The U.S. Congress passed several Federal Emergency Relief Funding packages, or spending bills, to provide emergency financial relief to states and local governments, including tribal governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  On March 20, 2020, the President declared a National Health Emergency on impacts of COVID-19; and the Congress passed the CARES Act (PL 116-136) on March 27, 2020.  The CARES Act provided $8.0 billion in specific set-aside funding for tribal governments with funding available through December 2021.  A year later, on March 11, 2021, another emergency relief bill was passed by Congress.  Public Law 117-2, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that contained $31.0 billion for tribal communities with funding expiring in December 2024. 0n November 15, 2021, yet another emergency funding bill (PL 117-58) was passed by Congress.  The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) provides $15.0 billion in tribal specific funding measures.  Another bill in negotiations, is the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376) which is yet to be passed by Congress.

This course provides an overview of the Federal Emergency Relief Funding packages passed by Congress, with specific focus on tribal set-aside allocations and will be offered in CY2022 and through CY 2026.  It will cover reporting requirements such as the U.S. Treasury Reporting Requirements for ARPA issued November 15, 2021.  The course will be updated periodically as new Federal Emergency Relief Funds become available and as new federal compliance rules are published.  The course provides guidance on rules that accompany the U.S. Treasury’s direct funding allocations to tribes. It will include rules that accompany funds allocated to tribes by the BIA, BIE, IHS, HUD.  It also includes OMB rules relating to grant management, accounting, reporting requirements, property management, cost principles, audit requirements and certain OMB exceptions.  This is important information
for tribes to use in project planning and deployment of their allocations.