Support bill for tribes, U.S.-Turkish relations

U.S. House Resolution 2362 - Indian Tribal Trade and Investment Demonstration Project Act of 2011 - introduced by Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), seeks to facilitate economic development by American Indian tribes and to encourage investment by Turkish enterprises in our tribal communities.

This legislation carries a tremendous potential for the U.S.-Turkish cooperation to contribute to economic prosperity in America. While American Indian communities continue to face high unemployment and poverty, the investment demonstration project proposed by HR 2362 can help in addressing them.

The legislation would reform various legal barriers that inhibit tribal economic development and would stimulate private-sector investment for improving the living standards and reducing dependency of tribal communities on the U.S. government. HR 2362 would also serve to strengthen our beneficial partnership with Turkey, world's emerging economic powerhouse.

I join the Turkic-American community, the Pax Turcica Institute (PTI), Assembly of Turkish-American Associations (ATAA), Azerbaijani-American Council (AAC) and Azerbaijan Society of America (ASA) in urging you to support HR 2362.

Agshin Taghiyev

Iowa City