Photo of the Week: We’re going to miss seeing a packed room like this for #NAFOA2020. But at least this time you can wear your pajamas to the (virtual) conference. Register here.

5 Things You Need to Know this Week

We’re bringing you the latest COVID-19 updates affecting Indian Country and more.

1.  COVID-19 & INDIAN COUNTRY:
COVID-19 PHASE 3 LEGISLATION TRIBAL LEADER TOWN HALL

Last Thursday, NAFOA, along with several national partners including NCAI, NIHB, NCUIH, NAIHC, NIEA, NIGA, and NACA as well as Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Congresswoman Kendra Horn (D-OK-5) convened a Tribal Leader Town Hall on Indian Country’s inclusion in Phase 3 legislation aimed at providing Coronavirus relief. The health, economic, and governance provisions in the latest relief package are discussed as well as the tribal organizations’ legislative strategy going forward.  

Visit NAFOA’s COVID-19 Resource page for the latest resources and legislative updates about the pandemic, including recordings of the tribal leader town hall meetings and links to download the meeting slideshows.

2. POLICY:
TTAC WILL CONVENE A VIRTUAL 4TH PERIODIC MEETING 3/31

On March 31, 2020, the Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee (TTAC) will virtually convene it’s 4th periodic meeting. They intend to provide subcommittee updates from their subcommittees on Tribal Pensions, Dual Taxation, and General Welfare Exclusion. They will also discuss submitted public comments and determine their COVID-19 response going forward.

It is too late to register, however, NAFOA will provide a summary of the meeting. Make sure you are subscribed to our email list to receive the TTAC Meeting summary.

3. POLICY:
NAFOA SUBMITS COMMENT LETTERS TO OMB AND SEC

NAFOA submitted a comment letter to The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) last week to the proposed revisions to the OMB Uniform Guidance. On the whole, NAFOA is generally supportive of the updates to the Uniform Guidance proposed. However,  we had concerns and oppositions to certain aspects of the revisions. Our concerns related to Systems Award Management (SAM) registration for loans and loan guarantee programs, clarity on the term “highest level owner,” and opposition to requirements of public reporting among other things. 

NAFOA also submitted a comment letter on March 16 to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)  to express support for a regulatory fix that would define tribal governments as accredited investors for the purposes of Regulation D (17 C.F.R. §§ 230.501-230.508) of the Securities Act of 1933. We support the proposed expanded definitions of Accredited Investors to include Indian tribes.

4. MEMBER TRIBES:

COUSHATTA TRIBE AND VIVERA PHARMACEUTICALS JOIN FORCES IN FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and California-based Vivera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. are working together to gain FDA emergency approval for the Vivera Pharmaceuticals powered by Pharmact AG CoV-2 Rapid Test, a novel rapid testing kit manufactured by Pharmact AG, a leading German manufacturer of rapid diagnostic testing kits. The CoV-2 Rapid Test provides results within 20 minutes, making it ideal for point of care testing and triage of large patient populations.

Vivera and the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana expect to begin offering the Rapid Test kit as early as this week under the temporary approval mechanisms set forth by the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization guidelines.

Read the Full Announcement.

5. THE (VIRTUAL) ROAD TO #NAFOA2020:

NAVIGATOR PREVIEW: LAND STEWARDSHIP & FINANCIAL STABILITY TO SUSTAIN GENERATIONS.

Just because we’re going virtual for our 38th Annual Conference, doesn’t mean it will be without our beloved Navigator and sponsors. Here’s a sneak peek at Key Bank’s Navigator article “Land Stewardship and Financial Stability to Sustain Generations.”