Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on the tribal provisions included in H.R. 6800, the HEROS Act. I profusely disagree with this partisan legislation that was crafted by the majority behind closed doors, and with no input from the minority, however this legislation provides critical relief to Indian Country that must be noted. In the previous, bipartisan, and negotiated relief package, the CARES Act, Congress provided tribal governments with record breaking appropriations. The HEROS Act continues to build on what already has been funded with even more critical dollars and flexibility. Specifically, this bill appropriates $20 billion to the tribal government stabilization fund--money dedicated to tribal governments to offset the dramatic losses they are facing at this time. This funding would be used to help them continue to do the right thing and keep their employees on the job--paid, and supported--as our nation responds to, and recovers from the pandemic.

I would like to commend the Trump Administration for its active engagement in finding equitable solutions that meet the needs of all tribes. To date, the Administration has focused on ensuring that tribes have maximum flexibility to determine how they can best use the funds to respond to the needs of their citizens in this crisis. I applaud those efforts and urge the Administration to continue to provide tribal governments with the flexibility they need.

While I oppose this bill, I look forward to working with my colleagues on crafting a reasonable and appropriate response to the COVID-19 pandemic and I am encouraged that tribal governments and communities will not be an afterthought, but deliberately included in the final legislation.

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