Resources for Indian Tribes and Native Communities in the CARES Act

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.
Download and read the rest of the PDF to read here!