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...
D.C. Update: Hearing on Haaland Nomination; Committee Leadership Changes
The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee announced a hearing on the nomination of Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) to be the Secretary of the Interior. The hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m. Eastern on Feb. 23, and it will be webcast here:...
Insights: Working with a 50/50 Senate
The 2020 November election finally came to an end in mid-January 2021, with Democrats winning two U.S. Senate seats in runoff elections in Georgia. The Democrats won by increasing voter turnout beyond that of the November election. Meanwhile, Republican turnout seems...
Update: CARES Act Funding Lawsuits
Case No. 1: Ute Indian Tribe v. Mnuchin On January 8, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to hear an appeal of the Ute Indian Tribe v. Mnuchin case. The issue before the Supreme Court is whether the U.S. Department of the Treasury can give Alaska Native Corporations...
Biden’s First 10 Days: Covid-19 Relief and Executive Actions
President-elect Joe Biden announced an aggressive plan for the first 10 days of his administration following Inauguration Day on January 20, 2021. Proposals include $1.9 trillion in Covid-19 relief called the “American Rescue Plan,” and a series of executive actions...
SBA News: Second Draw Loans Through the Paycheck Protection Program
Following passage of the Covid-19 Relief Package in December 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) reopened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for new PPP loan requests from eligible businesses that did not obtain a loan in the initial round. In...
Public Service: Partner Thomasina Real Bird & the National Native American Bar Association
This past April, Native Law Group partner Thomasina Real Bird began her term as president of the National Native American Bar Association and Foundation. Real Bird previously served as NNABA treasurer and NNABA Foundation treasurer, both volunteer roles, for three...
Washington, D.C. Update: Last Chance for a Covid-19 Relief Package in 2020
While Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell remain far apart on Covid-19 relief — Pelosi wanted a broad $2 to $3 trillion package and McConnell wanted $500 billion in targeted relief — both agreed that Congress...
The Biden-Harris Transition is Underway — With Groundbreaking News for Indian Country
President-elect Biden delivered groundbreaking news to Indian Country on Thursday, Dec. 17, when he announced the nomination of Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) to be the next Secretary of the Interior. Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, will be the first Native...