(April 20, 2020) – Last week, NCUIH along with a coalition of National Native Organizations sent a letter to Members of both chambers of Congress outlining a joint COIVD-19 recovery legislative proposal for health, education, nutrition, and human services.

NCUIH, along with the National Congress of American Indians, National Indian Health Board, Self-Governance Communication & Education Tribal Consortium, National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations, Native Farm Bill Coalition, Intertribal Agriculture Council, National Indian Education Association, American Indian Higher Education Consortium, National Indian Child Welfare Association, and United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund, sent the legislative priorities as Congress negotiates the fourth major legislative package on coronavirus.

The proposal included, among other essential proposals, requests for Congress to:

• Provide sufficient appropriations to IHS for Indian Health Care Providers as they face the pandemic on the frontlines, including:
  • Provide $1 billion for Purchased/Referred Care (PRC).
  • Provide $1.215 billion for Hospitals and Health Clinics.
  • Establish a $1.7 billion Emergency Third-Party Reimbursement Relief Fund for IHS, Tribal Programs, and Urban Indian Organizations.
  • Provide $85 million for equipment purchases and replacements.
  • Provide $161 million for Urban Indian Health.
  • Provide $1 billion for Sanitation Facilities Construction.
  • Provide $750 million for maintenance and improvement of Indian Health Service and Tribal facilities.
• Authorize technical Medicaid and Medicare fixes including 100% FMAP for services provided at UIO facilities and technical amendments including Tribal and UIO access to the Strategic National Stockpile.
• Clarify that the VA is authorized to reimburse UIOs for services provided to Native Veterans.

Letters

• Letter from NCAI, NIHB, NCUIH, et al to House Leadership re: COVID-19 4th Package (April 15, 2020)
• Letter from NCAI, NIHB, NCUIH, et al to Senate Leadership re: COVID-19 4th Package (April 15, 2020)

https://www.indian.senate.gov/news/press-release/audio-udall-senate-democrats-unveil-covid-19-heroes-fund-25000-proposed-pay

AUDIO: Udall, Senate Democrats Unveil COVID-19 “Heroes Fund,” $25,000 Proposed Pay Increase to Essential Workers and Tribal Workers on Frontlines of Pandemic Response

COVID-19 “Heroes Fund” would give Tribal frontline workers equal access to proposed $25,000 premium for essential workers, implement $15,000 Essential Worker Recruitment Incentive to attract and secure frontline workforce needed to fight public health crisis

Udall’s remarks on the COVID-19 Heroes Fund begin at 11:38 here.

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) to unveil the COVID-19 “Heroes Fund,” Senate Democrats’ proposal to establish a pandemic premium pay to reward, retain, and recruit essential workers. Senate Democrats’ proposed “Heroes Fund” consists of two major components: a $25,000 premium pay increase for essential workers—including Tribal workers—equivalent to a raise of $13 per hour from the start of the public health emergency until December 31, 2020, and a $15,000 essential worker recruitment incentive to attract and secure the workforce needed to fight the public health crisis.

A summary of Senate Democrats’ COVID-19 “Heroes Fund” proposal can be found here.

“Essential frontline workers in New Mexico, Indian Country, and across America are risking their own health to protect ours, to care for our loved ones, and to keep our communities safe and running. We owe these heroes – the health care workers, first responders, law enforcement, grocery clerks, delivery workers, and many others – more than just words of gratitude: we must make sure they are paid what they deserve,” Udall said.

“Importantly, this proposal will give Tribal frontline workers equal access to these benefits, and includes the necessary flexibility to meet the unique needs of Native communities,” Udall continued. ”Because this crisis is hitting Indian Country especially hard: frontline workers in Native communities are stretched thin, and, due to severe federal underfunding, Indian Country has long struggled to recruit and retain workers in fields like health care and law enforcement. So this proposal is absolutely necessary for Indian Country and for all communities — to support the frontline workers who are doing incredible, life-saving work, and to secure the workforce that we need to keep our nation healthy and strong.”

