education, public safety, housing and social services. In fact, federal law mandates that Indian gaming revenues be used for government purposes. Hundreds of Indian gaming, hotel and hospitality operations have shut down to prevent transmission of the coronavirus and to protect the safety of guests and employees. Tribal governments implemented these closures in coordination with state governors and through tribal government emergency declarations. These Tribal government gaming closures are having a chilling ripple effect through much of rural America. More than 250 Tribal governments operate 488 gaming facilities in 28 states—the majority of these operations are the primary employers and economic engines in rural communities nationwide. Indian gaming operations provide more than 317,000 direct American jobs annually. SBA’s interim final rule regarding the PPP, referencing existing regulations that were expressly overruled in the CARES Act, is feeding into the largest spike in unemployment in our Nation’s history. While tribal businesses are closed to protect their employees and the public from the spread of the pandemic, it is essential that all tribal businesses have access to PPP loans to be able to continue to pay their employees and to help preserve their tribal economy and the surrounding communities’ economy. Congress specifically intended the PPP to be a critical component to helping preserve tribal businesses and economies in this time of crisis. We urge the Department of Treasury and the Small Business Administration to issue additional guidance to the Paycheck Protection Program to clarify that any tribal business that meets the qualifications set forth in the PPP provision of the CARES Act is eligible for the PPP program for the duration of the covered period.
Sincerely,
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