2020 CARES Act | Indian Affairs

Bureau of Indian Education Virtual Listening Session- July 8

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) welcomes tribal leadership and stakeholders to attend an informational virtual meeting scheduled for 2:00 pm eastern standard time on July 8 to hear BIE leadership present its plans for distributing its Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to schools to support the COVID-19 Pandemic recovery. The funding will be distributed using the existing formula that is based on student counts, in addition to targeting student needs related to mental health and safety, staff training, and information technology (IT) investments. It will also address immediate needs, improve support, and develop mid-to-long term infrastructure capacity.

Please register in advance. Once registered you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Additional Documents for Listening Session

BIE CARES Act Funding

Haskell Indian Nations University’s Report on Funds Received Under Section 18004(a)(1) of the “CARES Act” to Provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students

Coronavirus Relief Fund Guidance for State, Territorial, Local, and Tribal Governments

The Department of Treasury provided guidance to recipients of the CARES Act funding available under section 601(a) of the Social Security Act, as added by section 5001 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) April 22.

May 5 - Joint Statement from Steven T. Mnuchin and Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt on Distribution of Coronavirus Relief Fund Dollars to Native American Tribes

Indian Affairs - CARES Act Final Distributions for ATG and Welfare Assistance (5/18/2020)
Dept. of Treasury - Coronavirus Relief Fund Frequently Asked Questions (5/4/2020)
Dept. of Treasury - Guidance on Treatment of Alaska Native Corporations (4/23/2020)

Secretary of the Treasury Coronavirus Relief Fund for Tribal Governments

Through the Coronavirus Relief Fund, the CARES Act provided payments to state, local, and tribal governments navigating the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Payments to tribal governments were determined by the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. Eligible tribal governments provided payment information and required supporting documentation using the Eligible Units: Submission Required for Receipt of Coronavirus Relief Fund Payments” Web portal. To ensure payments were made within the 30-day period specified by the CARES Act, governments submitted completed payment materials by April 17, 2020. Eligible tribal governments did not provide the required certification by that time may not have received payment from the Fund.

The Department of the Treasury is the lead federal agency, and they are required to consult with the Department of the Interior and Tribes. Treasury followed the law and provisions prescribed and passed by Congress, and mandated to the Administration. The CARES Act passed by an overwhelming bi-partisan majority, which provided $8 billion in financial assistance to tribal governments.

Treasury hosted in-depth Tribal consultations as required by the CARES Act along with the Department of the Interior on April 2nd and 9th with nearly 3,000 participants representing Indian Country and Alaska Native villages. Treasury and Indian Affairs accepted written comments through April 13th, with 439 comments given during the process.

US. Department of Treasury requested data from tribal governments to assist in the funding determination, requesting tribes use the Treasury Web Portal Registration Guidance to prepare for and submit a complete Certificate.