Prepared by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Office of Vice Chairman Udall

Legislative Authorizations. The CARES Act bipartisan compromise agreement ensures Indian Tribes, Tribally-owned businesses, and Native owned business have equal access to federal COVID-19 economic recovery resources. It will give Tribes and their government-owned enterprises access to $8 billion in flexible funding to support COVID-19 response. And it will make sure Tribes and Tribally-owned businesses have the resources they need to cover the costs of employee payroll and unemployment insurance costs.

Coronavirus Relief Fund – Establishes an $8 billion relief fund at the Department of Treasury for Tribal governments and Tribally-owned entities of those governments to use for expenditures incurred due to the COVID-19 public health emergency in the face of revenue declines. The Treasury Secretary is required to develop a funding distribution model for this fund based on identified need1 and in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and Indian Tribes.

Tribal Business Concerns – Makes Tribes eligible for the Small Business Act Section 7(a) Paycheck Protection Program2 and the Coronavirus Economic Stabilization Act program.3 .

Unemployment Insurance – Allows Indian tribes to be reimbursed for half their incurred unemployment benefit costs through December 31, 2020.4

Federal Education Waivers – Authorizes the Department of Education to waive provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, except civil rights laws, that are necessary and appropriate due to the COVID-19 declaration of disaster for all BIE schools, including Tribal 638 contract schools and Tribal 297 grant schools.

Special Diabetes Program for Indians & Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – Extends the authorization for SDPI and TANF through November 30, 2020.

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