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New president, Congress must help Indian Country fight coronavirus


Among the many imperatives deserving of attention from the coming Biden administration and new Congress is the need to provide coronavirus relief to Native Americans who have suffered disproportionately from COVID-19. As the pandemic continues throughout the U.S., existing CARES Act funding that had been appropriated for tribes has become tied up in various litigation and red tape, preventing badly needed aid from reaching people.   

Since spring, the Trump administration and Congress have yet to agree on and pass new coronavirus relief. This unfortunate reality makes it crucial for tribal governments to raise awareness among both President-elect Biden’s team and the 117th Congress about the dire situation in Indian Country. 

Although Washington was correct in March to allocate $8 billion to help Native Nations fund their governments, the relief package was inadequate to meet the scope of the tragedy brought about by the pandemic. Additional long-term assistance is required.  

The House’s proposed Heroes Act allocates $20 billion for tribes, but this bill has not passed into law and likely would be insufficient, given the scope of the crisis. Indian Country urgently requires $40 billion to $50 billion in relief to help our nation’s 573 federally recognized tribes that have been devastated by the pandemic.  

The challenges posed by COVID-19 to Native Americans are more serious and pressing than many realize, and Biden and Congress must be made aware of the difficulties that Tribal communities grapple with, including:   

Each new administration and Congress have newcomers in important positions of power, so it is vital that tribal nations educate new officeholders and their staffs about the tragic history of how Washington often fails to meet its legal and moral responsibility to support tribal economic and social development. Sadly, Washington has a poor track record of living up to its trust commitment to tribes and adequately funding these important services. 

Lastly, additional coronavirus relief must include assistance to make up for tribal income lost from the closing of casinos and other hospitality establishments that help fund essential tribal services such as education, infrastructure, public safety, fire protection and health, among other functions. Several tribal government budgets continue to face headwinds from their decisions to close casinos in early March, resulting in $997 million in lost wages and a $4.4 billion drop in economic activity.  

While the president and Congress have many important responsibilities as they assume office, it is essential that the federal government appropriate the necessary coronavirus aid to tribes for fighting COVID-19 and protecting livelihoods in Indian Country. A failure to do so will contribute to prolonged suffering, economic hardship and loss of life. Washington must make good on its trust responsibility to Native Nations by securing this badly-needed coronavirus relief and supporting American Indian health. 

Ted Gover, Ph.D. (@TedGover), is director of the Tribal Administration Program at Claremont Graduate University and a political science professor.