Butler, president of the Native American Financial Officers Association, told the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs that modernizing federal tax treatment and strengthening capital tools are central to tribal economic growth.
Butler urged tax parity between tribes and states on matters such as tax-exempt bond financing, excise tax parity, pension treatment and charitable status. He recommended a tribal set‑aside for New Markets Tax Credits and inclusion of tribal low‑income housing tax credits to enable more affordable housing development on tribal lands.
Why it matters: Butler said the disparity is large—he cited Brookings figures showing state governments issued about $47 billion annually in non‑taxable municipal bonds from 2014–2020 versus roughly $84 million by tribal governments over the same period—and argued that parity would spur job creation and raise governmental revenue for services.
Butler also urged making Treasury’s Office of Tribal and Native Affairs permanent and continuing the Tribal Treasury Advisory Committee to help tribes access tax incentives and resolve longstanding issues such as contract support cost classification and Indian Loan Guarantee Program limitations that now hinder taking advantage of New Markets Tax Credits.
Ending: Committee members said they view tax parity and capital access as a bipartisan opportunity and asked NFOA to provide legislative text and technical fixes the committee can advance this Congress.
