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Imagine having no water, no electricity, no Internet, inadequate federal aid and relying on Doctors Without Borders to survive the coronavirus pandemic.
This is life for Americans in Navajo Nation as the U.S. government, once again, fails tribes. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-relief-tribes-navajo-nation-trump-congress_n_5ebf2fcdc5b6088ec7f992c4?yel
This is life for Americans in Navajo Nation as the U.S. government, once again, fails tribes. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-relief-tribes-navajo-nation-trump-congress_n_5ebf2fcdc5b6088ec7f992c4?yel
Arizona state senator Jamescita Peshlakai is Navajo. She represents 122K people in the state. She has no running water or power at home.
"I’ve said before, it’s easier to be a military person in a war zone across the world than to be a Native American in the United States.”
"I’ve said before, it’s easier to be a military person in a war zone across the world than to be a Native American in the United States.”
Navajo Nation has been hit *hard* by the pandemic. More COVID-19 cases per capita than any state. Its tax base has been wiped out amid casino closures.
But it's not unique. Tribes everywhere face health disparities, poor infrastructure + decades of negligence by the US govt.
But it's not unique. Tribes everywhere face health disparities, poor infrastructure + decades of negligence by the US govt.
Congress has provided some COVID-19 relief to tribes, but not nearly enough.
That's because the chronic issues that have plagued Native communities for decades mean they are extremely vulnerable to getting sick. You can't wash your hands to stay safe if you don't have water.
That's because the chronic issues that have plagued Native communities for decades mean they are extremely vulnerable to getting sick. You can't wash your hands to stay safe if you don't have water.
Rep. Raul Grijalva: “The sense of benign neglect and outright neglect ― not even benign ― it’s historic in Indian Country. What this pandemic did is, our historic nasty secret and embarrassment is in plain view for everybody right now." https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-relief-tribes-navajo-nation-trump-congress_n_5ebf2fcdc5b6088ec7f992c4?yel
Tribes have been screwed by the Trump admin throughout the pandemic.
The White House wanted to give them $0 in direct relief in the $2T CARES Act. Zero. Treasury flubbed its roll-out of the $8B tribes did get. SBA made tribal casinos ineligible for emergency payroll relief.
The White House wanted to give them $0 in direct relief in the $2T CARES Act. Zero. Treasury flubbed its roll-out of the $8B tribes did get. SBA made tribal casinos ineligible for emergency payroll relief.
Why isn't Congress providing more aid to tribes?
The House passed a $3T relief bill last week that would do wonders for tribes, but it's huge & GOP opposes it.
The Senate just ended a 3-week session with no bills on COVID-19. McConnell "has not yet felt the urgency" on more $.
The House passed a $3T relief bill last week that would do wonders for tribes, but it's huge & GOP opposes it.
The Senate just ended a 3-week session with no bills on COVID-19. McConnell "has not yet felt the urgency" on more $.
But even some Senate Republicans say there needs to be more relief for tribes.
I asked @lisamurkowski if she's been satisfied with the Trump admin's response to tribes amid the pandemic. She cited Treasury's delay in getting aid to tribes.
"Not at all." https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-relief-tribes-navajo-nation-trump-congress_n_5ebf2fcdc5b6088ec7f992c4?yel
I asked @lisamurkowski if she's been satisfied with the Trump admin's response to tribes amid the pandemic. She cited Treasury's delay in getting aid to tribes.
"Not at all." https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-relief-tribes-navajo-nation-trump-congress_n_5ebf2fcdc5b6088ec7f992c4?yel
. @SenatorTomUdall is also ready to send more emergency aid to tribes.
"At every turn, the Trump administration has failed to live up to its trust responsibility to tribes across the country — deploying COVID-19 resources in a way that systemically excludes Native communities."
"At every turn, the Trump administration has failed to live up to its trust responsibility to tribes across the country — deploying COVID-19 resources in a way that systemically excludes Native communities."
Anyway, tribes desperately need more help fighting COVID-19, the Trump admin is not making this a priority and Congress will be out next week with no plan to send aid.
"There is nobody in Indian Country and the Navajo Nation that is untouched.” https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-relief-tribes-navajo-nation-trump-congress_n_5ebf2fcdc5b6088ec7f992c4?yel
"There is nobody in Indian Country and the Navajo Nation that is untouched.” https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-relief-tribes-navajo-nation-trump-congress_n_5ebf2fcdc5b6088ec7f992c4?yel
