President Biden Re-establishes White House Council on Native American Affairs
On April 23, 2021, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland will convene the Biden Administration’s first White House Council on Native American Affairs meeting. Secretary Haaland will serve as the council’s chair, and she will be joined by Domestic Policy Advisor Susan...
COVID-19 Relief In-Depth: The State Small Business Credit Initiative for Tribal Governments
The American Recovery Plan Act also re-establishes the State Small Business Credit Initiative, and it includes a set-aside for Indian tribes. In this article, we provide an overview of the 2021 SSBCI and its tribal set-aside. The SSBCI was originally introduced in...
Covid-19 Relief In-Depth: Restaurant Revitalization Funds for Tribal Businesses
The American Recovery Plan Act provides $1.9 trillion to address the continued impact of Covid-19 on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals, and businesses. In this article, we go in-depth to examine the ARPA’s $28.6 billion Restaurant...
President Biden’s Budget Request Proposes Significant Increases for Tribal Programs
On April 9, 2021, President Biden released his $1.52 trillion budget request for the 2022 fiscal year, and in Congress, appropriations season is underway. Like other major actions during his first 100 days, the president’s budget request is focused on addressing four...
Haaland Confirmed as Interior Secretary
Native Law Group joins Indian Country in celebrating the historic confirmation of Rep. Deb Haaland as the 54th Secretary of the Interior and the first Native American Cabinet secretary. Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on...
Congress Passes More Than $30 Billion in Covid-19 Relief for Tribes
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Recovery Plan Act into law. The Act provides $1.9 trillion in Covid-19 relief and includes more than $30 billion in targeted funding in support of tribal governments and tribal members. The Act passed with only...
Biden Administration Seeking Comments to Improve Tribal Consultation
On January 26, 2021, President Biden issued a “Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships.” In the memorandum, Biden wrote: “It is a priority of my Administration to make respect for Tribal sovereignty and self-governance,...
Native Law Group Attorneys Receive Best Lawyers, Colorado Super Lawyers & Denver’s Top Lawyers Recognition
Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP announced today that its attorneys are recipients of three distinguished awards for 2021. The first is a national award, while the other two focus on the state of Colorado and the Denver metro area. First, U.S. News &...
U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Case That Could Have Enormous Impact on Tribal Law Enforcement
On March 23, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that could have an enormous impact on the ability of tribes and their law enforcement officers to maintain safety on Indian reservations across the United States. The Supreme Court will hear...
USDA Publishes Final Hemp Rule
On Jan. 19, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a final rule for the establishment of a domestic hemp production program. The regulations oversee the production of industrial hemp in the United States, including on Indian reservations. The Final...