Secretary Haaland Investigating Federal Indian Boarding Schools
Earlier this summer, U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative to examine the troubled legacy of the federal boarding school policies in the United States. Haaland issued a memorandum on June 22,...
Treasury Releases Guidance for the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund
Last week, the U.S. Department of Treasury released its Guidance for the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund. The CCPF provides $100 million to be distributed to Indian tribes in equal shares to carry out critical capital projects that directly enable work, education,...
Senate Passes $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill and $3.5 Trillion Budget Reconciliation
On August 1, 2021, ahead of recess, the U.S. Senate passed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This “traditional” infrastructure bill incorporates more than $11 billion dedicated to infrastructure needs...
Upcoming Reporting Deadline for Covid-19 Fiscal Recovery Funds and Treasury User Guides
By August 31, 2021, tribal governments are required to provide an Interim Report to the U.S. Department of Treasury on the use of the Fiscal Recovery Funds provided under the American Rescue Plan Act. The Interim Report is a one-time initial overview of how tribal...
Senate Confirms Bryan Scott Newland as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs
On Saturday, August 7, the U.S. Senate confirmed Bryan Todd Newland to be the assistant secretary for Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior. Newland is a citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community (Ojibwe), where he recently served as tribal president...
Native Law Group Attorneys Recognized in 2022 Editions of Best Lawyers in America© and Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch
Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP announced today that U.S. News & World Report publication Best Lawyers will include three Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP attorneys in its 28th edition of “Best Lawyers in America” and one of its senior...
Native Law Group Welcomes Partner Linda Cooper to its Colorado Office
Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP is pleased to announce the addition of partner Linda Cooper to its Colorado team. With offices in Louisville, Colorado, and Washington, D.C., the growing, majority native-owned firm provides a broad range of legal services...
BIA Streamlines Rights-of-Way for Wireless and Broadband Infrastructure
On May 5, 2021, the Bureau of Indian Affairs issued a new policy for “Streamlining the Rights-of-Way Application Process for Telecommunications Projects.” The intent of the new policy is to promote the efficient and effective process of ROW applications for...
Nearly $1 Billion in Tribal Broadband Grants Available
On Thursday, June 3, 2021, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced nearly $1 billion in grants for Indian tribes as a part of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Consolidated...
Congressional Infrastructure Negotiations Ongoing
President Biden and Congress have been working hard to finalize an infrastructure package, but reaching agreement remains difficult. As a part of his Build Back Better plan, the president first proposed a $7 trillion infrastructure plan including traditional...