Consultation on Tribal Infrastructure Funding
On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law. The Act provides about $13 billion in infrastructure investments for tribal communities. The U.S. Department of the Interior has scheduled tribal consultations to discuss...
Consultation on OSHA’s COVID-19 Standard
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) scheduled tribal consultation on its COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for January 19, 2022 at 2:00 pm ET. Written comments are also due January 19th...
Native Law Group Recognized in “Denver’s Top Lawyers 2022”
Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP announced its recognition in the 5280 Magazine list of "Denver's Top Lawyers 2022." In the practice area of Native American Law, partners Francis Basset, Jeremy Patterson, Alvina Earnhart, and Thomasina Real Bird are among...
Build Back Better Act Passed the House, Being Negotiated in the Senate
On November 19, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the third and final piece of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan. This final piece, the Build Back Better Act, includes funding for “human” infrastructure such as childcare, early education,...
Indian Boarding School Initiative: Comments Due December 23
The U.S. Department of the Interior is requesting final comments on the implementation plan for Secretary Deb Haaland’s Indian Boarding School Initiative by December 23, 2021. Haaland announced the initiative in June 2021. Interior is seeking documents and records...
Native Law Group’s Great Plains Office is Open for Business
Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP is proud to announce the opening of its Great Plains office in Fort Yates, North Dakota. Attorney Erin Shanley, who joined Native Law Group in October as its newest partner, is managing the new office. According to partner...
Environmental Protection Agency Releases Tribal Water Plan
On October 14, 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an Action Plan to address many water-related challenges facing Indian country. EPA’s plan recognizes that Indian tribes are more likely than others to experience water equity gaps like a lack of...
White House Tribal Nations Summit Delivers for Indian Country
On November 15-16, 2021, the White House held the first White House Tribal Nations Summit in five years. During the summit, the White House and Biden Administration officials announced a variety of action items and deliverables for Indian Country, including:...
Treasury Updates ARPA Fiscal Recovery Fund Guidance
Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the U.S. Department of the Treasury distributed $20 billion in Fiscal Recovery Funds (FRF) to Indian tribal governments as a part of COVID-19 recovery efforts. On November 15, 2021, Treasury updated its FRF FAQs and the...
State Small Business Credit Initiative Provides Aid to Tribally Owned Businesses
The American Rescue Plan Act provides a $500 million set-aside for tribal governments to fund small business financing programs and provide technical assistance to small businesses through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The U.S. Department of the...