Across New Mexico, Indian Country, and America, essential frontline workers—doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, transit workers, public safety personnel, and many more—continue to put themselves at risk on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Udall and Senate Democrats’ proposal would compensate these workers for their great personal sacrifices and tireless dedication while increasing the recruitment of additional workers for the front lines that will be needed in the months ahead.

Udall and Senate Democrats fought for workers-first provisions in the recently-passed CARES Act, the $2 trillion package includes key provisions to support New Mexico, including: direct payments to individual New Mexicans and a major expansion of unemployment benefits, badly-needed direct relief for small businesses, an emergency infusion of resources into hospitals and to support health care workers, and reimbursement for state and Tribal governments that have stepped up to address the crisis.

Udall and Senate Democrats also fought to ensure Tribes had equitable access to federal resources in the recently-passed CARES Act. They secured over $10 billion in resources for Tribes and Native communities to address their unique needs, including providing over $1 billion to the Indian Health Service and establishing an $8 billion Tribal Government Relief Fund.

Portions of the first wave of grants from the package have recently been released to New Mexico, while the Indian Health Service announced disbursement of $600 million of the over $1 billion in funds Udall helped secure from the CARES Act.

“Thousands of workers report to the frontlines of our nation’s pandemic response each and every day, placing themselves squarely in harm’s way to serve the needs of others,” said Leader Schumer. “Senate Democrats’ proposed ‘Heroes Fund’ would provide premium pay to these essential workers—the doctors and nurses, grocery store workers, transit workers, and more who are central to fighting this crisis—and would establish an incentive system to retain and recruit the workforce needed for the long months to come. Essential frontline workers sacrifice daily for our collective health and well-being, and Senate Democrats are fully committed to supplying these heroes the financial support they deserve.”

Listen to the audio of Udall’s remarks, beginning at minute 11:38, here.

A summary of Senate Democrats’ COVID-19 “Heroes Fund” proposal can be found here and below:

The COVID-19 “Heroes Fund” Summary

Senate Democrats’ Proposal for Pandemic Premium Pay to Reward, Retain, & Recruit Essential Workers

Essential frontline workers are the true heroes of America’s COVID-19 pandemic response.  Senate Democrats believe in providing premium pay to frontline workers during this pandemic to reward essential frontline workers, ensure the retention of essential workers who are working grueling hours on the frontlines of this crisis, and promote the recruitment of additional workers who will be needed in the months ahead.

As the Congress looks at a potential fourth COVID-19 bill, the following proposal is meant for consideration by Members of Congress, key stakeholders, and the American people. Senate Democrats’ proposal consists of two major components:

1. A $25,000 pandemic premium pay increase for essential frontline workers, equivalent to a raise of an additional $13 per hour from the start of the public health emergency until December 31, 2020.

2. A $15,000 recruitment incentive for health and home care workers and first responders to attract and secure the workforce needed to fight the public health crisis.

Structure of the Pandemic Premium Pay

To meet the goals of reward, retention, and recruitment, Senate Democrats propose a set dollar amount per hour with a maximum amount for the year, for a definite duration, and with an additional bonus for workers who sign up to do such essential work during this crisis.

Amount of Pay Premium. The proposal—

• Uses a flat-dollar amount per hour premium model in order to ensure it is clear, simple, and lifts up particularly those workers making lower wages.
• Would give each essential frontline worker $13/hour premium pay on top of regular wages for all hours worked in essential industries through the end of 2020.
• Would cap the total maximum premium pay at $25,000 for each essential frontline worker earning less than $200,000 per year and $5,000 for each essential worker earning $200,000 or more per year.

Duration of Premium. The premium pay period—

• Must be for a specified and clear duration of time to ensure workers can rely on it for their economic security and plan for needs like additional child care.
• Should cover all hours worked by each essential frontline worker through December 31, 2020, or until the worker’s salary-based maximum premium pay is reached.

