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Tribes Urge Treasury to Quickly Disburse Coronavirus Relief Funding

Associated Press

   FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA - Tribes urged the federal government to quickly
   disburse coronavirus relief funding after a judge handed them an early
   victory in a case centered on who is eligible for a share of the $8
   billion allocated to tribes.

   U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C., ruled in favor of
   the tribes late Monday in their bid to keep Alaska Native corporations
   from getting any of the money -- at least for now. The decision clears
   the U.S. Treasury Department to send payments to 574 federally
   recognized tribes in response to the coronavirus.

   At least 18 tribes sued the Treasury Department, alleging that Congress
   intended the funding to go only to tribal governments. They said the
   corporations that own most of the Native land in Alaska don't fit
   within the definition of "Indian Tribe" in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief
   and Economic Security Act signed into law last month.

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