American Rescue Plan – 5th COVID Relief Package
American Rescue Plan: Tribal Advocacy
- 3/31: USET SPF Comments re: DOI Consultation on ARP
- 3/23 White House Tribal Affairs: Upcoming Tribal Consultation Sessions Related to the American Rescue Plan
- NCAI National Legislative Priorities Outreach: Priority Issues
- 2/2: Joint Tribal Organization Letter to House and Senate Leadership: COVID-19 Recovery Legislative Proposal
- 1/29: NIHB letters to House and Senate Leadership: COVID-19 Stimulus Health and Public Health Funds for Indian Country
American Rescue Plan Resources
- 3/23 Democratic National Committee: American Rescue Plan State-by-State Fact Sheets:
- 3/11 Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker: Client Memo re: President Biden Signs American Rescue Plan into Law
- 3/10 NCAI: Summary of Tribal Provisions in the American Rescue Plan Act
- 3/8 IHS: Dear Tribal Leader Letter: 3/17 consultation on allocation of $6 billion
- 3/9 Senate Democrats: American Rescue Plan Supports Native American Communities (summary of $31 billion allocated for Indian Country)
- 1/15 NAFOA Broadcast: President-Elect Biden Announces Next Stimulus Approach and Priorities
American Rescue Plan Executive Actions
- 2/16 Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Announces Extension of COVID-19 Forbearance and Foreclosure Protections for Homeowners
- 2/9 Fact Sheet: President Biden Announces Community Health Centers Vaccination Program to Launch Next Week and Another Increase in States, Tribes, & Territories’ Vaccine Supply
- 2/2 Memorandum on Maximizing Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
- 1/28 Executive Order on Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act
- 1/22 Executive Order on Economic Relief Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
- 1/21 Executive Order on Establishing the COVID-19 Pandemic Testing Board and Ensuring a Sustainable Public Health Workforce for COVID-19 and Other Biological Threats
- 1/21 Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety
Vaccine Advocacy
- 10/30 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to HHS Secretary Azar: Tribal Vaccine Jurisdiction Decision Deadline and the Need for More Information and Greater Flexibility
- 10/21 USET SPF Comments on IHS COVID-19 Pandemic Draft Vaccine Plan
- 10/9 USET SPF Comments to HHS on COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution in Indian Country
- 9/4 USET SPF Comments on Discussion Draft of Equitable Vaccine Allocation Framework
COVID-19 4th Relief Package
4th Package Tribal Advocacy
- 12/5 USET SPF Letter to Senate Finance Committee Leadership in support of S. 4898 CRF deadline extension
- 7/27 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to Senate Finance Committee Leadership Regarding Extending the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage
- 7/21 USET SPF Letter to Congress Leadership Regarding Urgent Need to Address Inequities and Mismanagement of Coronavirus Relief Fund
- 7/20 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to House and Senate Leadership: Tribal Priorities
- 5/26 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to House Leadership: Tribal Homeland Security and Emergency Services Needs and Priorities for COVID-19 Phase 4
- 5/26 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to Senate Leadership: Tribal Homeland Security and Emergency Services Needs and Priorities for COVID-19 Phase 4
- 5/18 Letter from Native American Contractors Association (NACA) to Senate Small Business Committee Leadership regarding Tribal priorities
- 5/11 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to House Leadership regarding infrastructure priorities
- 5/11 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to Senate Leadership regarding infrastructure priorities
- 4/30 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to House Leadership regarding economic development and employment priorities
- 4/30 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to Senate Leadership regarding economic development and employment priorities
- 4/17 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to House Leadership: Tribal Priorities for Tribal Governance and Housing
- 4/17 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to Senate Leadership: Tribal Priorities for Tribal Governance and Housing
- 4/15 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to House Leadership: COVID-19 Recovery Legislative Proposal (Phase #4)
- 4/15 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to Senate Leadership: COVID-19 Recovery Legislative Proposal (Phase #4)