Premium Pay as a Recruitment and Retention Incentive.  In order to recruit the additional health care workers, home care workers, and first responders needed over the coming months, thef proposal—

• Would provide a one-time $15,000 premium for signing on to do essential work.
• Would limit eligibility for this incentive premium to essential health and home care workers and first responders that are experiencing severe staffing shortages impeding the ability to provide care during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[1]

Premium Pay and Worker Incentives Delivery Mechanism

The proposal would fully federally-fund the premium pay and recruitment and retention incentive. We will continue to seek input on the specific mechanism for delivering the pay to workers, as well as the universe of “essential workers” to be covered. The new federal fund would partner with entities designated as an “eligible employer” – states, localities, tribes, and certain private sector employers – to issue the funds premium payments to eligible workers. Frontline federal employees would also be granted the new benefit of up to $25,000.

COVID-19 Heroes Fund. The new COVID-19 Heroes Fund would provide funds directly to eligible employer-partners so that they could distribute the premium payments.

• Employers in industries engaged in “essential work” would apply to the Heroes Fund for funds to be used to add line-item premium pay to employees’ or independent contractors’ paychecks. The eligible employer would track these payments, provide payroll records demonstrating premium payments, and return any unspent funds to the agency.
• No employer would be required to participate, but all would be strongly encouraged to and the program would be widely advertised.
• An entity that contracts directly with the state, locality, Tribe, or the federal government (e.g., to provide care to people with Medicare and Medicaid coverage) would be considered a private sector employer, and employees of this entity who are designated as “essential” would be eligible for premium pay. Similarly, an eligible employer is also an individual who hires someone designated as “essential” through programs established through the State (e.g., self-directed care arrangements). This would help ensure coverage of the 2.2 million home health aides, direct service providers, and personal care workers who provide services to more than 12 million Americans.
• Eligible employers would submit applications for the recruitment and retention incentive premium on a rolling basis.

Federal Workforce. The proposal would ensure all federal government essential frontline employees receive the same $25,000 premium pay benefit provided to other essential workers.^[2]

• Coverage should be expansive to capture all federal employees with public-facing positions.  This includes Title 5 employees and employees of all other federal personnel systems (e.g., employees of the Postal Service, TSA, VA, FAA, District of Columbia, and federally-funded Indian programs^[3]).
• The benefit would be limited to frontline and public-facing positions – employees who are not teleworking from their homes.

Additional Background and Commentary

Precedents. Disasters require exceptional flexibility in standard work schedules and assignments and often put first responders and other essential workers in dangerous situations. To ensure this critical workforce is compensated appropriately, there are precedents for funding hazard premium pay and worker incentives through a federal program.

FEMA, through the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Response and Emergency Assistance Act and the Disaster Relief Fund, is currently authorized to reimburse state, local, and tribal governments for straight-time and premium pay associated with disaster response. Extraordinary costs (such as call-back pay, night-time or weekend differential pay, and hazardous duty pay) for essential employees who are called back to duty during administrative leave to perform eligible Emergency Work are eligible for reimbursement in certain circumstances.

This authority has been used many times over the last few years to pay for personnel costs associated with enforcing curfews, facilitating evacuation routes, and restoring critical infrastructure. Past usage illustrates precedent for federal funding of critical state, local, and tribal employees performing essential response functions that keep our communities safe in times of disaster.

Essential Frontline Worker definitions. As mentioned above, the definition of essential frontline workers for purposes of both the premium pay increase and the recruitment-retention incentive will be the subject of debate. This proposal is not meant to exclude any worker from this conversation. Rather, we hope this proposal will encourage a discussion about how large and diverse this universe of workers truly is. Our goal is to make federal, state, tribal, local and private sector essential workers that are at risk eligible for this benefit.

Retroactive Pay. Workers who have been on the frontlines since the initial declaration of the Public Health Emergency on January 27, 2020, could receive a lump sum of backpay of $13 per hour for work before enactment. These workers would continue to receive the $13 per hour premium pay on top of regular wages moving forward, but these workers would still be subject to the maximum premium pay cap outlined above.

Additional Benefits for Essential Health and Home Care Workers and First Responders. The employers of frontline health and home care workers and first responders should be eligible to apply for a second round of premium pay funds of up to $10,000 as those workers continue to combat the virus.

