Senator Patty Murray's office issued the following:
Washington state awarded more than $12 million in first round of federal funding to support tribal housing efforts
A senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray helped secure more than $10 billion for tribes in the recently passed coronavirus relief bill, known as the CARES Act
Funding comes through the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) program, which Senator Murray has fought to protect
Senator Murray: “There’s much more work we need to do to make sure Indian Country has the necessary resources to address the coronavirus”
(Washington, D.C.) – Today,
U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate
Appropriations Committee, announced millions in federal housing funding
for Washington state tribes from the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The awards, which total $12,322,245 for tribes across Washington state,
will be distributed through the Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) program. The IHBG
program provides funding to tribes and tribally designated housing
entities (TDHEs) to develop, maintain, and operate affordable housing,
with a focus on providing housing and other resources for tribal
families with low incomes.
“Crises like the coronavirus
pandemic often disproportionately impact tribes and other overlooked
communities, which is why I fought hard to make sure the CARES Act had
strong investments to help tribes keep their members off the street
while we work to slow the spread of the virus,” Senator Murray said. “I’m
going to stay focused on this, because there’s much more work we need
to do to make sure Indian Country has the necessary resources to address
the coronavirus—including ensuring tribal members have access to a
safe, secure home to help keep our communities safe and healthy during
this public health emergency.”
According to a 2017 report by HUD,
more than 50% of tribal households in the Pacific Northwest qualify as
low-income (less than 80% of median income). The report also details the
extent to which households in tribal areas deal with physical housing
deficiencies, such as heating or plumbing deficiencies, at a much higher
rate than other U.S. households. These housing issues are only
exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, as key tribal businesses are
forced to close and unemployment continues to rise.
Senator Murray fought to include more than $10 billion
in funding for tribes in the CARES Act, and has made clear that she
will continue fighting for more funding to address the specific needs of
tribal communities in Washington state, and to ensure that federal
funds for tribes are promptly and properly distributed. In her role as a
senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray
has successfully fought for increased funding for the IHBG Program,
which helps to combat housing issues specifically plaguing tribal
communities—in particular, tribal families who are low-income. However,
in his 2021 budget plan, President Trump again proposed cutting funding
for this crucial program.
See a full breakdown of the
$12,322,245 in federal awards going to Washington state tribes below.
|
Recipient |
City |
Amount |
|
Chehalis Confederated Tribes |
Oakville |
$324,515 |
|
Colville Confederated Tribes |
Nespelem |
$1,228,263 |
|
Cowlitz Indian Tribe |
Longview |
$479,156 |
|
Hoh Indian Tribe |
Forks |
$38,097 |
|
Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe |
Sequim |
$94,055 |
|
Kalispel Indian Community |
Usk |
$30,450 |
|
Lower Elwha Tribal Community |
Port Angeles |
$181,848 |
|
Lummi Tribe |
Bellingham |
$1,005,460 |
|
Makah Indian Tribe |
Neah Bay |
$259,882 |
|
Muckleshoot Indian Tribe |
Auburn |
$483,362 |
|
Nisqually Indian Tribe |
Olympia |
$164,172 |
|
Nooksack Indian Tribe |
Deming |
$255,977 |
|
Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe |
Kingston |
$299,566 |
|
Puyallup Tribe |
Tacoma |
$1,003,407 |
|
Quileute Tribe |
La Push |
$198,503 |
|
Quinault Indian Nation |
Taholah |
$613,485 |
|
Samish Indian Nation |
Anacortes |
$281,241 |
|
Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe |
Darrington |
$159,768 |
|
Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe |
Tokeland |
$73,263 |
|
Skokomish Indian Tribe |
Skokomish Nation |
$183,285 |
|
Snoqualmie Indian Tribe |
Snoqualmie |
$76,358 |
|
Spokane Tribe |
Wellpinit |
$761,674 |
|
Squaxin Island Tribe |
Shelton |
$255,929 |
|
Stillaguamish Tribe |
Arlington |
$69,531 |
|
Suquamish Indian Tribe |
Suquamish |
$258,900 |
|
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community |
La Conner |
$349,370 |
|
Tulalip Tribes |
Tulalip |
$913,140 |
|
Upper Skagit Tribe |
Sedro Woolley |
$395,806 |
|
Yakama Indian Nation |
Toppenish |
$1,883,782 |
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