- 4/9 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to House Leadership: Small Business Assistance Delivery to Indian Country
- 4/9 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to Senate Leadership: Small Business Assistance Delivery to Indian Country
- 4/8 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to McConnell and Schumer
- 4/8 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to Pelosi and McCarthy
COVID-19 4th Relief Package Proposals
Senate Republicans Proposal for 4th Package: HEALS Act
Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act
Status: Introduced 7/27 as a set of eight bills – seven policy-focused bills and one appropriations bill
- Bill Text
- NCAI: Slim version of HEALS ACT Senate Republican Summary
- NCAI’s Summary of Tribal-related provisions
- Additional Emergency Appropriations for Coronavirus Health Response and Agency Operations Summary
- Back to Work Child Care Grants One Pager
- Continuing Small Business Recovery and Paycheck Protection Program Act
- Coronavirus Response Additional Supplemental Appropriations Act
- Education Freedom Scholarships One Pager
- Restoring Critical Supply Chains and Intellectual Property Act Section-by-Section
- Safe to Work Act
- Safely Back to School and Back to Work Act
- Scott Supporting Americas Restaurant Workers Act
- Simplifying Student Load Repayment One Pager
- Trust ACT INTRO 7.27.20 (ALB20A87)
House Democrats Proposal for 4th Package: The HEROES Act
The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act
Status: Introduced 5/12
More HEROES Act Information and Resources
- 5/6 Native American Caucus Letter to House Appropriations Committee Members requesting inclusion of Tribal priorities
- 5/4 Dear Colleague Letter to House Leadership requesting third party relief funding for the Indian health care system
- 4/14 Letter from Members of Congress to House leadership requesting inclusion of child welfare funding
- 4/13 Letter from Senators to Senate leadership requesting inclusion of domestic violence and child welfare funding
- 4/6 Pelosi Outlines Next COVID-19 Bill, Without Infrastructure
- 4/1 Roll Call: Pelosi revives ambitious infrastructure bill for next stimulus
- Moving Forward Framework
COVID-19 4th Package Tribal Advocacy
- 8/8: Joint Tribal Organization Letter to House and Senate Leadership: Pandemic Relief Funding to Indian Country
- 8/6: NIHB Letter to White House Regarding Tribal COVID-19 Health Policy Priorities
- 7/1 NIHB Testimony to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Oversight Hearing
- 6/2 NIHB letter to Senate Leadership regarding Tribal priorities for future relief packages
H.R. 266 Paycheck Protection Program Information and Resources
- SBA 12/9: PPP Myth vs Fact
- Treasury 6/8: Joint Statement by SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin Regarding Enactment of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act
- 5/19 IHS DTLL announcing distribution decisions for $750 million
- 4/21 Senate Minority Leader Schumer Dear Colleague Letter Regarding Emergency Funding and Commitments for 4th package
- 4/17 Senate Democrat Letter Urging WH and Republicans to Support Additional Funding for Governments in Coronavirus Relief Fund
- 4/10 Native American Caucus Letter to House Regarding COVID-19 House Emergency Package
- 4/8 Pelosi and Schumer Joint Statement on Interim Emergency Coronavirus Relief
Third Stimulus: H.R. 748 The CARES Act
CARES Act: Executive Branch Implementation
- 6/8: Letter from Senate Democrats to Secretary Bernhardt and Secretary DeVos expressing concerns about the slow disbursement of CARES Act funds to Tribal schools
- 5/28: Letter from Senate Democrats to Secretary Mnuchin requesting clarification of the disbursement formula used to allocate payments to Tribal governments
- 5/27: Tribal Employment and Expenditure Submission Deadline Extended May 29
- 5/8 Letter from DOI Inspector General to Senator Udall
- 5/6 DOI IG Brief: Where’s the Money? DOI Use of CARES Act Funds as of April 28, 2020
- 5/5 Treasury: Coronavirus Relief Fund Allocations to Tribal Governments
- 5/1 Letter from Rep Grijalva and Subcommittee Chairs to IG Requesting Tara Sweeney Investigation
- 5/1 Letter from Committee on Ways and Means to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin requesting the immediate release of CARES Act funds to Tribal governments
- 5/1 Letter from Senators to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin requesting the immediate release of CARES Act funds to Tribal governments
- 4/30 Udall formally requests IG investigation of data breach
- 4/29 Letter from Members of Congress to Treasury and Interior requesting the Immediate Disbursement of Coronavirus Relief Fund to Tribal Governments
