Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced H.R.6800, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, on May 12, 2020.
The bill, also known as the HEROES Act, includes several significant provisions. The first is an additional $20 billion in coronavirus relief for “Tribal governments.”
With the additional funding, Congress intends to make clear that “Tribal governments” means federally recognized tribes. Alaska Native corporations are not included.
The purpose of Section 191301 is to “clarify the intent of Congress that only Federally recognized Tribal Governments are eligible for payments from the Coronavirus Relief Fund,” the bill reads.
Further, should any Alaska Native corporation receive shares of the $8 billion that is currently being distributed, they must return the funds to the U.S. government if the HEROES Act becomes law. The Department of the Treasury would then be required to reallocate those shares to tribal governments.
- PDF: Section 191301
H.R.5800 also includes other Indian Country provisions. A non-exhaustive list follows:
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DIVISION Q—COVID–19 HEROES FUND
Title I—Provisions relating to State, Local, Tribal, and Private Sector Workers
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DIVISION S—OTHER MATTERS
Title I—Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act
Title II—Tribal School Federal Insurance Parity
Title III—PRC for Native Veterans Act
HHS Small Ambulatory Program Awards $55 Million to 15 Tribes and Tribal Organizations (Indian Health Service)
Indian Health Service Announces New Deputy Director for Quality Health Care and Enterprise Risk Management (Indian Health Service)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
White House Office of Management and Budget (Joe Biden Administration)
Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation (Arizona, Navajo Nation)
Oklahoma City Indian Clinic (OKCIC)
Indian Health Service (Department of Health and Human Services)
Navajo Nation Town Hall (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah)
Navajo Nation (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah)
Tribal organizations statement on advance appropriations for Indian Health Service
Indian Health Service Statement on Advance Appropriations (Department of Health and Human Services)
Indian Health Service (Department of Health and Human Services)
Indian Health Service (Department of Health and Human Services)
Navajo Nation (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah)