Title
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE INCLUSION OF ALASKA NATIVE CORPORATIONS IN THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND
Body
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation since time immemorial has exercised the sovereign rights of self-government on behalf of the Cherokee people; and
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation is a federally recognized Indian Nation with a historic and continual government to government relationship with the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation is maintaining essential services for our citizens while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and incurring additional expenses for relief activities; and
WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation hospitality and retail business operations have been suspended since March 16, 2020 to protect the health and safety of employees and the public; and
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation government and businesses have continued to pay employee salaries and benefits during these closures; and
WHEREAS, the revenues generated by these businesses provide Cherokee Nation with critical funding to support services and programs; and
WHEREAS, Congress passed the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the bill was signed into law on March 27, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Title V of the CARES Act created the Coronavirus Relief Fund to help state, local, and tribal governments mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19, and set aside $8 billion to support tribal governments and tribally-owned entities in covering increased expenditures due to the public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, Congress made clear that the intent of the fund, which is a governmental relief fund, is to address COVID’s impact to tribal governments and tribal governmental budgets;
WHEREAS, Alaska Native Corporations are comprised of more than 200 village and 13 regional corporations that are state-chartered, for-profit, and individually-owned entities that do not provide government services or have a government-to-government relationship with the United States; and ...
Click here for full text