US Senate committee to hear testimony on coronavirus response in native communities

The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs was scheduled to hold an oversight hearing at noon June 1 to hear testimony on response and mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic among the nation's native communities.

In a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday morning, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall said limited access to infection data, grant funds and medical equipment for native communities impacted by COVID-19 created disadvantages within the population hardest hit by the disease. 

"We need to send immediate relief to those communities that have been so severely hurt, including native communities," Udall said.

Udall, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs, called for a new COVID-19 aid package with $20 billion in targeted funds for native communities and additional funds for Indian Health Service (IHS). 

President Donald Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March which provided $500 million in direct appropriations to U.S. Department of Interior Indian Affairs.

The CARES Act also included $8 billion for tribal governments to address response to the pandemic.

In New Mexico, the Navajo Nation imposed a curfew June 16 on tribal lands in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. Over 8,200 cases of COVID-19 were reported on the Navajo Nation, according to data from IHS. 

Current rates of infection among the Mescalero Apache Tribe in southern New Mexico were not available. On May 26, tribal president Gabe Aguilar announced the first death related to COVID-19. At that time, only four positive cases were reported.

Udall said access to the Strategic National Stockpile, a Public Health Emergency program that supplements state and local supplies during public health emergencies, should be granted to the Tribes.

"Tribes should be able to access all available PPE and medical equipment just as state's can," Udall said.

Udall also pointed to the low federal reimbursement rate for medicaid services, and called for expanded coverage of services offered in rural and native communities. 

The Senate Committee will also hear testimony on Senate Bill 3650, which extends protection to employees of urban Indian organization under the Public Health Services Act to make claims for personal injury.

A July 8 educational listening session by the Bureau of Indian Affairs is scheduled, during which plans for distribution of CARES Act to schools will be discussed.

"The funding will be distributed using the existing formula that is based on student counts, in addition to targeting student needs related to mental health and safety, staff training, and information technology (IT) investments," the BIE website read.

"It will also address immediate needs, improve support, and develop mid-to-long term infrastructure capacity."

Jessica Onsurez can be reached at jonsurez@currentargus.com, @JussGREAT on Twitter at by phone at 575-628-5531.