The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“ADVOCATING FOR CRITICAL FUNDING FOR TRIBAL NATIONS IN THE HEROES ACT” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E499 on May 28, 2020.
The Department oversees more than 500 million acres of land. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the department has contributed to a growing water crisis and holds many lands which could be better managed.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
ADVOCATING FOR CRITICAL FUNDING FOR TRIBAL NATIONS IN THE HEROES ACT
______
HON. RAUL RUIZ
of california
in the house of representatives
Thursday, May 28, 2020
Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Heroes Act and to address the critical need for emergency funding for tribal nations.
Native Americans have been hit disproportionately hard by the COVID-
19 pandemic. The Navajo Nation has experienced nearly 5,000 positive cases and the loss of more than 100 lives. In addition, the Colorado River Indians Tribes on the border of my district and Arizona have seen a sudden rise in cases over the past weeks.
Native Americans remain at particular risk because they face greater health disparities and have higher rates of underlying health conditions than the general population. In addition, those living on rural reservations have reduced access to health services and preventative care.
The toll on tribal nations isn't just affecting those who are sick. Many Native Americans work in service jobs that have disproportionately been lost, and many tribal governments rely on income from business enterprises that have closed their doors to comply with stay-at-home orders.
The Heroes Act was written with these communities in mind.
This bill represents the House of Representatives' commitment to fulfilling the trust and treaty responsibility of the United States government to tribal nations across the United States.
The Heroes Act provides an additional $20 billion to tribal governments in the form of grants to help address the catastrophic impact of this virus and the economic toll it has taken on Indian Country and their surrounding communities.
The Heroes Act expands the use of the funds provided by the CARES Act to account for lost revenue, which is critical to providing effective relief for tribal governments.
It is important to note that unlike the portion of the Coronavirus Relief Fund provided to states and local governments, the fund for tribal governments explicitly does not prescribe a population-based formula for distribution to tribes. Such a formula would be inappropriate given that population is not a proper measure of economic impact that a tribal government and tribally-run businesses have experienced.
This bill also does not codify the current Indian Housing Block Grant formula that the Department of Treasury is using, because such a formula is not representative of the intent of the program.
It is the intent of Congress that the Department of Treasury works with the Department of Interior and tribal governments to develop a new formula that accounts for the tribes' aggregate expenditures and the total economic hit they have taken as a result of this pandemic.
This is an issue that is critical for Indian Country. I am proud to have voted for the Heroes Act and look forward to seeing the program implemented as Congress intended to support tribal governments.
____________________
