- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
WASHINGTON — FEMA sent a letter to tribal leaders on Feb. 26 to announce a virtual tribal consultation session set for Thursday, March 4 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. – EST to seek information on tribal policies set in place to assist burial expenses of tribal citizens who have died from Covid-19.
The consultation will allow tribal leaders to provide input on how to spend $2 billion allocated to FEMA to distribute to provide assistance for funeral expenses from Covid-19 related deaths. It was not clear how much of the $2 billion will ultimately be provided to tribal nations.
The $2 billion became available to FEMA from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 passed by Congress in Dec. 2020 and then signed into law by the president.
The law provides FEMA with an unprecedented $2 billion to reimburse individuals and households for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred between January 20, 2020 and December 31, 2020 at 100% federal cost-share. FEMA would like to hear tribal concerns on the process to support the delivery of funeral assistance.
During the tribal consultation session, Recovery Directorate staff will provide a brief overview of:
FEMA funeral assistance,
the key provisions of the proposed interim policy, and
the simplified delivery processes and procedures being advocated to reduce the administrative burden on eligible applicants
Registration: Please register in advance for the session, via Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the session.
Written Comments: Questions and written comments may be directed to the Individual Assistance Division by email at [email protected] or through FEMA Regional Tribal Liaisons until March 15, 2021. Contact information for FEMA Tribal Liaisons may be found at www.fema.gov/about/contact.
More Stories Like This
Native Bidaské with Erin Fehr on What Eclipses Mean to Various TribesCalifornia Roundtable Dissects Detriments of Public Law 280 to Tribal Public Safety, Sovereignty
Cherokee Veterans in the Nation’s Capital for 10th Cherokee Warrior Flight
Montana Supreme Court Strikes Down Voting Laws Intended to Disenfranchise Native Voters
Women’s History Month: Elizabeth Peratrovich (Tlingit)
Native Perspective. Native Voices. Native News.
We launched Native News Online because the mainstream media often overlooks news that is important is Native people. We believe that everyone in Indian Country deserves equal access to news and commentary pertaining to them, their relatives and their communities. That's why the story you’ve just finished was free — and we want to keep it that way, for all readers. We hope you'll consider making a donation to support our efforts so that we can continue publishing more stories that make a difference to Native people, whether they live on or off the reservation. Your donation will help us keep producing quality journalism and elevating Indigenous voices. Any contribution of any amount — big or small — gives us a better, stronger future and allows us to remain a force for change. Donate to Native News Online today and support independent Indigenous-centered journalism. Thank you.