Death Benefits. It is a deeply disturbing but unfortunate reality that some of our frontline workers are making the ultimate sacrifice to the nation through their work fighting COVID-19. Their families rightfully deserve to receive the full amount of the premium pay as a lump sum in addition to all other forms of death benefits.

Protections from Corporate Expense Shifting. Certain large corporations engaged in the provision of essential services and goods employ essential frontline workers who are deserving of premium pay. However, massive corporations should make investments in providing premium pay of their own accord before trying to participate in this program.

Protecting Workers and PPE. Senate Democrats have been fighting to give essential workers the protections and equipment they need to stay safe. The CARES Act provided billions of dollars for PPE, and Democrats have pushed the Administration to appoint a czar to handle all manufacturing and distribution of critical PPE. We must do more to ensure all frontline workers have the protective gear they need to perform their jobs safely, and we need a strong emergency temporary standard to protect all workers.

^[1] The recruitment and retention incentive might need to cover a broader swathe of workers in Indian Country and other underserved areas that experienced high levels of essential frontline worker vacancies prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

^[2] Certain federal workers are entitled under current law to a maximum 25 percent hazard premium pay for exposure to hazardous substances, including virulent biologicals.  However, President Trump has failed to activate this policy for the federal workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic.

^[3] Federally-funded Indian program employees include any employee who works for 1) program operated by an Indian Tribe under an Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act “638” contract or compact; 2) a Tribal Controlled Schools Act “297” grant Bureau of Indian Education school; or, 3) an urban Indian organization operating under an Indian Health Service contract pursuant to Title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

Letter to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders on IHS CARES Act Funding (April 3, 2020)

The Indian Health Service announces the availability of, and distribution decisions for, $600 million in new resources appropriated in the recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Pub. L. No. 116-136, to address coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention, preparedness, and response in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.

NCUIH Legislative Alert:
Analysis of House Coronavirus Relief Package

Dear UIOs,

Yesterday, the House of Representatives released their latest piece of legislation in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), entitled the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act. This bill includes major policy changes NCUIH and UIOs have been working towards, such as 100% FMAP and a fix for the Medicaid clinic “four walls” issue.

NCUIH supports this bill and asks that you please contact your Senators to support the inclusion of UIO-specific authorizing language and emergency supplemental appropriations provisions in the Senate’s coronavirus relief legislation. The Senate is currently working on its next draft of the third coronavirus bill and past drafts have not included authorizing language for 100% FMAP applicability to UIOs.

Below you will find a summary of the relevant provisions to UIOs. Some major pieces include:

• 100% FMAP for Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs)
• Access for UIOs to the Strategic National Stockpile
• Specific inclusion of UIOs for contracts and/or grants for funding from:
• • Indian Health Service (IHS)
  • Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  • Medicaid (home and community based services grants)
• SDPI extension through November 30, 2020.

DIVISION A—THIRD CORONAVIRUS PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020

DIVISION G—HEALTH POLICIES

TITLE I—MEDICAID

SEC. 70101. INCREASING FEDERAL SUPPORT TO STATE MEDICAID PROGRAMS DURING ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS.

SEC. 70102. LIMITATION ON ADDITIONAL SECRETARIAL ACTION WITH RESPECT TO MEDICAID SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS REPORTING REQUIRE20
MENTS.

• During the period that begins on the date of enactment of this section and ends the date that is 2 years after the last day of the emergency period, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not take any action (through promulgation of regulation, issue of regulatory guidance, or otherwise) to—
  • (1) finalize or otherwise implement provisions contained in the Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation proposed rule published on November 18, 2019; or
  • (2)promulgate or implement any rule or provision similar to the provisions described in paragraph (1) pertaining to the Medicaid program established under title XIX of the Social Security Act[1] or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program established under title XXI of such Act[2]

SEC. 70103. AUTHORITY TO AWARD MEDICAID HCBS GRANTS TO RESPOND TO THE COVID–19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. (pages 254-268)

• This section includes UIOs in the definition of “Indian tribe” for purposes of awarding home and community-based services (HCBS) grants. 
• “Indian tribe.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ means an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or an urban Indian organization (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603)), and includes a tribal consortium of Indian tribes or tribal organizations (as so defined).”
• GRANTS TO INDIAN TRIBES.
  • During the COVID–19 public health emergency period, the Secretary may award grants to an Indian tribe in the same manner, and subject to the same requirements, as apply to a State, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph.
  • The bill includes information on the application, monthly grant payment amounts, tribal share of monthly HCBS expenditures, and the grant period.

