Tribes to get record funding from American Rescue Plan

WASHINGTON — Tribes in Oklahoma are both hopeful and anxious as they wait for the funds and spending rules from the American Rescue Plan that President Joe Biden signed last week.

Native American tribes nationwide will receive more than $31 billion as part of the American Rescue Plan, the largest one-time investment to Native American communities in history. However, the amount of money set to be given to Oklahoma tribes on an individual basis is largely unknown and likely will be until further tribal consultation has occurred.

Nonetheless, some tribes in Oklahoma hope the plan will pull them out of the fight against COVID-19 and return to normal.

“I think (spending will) be less (focused) on the PPE and testing and (more focused on) the economy (being) decimated and making things kind of get back to somewhat of a new normal,” said James Weigant, COVID Task Force coordinator for the Osage Nation. “But at the same time, you’re hearing rumors of a fourth wave in Europe, and you know, the other shoe could drop, and we’re back into the trenches again.”

Out of the $31 billion tribes will receive, $20 billion will focus on combating COVID-19 and stabilizing safety nets in tribal communities. Additionally, $1 billion will be split evenly among the 574 federally recognized tribes, portioning about $1.7 million to each tribe, including the 38 federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma, said Libby Washburn, special assistant to Biden. The remaining $19 billion will be distributed to each tribe using an undisclosed formula developed by the U.S. Treasury.

https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2021/03/19/tribes-to-get-record-funding-from-american-rescue-plan/