[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 16, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E249-E250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                      HON. TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 10, 2021

  Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Tribes, 
Pueblos, and Nations in New Mexico, the 574 federally recognized Tribes 
across the country, and the Native Hawaiian community to highlight the 
American Rescue Plan's life-saving support for Tribal Nations, 
including through the Tribal Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund. This 
monumental bill will, among other support, provide $20 billion of 
desperately needed assistance to Tribal governments throughout the 
United States, and uphold the federal government's longstanding trust 
responsibility.
  Many of these communities suffered disproportionately during the 
pandemic. American Indian and Alaskan Native people were twice as 
likely to die from COVID-19 compared to white Americans. Long-standing 
failures in public funding, infrastructure, housing, and access to 
health care in Indian Country contributed to this crisis of equity.
  I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for securing 
dedicated Coronavirus Relief Funds for Tribes under the CARES Act last 
Congress. However, the lack of Tribal consultation and narrow 
rulemaking during the previous administration severely delayed and 
prevented many Tribal nations from receiving the help that they needed, 
when they needed it. This was most apparent by the roadblocks that 
prevented Tribes from effectively utilizing their economic recovery 
funds under the CARES Act to make up for the devastating loss of 
critical governmental revenues given that they lack traditional tax 
bases enjoyed by state and local governments.
  As the Chair of the Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United 
States, I'm proud that we secured the largest one-time investment in 
Native communities in our nation's history in the American Rescue Plan. 
Importantly, Congress intended to distribute this aid flexibly, 
allowing Tribes to help their struggling small businesses, address 
health and economic issues, and preserve their language and culture.
  That is why it is so important that the Biden Administration is 
committed to engage in robust Tribal consultation so that they can 
distribute these funds in a timely, flexible, and

[[Page E250]]

equitable manner. I applaud this commitment. It is our responsibility 
to not only pass legislation that provides life-saving funds for these 
communities, but also follow through so aid gets to those who need it 
as quickly as possible. I look forward to working closely with 
Secretary-designate Deb Haaland and other administration officials to 
make this happen.

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