SEC. 70105. COVERAGE AT NO COST SHARING OF COVID–19 VACCINE AND TREATMENT. (pages 269 – 274)

SEC. 70106. OPTIONAL COVERAGE AT NO COST SHARING OF COVID–19 TREATMENT AND VACCINES UNDER MEDICAID FOR UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS. (pages 275 – 276)

SEC. 70107. TEMPORARY INCREASE IN MEDICAID FEDERAL FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION FOR TELEHEALTH SERVICES. (pages 277 – 278)

SEC. 70108. EXTENSION OF FULL FEDERAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PERCENTAGE TO INDIAN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. (page 278)

• Extends 100% FMAP to Urban Indian organizations,[3] Indian health care providers[4]
• Provides a fix for the Medicaid clinic “four walls” issue.
• The section reads:
  • Section 1905 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d) is amended—
    • (1) in subsection (a)(9), by inserting ‘‘and including such services furnished in any location by or through an Indian health care provider (as defined in section 1932(h)(4)(A))’’ before the semicolon; and
    • (2) in subsection (b)—
      • (B) by striking ‘‘Indian Health Care Improvement Act)’’ and inserting ‘‘Indian Health Care Improvement Act), or through an urban Indian organization (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act) pursuant to a grant or contract with the Indian Health Service under title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act’’.“

SEC. 70110. INCREASED FMAP FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO NEWLY ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS. (page 282 – 283)

SEC. 70111. RENEWAL OF APPLICATION OF MEDICARE PAYMENT RATE FLOOR TO PRIMARY CARE SERVICES FURNISHED UNDER MEDICAID AND INCLUSION OF ADDITIONAL PROVIDERS. (page 283- 290)

• Includes FQHC

SEC. 70114. EXTENSION OF EXISTING SECTION 1115 DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS. (page 292- 295)

• Upon request by a State, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall approve an extension of the waiver and expenditure authorities for a demonstration project described in subsection (a) for a period up to and including December 31,2021, to ensure continuity of programs and funding during the emergency period.

• The Federal and State public notice and comment procedures or other time constraints otherwise applicable to demonstration project amendments shall be waived to expedite a State’s extension request pursuant to this section.

SEC. 70118. EXTENSION OF THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

• Extends program end date from May 22, 2020 to November 30, 2020.

Source: https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-warren-and-udall-unveil-bill-to-guarantee-tribal-health-authorities-access-to-the-strategic-national-stockpile

Indian Health Service and other tribal health organizations currently lack guaranteed, direct access to federal repository of drugs and medical supplies for emergencies; Legislation would allow the Indian Health Service, tribal health authorities, and urban Indian organizations to access the Strategic National Stockpile and help combat the coronavirus crisis

Text of Bill (PDF) | One-Pager (PDF)

Washington, D.C. — United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) Vice Chairman Tom Udall (D-N.M.) today unveiled the Tribal Medical Supplies Stockpile Access Act, legislation that would guarantee that the Indian Health Service (IHS), tribal health authorities, and urban Indian organizations have access to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), a federal repository of drugs and medical supplies that can be tapped if a public health emergency could exhaust local supplies.

Currently, IHS and tribal health authorities’ access to the SNS is very limited and is not guaranteed in the SNS statute. In contrast, states’ and large municipalities’ public health authorities have ready access to the SNS. The lawmakers’ bill comes as the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) indicated that IHS is likely to face shortages of necessary equipment as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread.

