Legislation and Federal Policy Archive

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

3/11 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

4th Package Tribal Advocacy

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

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

COVID-19 4th Package Tribal Advocacy

CARES Act: Executive Branch Implementation

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

CARES Act: Indian Country Specific Requests

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

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

USET SPF Letter to US Senate Finance Committee in support of immediate passage of S.4898