**Model Letter** [Letterhead] [Date]
The Honorable Mitchell McConnell
The Honorable Charles Schumer Senate Minority Leader United States Senate S-221 U.S. Capitol Building Washington DC 20510
Senate Majority Leader United States Senate S-230 U.S. Capitol Building Washington DC 20510
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives 2468 Rayburn House Office Building
1236 Longworth H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515
Washington, DC 20515
Re: Distribution of Coronavirus Relief Funds: Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List and Indian Country Dear Senator McConnell, Senator Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, and Minority Leader McCarthy: I write on behalf of the __________ Tribe/Nation to request that Congress and the Department of Treasury use the Federally Recognized List Act definition of Indian tribe in legislation to establish or fund Federal programs and services for Indian nations. CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund for State, Local and Tribal Governments The CARES Act establishes a Coronavirus Relief Fund for Indian Tribes, States, and local governments, with $150 billion in funding and $8 billion reserved for Tribal governments. The Tribal government funding is intended to fund the governing bodies of federally-recognized Indian Tribes. The CARES Act uses the term “Indian Tribe,” as defined in 25 U.S.C. § 5304(e): "Indian tribe" means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.], which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians . Some Alaska Native Corporation (ANC) advocates, including the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the BIA, have seized on the reference in 5304(e) to “Alaska Native … regional or village corporation[s],” and argue that ANCs must be treated as Indian Tribes. Not true. Congress enacted the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 to require the Secretary of the Interior annual to publish a list of all federally-recognized Indian Tribes. 25 U.S.C. § 5131. Congress directed that:
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