- 4/23 IHS DTLL: Distribution of Remaining $367 M in CARES Act Funding
- 4/24 HSDW Memo: IHS releases DTLL on Final CARES Act Allocations
- 4/22 HHS Fact Sheet on Allocation of CARES Act Provider Relief Fund
- 4/22 Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker Memo: reports on HHS allocation of the remaining $70 billion of CARES Act Provider Relief Fund
- 3/28 Office of the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs: CARES Act Provides Critical Assistance for Tribal Governments
CARES Act Implementation: Litigation
- 10/26 Law360: Feds Back Virus Funds For Alaska Native Cos. At High Court
- 6/26 DC District Court decision in Chehalis et al v. Mnuchin case
- 6/16 NAFOA: Treasury to Disburse Remaining $679M in CRF Funds
- 6/15: Agua Caliente Band of Chauilla Indians vs Treasury US Court Decision
- 6/12 Law 360.com DC Judge Struggles To Define Tribal Gov’t In Virus Aid Fight
- 6/8 Prairie Band of Potawatomi files motion on the Treasury’s allocation method: Complaint and Temporary Restraining Order Motion
- 6/4 NCAI et al Amicus Brief in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motions for Summary Judgment
- 5/1 Joint Status Report in Chehalis v Mnuchin
- 4/30 Agua Caliente et al versus Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of US Dept of Treasury
- 4/28 DC District Court decision in Chehalis et al v. Mnuchin case
- 4/24 Plaintiff’s reply in Chehalis et al. v. Mnuchin
- 4/23 Mnuchin Response – Defendant’s Consolidated Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction
- 4/23 NCAI et al Amicus Brief in Support of Injunction
- 4/16 Chehalis Tribe et al. versus Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of US Dept of Treasury
CARES Act: Tribal Implementation Advocacy
- 9/2 TSGAC letter to IHS regarding CARES Act funding for telehealth expansion
- 6/25 USET SPF Letter to Treasury requesting clarity and transparency in CRF administration
- 6/19 NAFOA Letter to Treasury and OMB expressing CRF concerns and potential solutions
- 6/12 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to BIE requesting status update on funds allocated within the CARES Act
- 5/29 NCAI Letter to Treasury requesting a response to CRF Tribal inquiries
- 5/29 Letter from DOI SGAC to Secretary Bernhardt regarding Contrary DOI Administrative Restrictions Applied to CARES Act Funding for Self-Governance Tribes
- 5/20 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to Education and Interior requesting a status update on funds allocated for the Bureau of Indian Education
- 5/8 USET SPF Comments to HRSA and IHS regarding Provider Relief Fund
- 5/4 Self-Governance Advisory Committee Letter to AS-IA Tara MacLean Sweeney requesting that the CARES Act Tribal Allocation Include Contract Support Costs
- 4/29 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to Treasury and Interior regarding the release of all CARES Act funding
- 4/22 Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee (TTAC) Letter to Treasury regarding TTAC CARES Act Relief Funding Recommendations
- 4/17 USET SPF Letter to SBA and Treasury Regarding USET SPF Comments on the Implementation of Section 1102 of the CARES Act
- 4/16 ANCSA Regional Association CARES Act Statement
- 4/16 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to DOI and Treasury
- 4/16 Letter from House Native American Caucus Leadership to DOI and Treasury
- 4/13 NCAI Letter to Treasury on CARES Act and Tribal Governments
- 4/11 NCAI Letter to Treasury on CARES Act and Tribal Governments
- 4/11 Tribal Technical Advisory Group Letter to CMS
- 4/10 Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development Letter to Treasury
- 4/8 USET SPF Comments to Treasury and DOI on Distribution of CARES Act Tribal Set Aside
- 4/3 NIHB Letter to HHS, CDC, SAMHSA, and HRSA
- 4/3 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to the US Department of Health and Human Services
- 4/2 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to the US Small Business Administration and the Secretary of the Treasury Regarding the Paycheck Protection Program
- 4/2 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to the US Department of the Interior
- 4/1 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development
- 3/31 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to the US Department of Agriculture
- 3/31 Joint Tribal Organization Letter to the US Department of Education
- 3/31 NAFOA: Considerations for the Implementation of Title V, Coronavirus Relief Funding for Tribal Governments
- 3/29 NCAI Letter to Treasury Re: Implementation of Title V of the CARES Act
- 3/27 NAFOA Letter on Tribal Relief Fund
