[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 19, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





      HEALTH AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY OMNIBUS EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS ACT

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                               speech of-

                             HON. TOM COLE

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 15, 2020

  Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on the tribal provisions 
included in H.R. 6800, the HEROS Act. I profusely disagree with this 
partisan legislation that was crafted by the majority behind closed 
doors, and with no input from the minority, however this legislation 
provides critical relief to Indian Country that must be noted. In the 
previous, bipartisan, and negotiated relief package, the CARES Act, 
Congress provided tribal governments with record breaking 
appropriations. The HEROS Act continues to build on what already has 
been funded with even more critical dollars and flexibility. 
Specifically, this bill appropriates $20 billion to the tribal 
government stabilization fund--money dedicated to tribal governments to 
offset the dramatic losses they are facing at this time. This funding 
would be used to help them continue to do the right thing and keep 
their employees on the job--paid, and supported--as our nation responds 
to, and recovers from the pandemic.
  I would like to commend the Trump Administration for its active 
engagement in finding equitable solutions that meet the needs of all 
tribes. To date, the Administration has focused on ensuring that tribes 
have maximum flexibility to determine how they can best use the funds 
to respond to the needs of their citizens in this crisis. I applaud 
those efforts and urge the Administration to continue to provide tribal 
governments with the flexibility they need.
  While I oppose this bill, I look forward to working with my 
colleagues on crafting a reasonable and appropriate response to the 
COVID-19 pandemic and I am encouraged that tribal governments and 
communities will not be an afterthought, but deliberately included in 
the final legislation.

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