ARPA Federal Relief Funds

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was designed to facilitate the United States’ recovery from the devastating economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan, which passed the House on Feb. 27, 2021, and the Senate on March 6, 2021, was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021. The package costs $1.9 trillion, making it one of the largest economic rescue plans in U.S. history. It mixes efforts to mitigate the economic effects of the pandemic with strategies to fight the virus itself. It includes $32.5 billion in aid specifically for American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal government programs, and $166 billion allocated to federal agencies, which Tribal governments and organizations are eligible to receive.

The Business Committee took action in June 2021, to set goals for the application of these funds. BC Resolution 06-09-21-B
These were amended later that month to accommodate a one-time general welfare payment. BC Resolution 06-23-21-C

The Oneida Nation has received a substantial amount of aid from the set aside for American Indian and Alaskan Native Tribal government programs. Of the 32.5 billion, Oneida has received a total of $134,195,035.73. The Oneida Nation has also applied for and received ARPA funds from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Indian Health Services (IHS) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This amounts to another $30,842,529 in aid, for a total of $165,037,564.73. These funds will be used to support current and new projects and services for the Nation and our members as well as build infrastructure.