CARES Act: Indian Country Specific Requests
- 3/20 Tribal Priorities for Economic Development and Employment for COVID-19 Stimulus Package
- Tribal Employment Priorities – FUTA and Fisheries Technical Corrections
- 3/20 Tribal Priorities for Tribal Governance and Housing for COVID-19 Stimulus Package
- 3/20 Tribal Priorities for Health Education and Nutrition for COVID-19 Stimulus Package
- 3/20 Indian Country Priorities Summary for COVID-19 Stimulus Package
- 3/20 Letter from House Progressive Caucus
- 3/20 McSally (R-AZ) and Daines (R-MT) Letter to Majority Leader McConnell with Tribal Requests for 3rd Stimulus
- 3/19 Tribal Gaming Nations letter to Congress on COVID-19
- 3/18 National Indian Gaming Association Request $18B in Federal Aid for Tribal Gaming
- 3/18 Native CDFI Network (NCN) Calls on Congress to Provide $100 Million in Emergency Funding for NACA
- 3/17 House Native Caucus Letter with NCAI-NIHB-NCUIH Requests
- 3/16 Letter from Senator Steve Daines (MT) to President Trump recommending additional steps to include Native Americans
- 3/15 USET SPF Signs onto Joint Letter to Appropriators re: Indian Country COVID-19 Priorities
CARES Act: Resources
- 1/8/21 NAFOA: Second Draw PPP Loans Available, Guidance and Interim Final Rules Issued
- 11/19 Senator Murkowski: Alaska Congressional Delegation Files Amicus Brief in Support of Alaska Native Corporations
- SBA: Frequently Asked Questions on PPP Loan Forgiveness (updated 10/13)
- 10/2 HHS: Trump Administration Announces $20 Billion in New Phase 3 Provider Relief Funding
- 8/28 Treasury OIG: FAQs Related to Reporting and Recordkeeping
- 8/13 HSDW: Provider Relief Fund Updates
- 8/12 HRSA: COVID-19 Response: Provider Relief Fund
- 8/4 SBA & Treasury have recently released additional guidance:
- Frequently Asked Questions For Loan Forgiveness (Released 8/4/20)
- Summary of PPP lending as of 7/31/20 (Released 8/3/20)
- 7/31 Treasury OIG memorandum Coronavirus Relief Fund Reporting Requirements Update
- 7/23 SBA: Procedural Notice: Procedures for Lender Submission of Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Decisions to SBA and SBA Forgiveness Loan Reviews
- 7/22 SBA: Information Notice on Guidance Regarding Identification and Reporting of Suspicious Activity in the COVID-19 EIDL Loan Program
- 7/2 Treasury OIG Memo: Coronavirus Relief Reporting and Record Retention Requirements
- 7/2: FAQs on Acceptable and Non-acceptable Expenditures of BIA CARES Act funds
- 7/1 Blue Stone Strategy Group offers many services tied to Treasury’s CRF guidance. Their team of tribal leaders, tribal professionals and subject-matter experts can help you use CARES Act funds to the greatest impact—protecting tribal communities and economies.
- 6/24 New PPP Interim Final Rule: Additional Eligibility Revisions to First Interim Final Rule
- 6/9: HHS has posted updated Provider Relief Fund (PRF) FAQs
- 6/8 Prairie Band of Potawatomi files motion on the Treasury’s allocation method: Complaint and Temporary Restraining Order Motion
- 6/4: Treasury released a FAQ on Tribal population data
- 6/4 NCAI et al Amicus Brief in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motions for Summary Judgment
- 5/22 The Harvard Project: Proposal for a Fair and Feasible Formula for the Allocation of CARES Act COVID‐19 Relief Funds to American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments
- 5/18 New Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Interim Final Rule Clarifies That Foreign Employees Count for Size
- 5/18 The Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development and the Native Nations Institute at the University of Arizona release research critiquing the Round 1 allocations of federal CARES Act COVID-19 response funds
- 5/15 Treasury’s Guidance to Tribes for Completing Supplemental Request for Information
- 5/13 UPDATED Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) FAQs
- 5/11: Udall Welcomes Inspector General Reviews of Tribal Data Breach, Potential Conflicts of Interest in Interior Official’s Role in Distribution of Emergency Coronavirus Relief to Tribal Governments
- HHS 5/7: HHS Extends Deadline for Attestation, Acceptance of Terms and Conditions for Provider Relief Fund Payments to 45 Days
- 5/5 Summary of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) 2 loan data
- 5/5 Joint Statement by Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and Secretary of the Interior Bernhardt on Distribution of Coronavirus Relief Fund Dollars to Native American Tribes
- 4/29 FAQs: Employee Retention Credit under the CARES Act
- Tribes and Tribal businesses are discussed or mentioned in FAQs 2, 18, 21.
