Support for Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Tribal Enterprises



Did the Consolidated Appropriations Act make any changes to Coronavirus Relief Funds?

The Department of Treasury has completed making Coronavirus Relief Fund payments to Michigan Tribal governments. The latest COVID-19 relief package extends the timeline to utilize CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds from December 30, 2020, to December 31, 2021.

 

My Tribal government closed its businesses due to the virus. What relief is available to recoup employee salaries and other expenses?

Tribal business concerns are generally eligible for First and Second Draw forgivable loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) if those business concerns meet the Program’s requirements. See https://www.stabenow.senate.gov/business for more information on PPP.

 

Instead of paying traditional unemployment insurance premiums, my Tribe/Tribal business opts to pay a dollar-for-dollar reimbursement to State unemployment programs for any unemployment costs incurred by former Tribal employees. Will my Tribe/Tribal business be eligible for the CARES Act unemployment insurance reimbursements?

Yes. The Consolidated Appropriations Act extended a CARES Act provision to reduce the amount Indian Tribes and their Tribally-owned business entities are required to reimburse states for benefits paid to their workers who claim unemployment insurance through March 14, 2021.

 

Does the latest COVID-19 relief bill provide resources for Tribal governments to deal with the ongoing health crisis?  

Yes. The Consolidated Appropriations Act provides $1 billion for the Indian Health Service (IHS) to distribute to federal, Tribal, and urban health programs for distribution and testing, tracing, and mitigation of COVID-19. Click here for more information about the IHS response to COVID-19.

 

Many of my Tribal members enrolled in school are being asked to complete classwork online, but internet access is very limited on my reservation, and many families can’t afford the computer equipment needed for online distance learning. Are there resources to help address this learning gap for Native students?

Yes. The COVID-19 relief bill sets aside $1 billion for direct support to Native American communities, including Tribal colleges and universities, for access to broadband through the Department of Commerce. The law also creates the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program at the Federal Communications Commission, which will provide low-income families on Tribal lands with a $75 per month discount on their internet bills. Check with your internet service provider for more details.

 

My Tribe needs to set up COVID-19 response child care coverage to help the families of health care workers, emergency personnel, and other “front line” workers. Will the latest COVID-19 relief bill help with this?

Yes. The Consolidated Appropriations Act provides $10 billion in supplemental funding for the Department of Health and Human Services early childhood programs, from which participating Tribes will receive allocations to cover operating costs, reopening costs, personnel costs, and COVID-19 mitigation costs.

Tribes can also continue to opt to receive reimbursement for any of these expenses through the $8 billion Tribal Coronavirus Relief Fund created under the CARES Act and operated by the Department of Treasury. The most recent relief bill extended the date by which tribal governments must make expenditures with CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund awards from December 30, 2020, to December 31, 2021.

 

Does the latest COVID-19 relief bill provide any support for Tribal fisheries?

Yes. The Consolidated Appropriations Act provides $30 million for Tribal fisheries across the U.S.

 

Will the latest COVID-19 relief bill provide funds for Tribal colleges and universities?

Yes. The Consolidated Appropriations Act provides a $409 million transfer to the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) from the Department of Education to distribute to BIE K-12 schools and Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) for COVID-19 mitigation and distance learning costs. It also directs $143 million to TCUs, Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions, Alaska Native-Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American-Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions.

 

Are there resources available for Native communities to address mental and behavioral health issues brought on by the pandemic?

Yes. The Consolidated Appropriations Act sets aside $125 million in additional funding for Tribes and urban Indian health organizations within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to address the mental health needs of Native communities.