LETTER: Tribal Businesses and Paycheck Protection Program

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Posted: April 10, 2020

It’s been a week since the Trump administration began offering $349 billion in coronavirus relief funds and certain tribal gaming entities remain locked out of critical loans.

Sen. Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and 11 colleagues asked Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin and Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza to clarify that all tribal small businesses — meaning those with 500 employees or less — can qualify for the loans and keep their employees paid during the pandemic.

“Tribal casinos, including those with less than 500 employees, comprise of hotels, conference centers, restaurants, and entertainment venues, which make them some of the biggest employers and income generators for Tribal and non-Tribal communities currently in need of economic relief,” the April 8, 2020, letter states. “These government-owned enterprises fund essential government services to their communities, including government operations, community services for the general welfare of Tribal members like healthcare and education, and public safety needs.”

PDF: Letter to Secretary Mnuchin and Administrator Carranza

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