- 4/16 Department of Treasury updates: Assistance for American Workers and Families; Assistance for Small Businesses; Assistance to State and Local Governments; Preserving Jobs for American Industry
- 4/16: Office of the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Statement on the CRF Process
- 4/15 HUD DTLL: Input Requested on ICDBG-CARES Act Grant Ceilings
- 4/15 DOI: CARES Act Operation of Indian Programs and Indian Education Programs
- 4/15 Turtle Talk: Responses to ANC’s Accessing the Corona Virus Relief Funds Intended for Tribal Governments
- 4/15 HSDW: COVID-19 Economic Response Update; Interim Final Rule Additional Eligibility Criteria and Requirements for Certain Pledges of Loans
- 4/14 Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: States Need Significantly More Fiscal Relief to Slow the Emerging Deep Recession
- 4/14 Indian Affairs: Coronavirus Relief Fund Web Portal Registration Guidance for Tribal Governments
- 4/13 DOI DTLL: CARES Act Distribution of Funds
- 4/13 GPTCA Letter to Treasury and DOI on Distribution of Coronavirus Relief Funds
- 4/10 Treasury: Tribal Consultation-CARES Act Announcement
- 4/9 Congressional Research Service: The CARES Act: Implications for Tribes
- 4/8 VA CARES Act- Economic Impact Payments
- 4/8 Forest County Potawatomi Comments on Distribution of CARES Act Tribal Set Aside
- 4/7 Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council Comments to Treasury and DOI on Distribution of CARES Act Tribal Set Aside
- 4/6 HUD Offers $200M of COVID-19 Relief to Native Americans
- 4/3 IHS DTLL: Availability and Distribution Decision for Appropriations in CARES Act
- 4/3 Small Business Administration Interim Final Rule: Business Loan Program Temporary Changes; Paycheck Protection Program
- 4/1 Congressional Research Service: CARES Act Background and State and Local Allocations
- 4/1 McSally (R-AZ) and Daines (R-MT) Letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and Interior Secretary Bernhardt Requesting Tribal Consultation and Flexibility in Administering CARES Act Tribal Relief Funds
- 4/1 California Congressional Delegation Letter to Secretary Mnuchin and Secretary Bernhardt Requesting Expedited Rulemaking and Dispersal of CARES Act Tribal Relief Funds
- 3/31 DOI/Treasury DTLL: Consultation Calls
- 3/31 Senate Finance Committee: CARES Act: Employee Retention Credit FAQ
- 3/30 Senate Committee on Indian Affairs: Resources for Indian Tribes and Native Communities in the CARES Act
- 3/27 HSDW: President Signs Third Emergency Relief Bill in COVID-19 Response; COVID-19 Economic Response Update; CARES Act FAQs
- 3/27 National Indian Health Board: Analysis of CARES Act Healthcare Provisions
- 3/27 NCUIH: Phase 3 of Coronavirus Pandemic Package Signed Into Law
- 3/27 IHS DTLL: Availability and Distribution Decision for Appropriations
Executive Action/Requests
- 3/17 Letter from OMB to Congress Requesting Additional $45.8 billion in Funding to Executive Agencies
- 3/17 Treasury Department Proposal for Third Congressional Funding Bill
Pending Legislation
S.4898 – A bill to amend title VI of the Social Security Act to extend the period during which States, Indian Tribes, and local governments may use Coronavirus Relief Fund payments
Status: Introduced 11/16
Other Resources and Items of Interest
- 7/1 Letter from a group of lawmakers to the CDC seeking clarification of policies and practices regarding Tribal Epidemiology Centers’ access to disease and surveillance data
- 6/18 HSDW: COVID-19 Tribal Health Care Funding Chart
- 5/28 SBA and Treasury Department Announce $10 Billion for CDFIs to Participate in the PPP
- 4/30 HSDW: Guide to Federal Coronavirus Stimulus Funding and Programs for Tribal Health Programs
- 4/29 HSDW: Restrictions on Use of Stimulus Funds by Tribal Health Programs
- 4/23 Lawmakers Urge Trump Administration to Fully Fund COVID-19 Response for Tribal Nations in Massachusetts
- 4/20 Joint Organization Letter: Cost-Share Waiver and Funding Adjustment Request
- 4/14 TSGAC: COVID-19-Related Income: Marketplace and Medicaid Eligibility
- 3/17 Senate Democrats
- 3/20 COVID-19 Relief for Small Businesses Act of 2020
- 3/5 Bi-Partisan Senate Letter to HHS