“We must ensure that IHS, tribal nations, and Native communities are prepared to confront the coronavirus outbreak head-on, and that means ensuring that their health services have access to crucial medical supplies and equipment during public health emergencies,” Senator Warren said. “It is as important as ever to empower Indian Country to tackle a public health crisis, and that is what our bill does.”

“Tribal communities face unique challenges in responding to public health threats — that is why it is critical that we listen and respond to Tribal leaders and experts at IHS who say they are likely to face shortages of essential equipment and medical supplies that are needed to respond to this public health crisis,” said Senator Udall. “We must do everything we can to make sure Tribes don’t bear the worst costs of this public health crisis. This legislation will ensure that IHS facilities, Tribal health departments and urban Indian organizations have access to the emergency medical supplies they need. I will continue to push Congress and the Trump administration to make sure Indian Country has access to federal coronavirus resources and that there is meaningful engagement with Native communities and Tribal leaders in our response to COVID-19.”

The Tribal Medical Supplies Stockpile Access Act is supported by the National Indian Health Board, the National Congress of American Indians, the National Council of Urban Indian Health, United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund, Seattle Indian Health Board, and the Friends Committee on National Legislation.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has placed immense pressures on the chronically underfunded and under-resourced Indian health system. Direct access to the Strategic National Stockpile will bring much-needed relief and critical medical and pharmaceutical supplies into IHS, Tribal and urban Indian health facilities to prepare and respond to the current COVID-19 pandemic, and future health emergencies.” — National Indian Health Board

“We are encouraged by the leadership of Senator Warren and Senator Udall to increase health care access for American Indians and Alaska Natives through the Strategic National Stockpile. As the coronavirus continues to have greater impacts, Congress must do everything possible to uphold its trust responsibility to Indian Country by providing appropriate resources including N95 respirators. The stockpile is designed for those who need it most in times of emergency and Indian Country should not be left behind.” — Francys Crevier, Executive Director, National Council of Urban Indian Health

“We are grateful for the leadership of Senator Warren and Senator Udall and recognizing the importance of addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Seattle Indian Health Board is right in the epicenter of the outbreak in the United States, and we continue to do everything possible to limit the spread of the virus while taking every safety precaution for our patients, staff, and community. This has come at the cost of revenue, staff, and resources. But with access to the Strategic National Stockpile, we can mitigate future impacts and continue to be leaders in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.” — Esther Lucero, Chief Executive Officer, Seattle Indian Health Board

“As a Quaker organization who works to hold the United States to its trust and treaty obligations with Native nations, we thank Senators Warren and Udall for ensuring that American Indians and Alaska Natives are not forgotten during this global pandemic. The chronic underfunding of tribal and urban Indian health organizations has led Indian Country to be ill-prepared for a health crisis of this scale. Access to the Strategic National Stockpile will provide supplies and medicines critical to addressing the COVID-19 outbreak. Congress has a trust obligation to provide health facilities serving American Indians and Alaska Natives with the resources needed to protect the well-being of Native people and communities.” — Kerri Colfer, Congressional Advocate on Native American Policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation

During her time in the Senate, Senator Warren has worked to protect and advance tribal sovereignty, to emphasize the federal government’s trust and treaty responsibilities to tribal nations, and to affirm Washington’s government-to-government relationship with tribal nations. She has introduced a number of bills to advance the health and welfare of Native peoples, including the Native American Suicide Prevention Act, the American Indian and Alaska Native Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, and has cosponsored other legislation to achieve that goal. She has also unveiled with Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) a proposal for the Honoring Promises to Native Nations Act, legislation that will address chronic underfunding and barriers to sovereignty in Indian Country.

In response to the coming economic downturn due to coronavirus, Senator Warren has called for a $750 billion economic stimulus package that would focus on recovery from the grassroots up, not Wall Street down. Such a package would apply the lessons from the 2008 bailout and provide direct help to families harmed by the coronavirus outbreak, including universal paid leave, increasing Social Security benefits by $200 a month, broad cancellation of student loan debt, and protecting and expanding housing.

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