The capital of the Navajo Nation is located in Window Rock, Arizona, named for its famed natural feature. Photo: Ben FrantzDale

The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2021

Nez-Lizer Administration to meet with Chapters regarding the American Rescue Plan Act 

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President, in coordination with the Navajo Nation Division of Community Development, will host five meetings this week, with each of the five Navajo agencies to layout the process for submitting feasible/construction ready project listings in anticipation of funding through the American Rescue Plan Act. The five meetings will be held through teleconference for chapters and live-streamed on the Nez-Lizer Facebook page and YouTube channel for the general public. 

President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion relief package in March, which is designed to help the United States recover from the devastating impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and includes $20 billion for federally-recognized tribes to help mitigate the impacts of the coronavirus. In accordance with the bill, the U.S. Department of Treasury will decide the funding formula for tribes and has up to 60 days to distribute the funding to tribes.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer continue to urge the Department of Treasury to allocate funds based on four factors that include population, land base, number of employees, and direct COVID-19 impacts measured by coronavirus infections, deaths, and other key factors. President Nez also continues to participate in consultation sessions to advocate for the Navajo Nation’s position. 

“We’ve received requests from the chapters and based on those requests to provide input, we will schedule these meetings to explain the process of submitting construction ready projects. The U.S. Treasury has not informed tribes how much funding that each tribe will receive from the American Rescue Plan Act, but we are preparing for it. Everyone should understand that there are great needs in our communities and we cannot fund every single request or project due to the overwhelming demands. When we meet with the chapters, we want to provide information regarding the American Rescue Plan Act and explain in detail how chapters should submit projects that are feasible and construction ready,” said President Nez.

The tentative schedule of meetings is as follows:

• Eastern Navajo Agency Chapters – Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. (MDT)
• Fort Defiance Agency Chapters – Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. (MDT)
• Western Navajo Agency Chapters – Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. (MDT)
• Central Navajo Agency Chapters – Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. (MDT)
• Northern Navajo Agency Chapters – Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. (MDT)

**Invitations and agendas for the teleconference meetings will be sent to each agency via e-mail

Division of Community Development Executive Director Dr. Pearl Yellowman issued a memorandum on April 6, to all 110 Navajochapters requesting each chapter to submit one to three proposals related to power lines, rural addressing, house wiring, solar, water line projects, warehouse, and bathroom additions. 

“We learned a lot from the CARES Act funds and we were successful in completing many infrastructure projects using those funds. This is an opportunity for the voices of the chapters to be heard. We look forward to working with all 110 chapters on the NavajoNation and having their voices heard,” said Vice President Lizer.