Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - Tribal Funding Indian Country’s infrastructure backlog is estimated to stand at more than $50 billion, covering the entire range of basic structures and systems. The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the infrastructure shortfalls throughout Indian Country. Overcrowded homes, substandard health facilities, and broken water systems all contributed to spreading the virus in Native communities. As schools closed, the lack of broadband made it impossible for many students to engage in remote learning. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. President Biden campaigned on a sprawling infrastructure agenda, promising significant federal investments to meet the nation’s long-standing infrastructure needs, while also addressing climate change. After lengthy negotiations with Congress, the Administration has settled on a two-prong approach. In late June, President Biden announced that he had reached an agreement with a bipartisan group of 21 senators on a framework for a physical infrastructure package that totals $1.2 trillion and includes $550 billion in new funding and an additional $650 billion over five years. The Senate approved the measure, titled the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, by a wide bipartisan margin of 69 – 33. After languishing in the U.S. House of Representatives for months, that chamber voted to advance the bill 228 – 206 on Friday, November 5, 2021. President Biden is expected to sign the bill into law on November 15, 2021. The National Indian Gaming Association applauds the passage of this long overdue federal investment in our communities. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes more than $15 billion in direct funding to Tribal Governments. Tribes are eligible to compete for an additional $146 billion in competitive grant and cooperative agreement funding. In the coming months, Tribal Governments will receive direct funding for transportation, water, sanitation, telecommunications, and environmental and climate resilience programs. Below is a more detailed summary of funding directed to Indian Tribes: ● $3 billion for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Tribal Transportation Program ● $270 million for the BIA Road Maintenance Program ● $100 million set aside for Tribal bridge projects through the new Bridge Investment Program ● $150 million for the Tribal High Priority Projects Program within the Tribal Transportation Program ● Establishes an Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs within the Transportation Department ● An additional $2 billion for the Commerce NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program ● $3.5 billion for Tribal health sanitation facilities construction ● $2.5 billion to address congressionally approved Indian water settlements ● $270 million for the Indian Reservation Safe Drinking Water Program ● $1.7 billion in Clean Water and Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund Tribal set-asides ● $500 million to implement the Tribal Forest Protection Act and related activities to prevent wildfires on Indian forestlands and rangelands ● $216 million for Tribal Climate Resilience, including $130 million for the relocation to higher ground of Tribal communities at risk, $86 million for Tribal climate resilience and adaption projects ● $150 million tribal set-aside for orphaned well site plugging remediation and restoration ● $30 million Tribal set-aside through the Homeland Security Cybersecurity Grant Program ● $1 billion for the DHS Disaster Relief Fund to address disaster declarations on Indian lands As noted above, Tribal Governments are eligible for an additional $146 billion in competitive funding programs from a range of agencies. These historic investments will help transform Indian Country infrastructure, make our communities more resilient, spur job growth through construction, foster long- term economic development by opening doors for Native entrepreneurs, and stabilize and diversify tribal economies for generations to come.
2
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs