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...
Now Hiring: Summer 2021 Law Clerk Position (Application Deadline: Jan. 21, 2021)
Native Law Group is currently seeking candidates for its Summer 2021 Clerkships in both of our office locations: Louisville, Colorado and Washington, D.C. Please indicate your office preference in your cover letter. Remote participation is negotiable. Required...
Native Law Group Helps Bring Santa Claus to Lakota Youth
This year, the attorneys and staff at Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP are joining forces with the nonprofit Cheyenne River Youth Project in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, to help bring Santa Claus to more than 1,500 Lakota children. Through the annual Wo...
COVID-19 Vaccine Update: What Tribes Need to Know
Two vaccine developers recently announced successful late-stage clinical trials, with Pfizer trials reporting more than 90% efficacy and Moderna trials reporting almost 95% efficacy at preventing COVID-19. Both Pfizer and Moderna have indicated they will be applying...