Sinema makes recommendations on how FEMA can better assist tribes—her letter follows her previous pressure on agency to approve disaster declaration and cost-sharing
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to streamline the application process for Tribes requesting coronavirus assistance and work with tribal communities to ensure they receive needed coronavirus relief.
“Tribal communities across Arizona are facing the devastating impacts of the coronavirus. I’m urging FEMA to work with Tribal governments and ensure easy access to critical coronavirus relief during this public health crisis,” said Sinema.
In her letter, Sinema specifically called on FEMA to provide additional guidance to tribal nations regarding available disaster response resources. Sinema also urged FEMA to streamline and standardize the process for tribes to request Public Assistance.
Read Sinema’s full letter HERE.
Sinema recently called for specific funding for Tribal governments be included in the next coronavirus response legislation in a letter to Senate leaders. Specifically, Sinema advocated for set-aside funding to address lost tribal revenues, infrastructure needs, and health care priorities as tribal communities across Arizona fight the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Sinema holds regular calls with Tribal leaders on the coronavirus outbreak in their communities and needed coronavirus relief. Sinema, along with a bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers, urged the administration to swiftly implement the bipartisan CARES Act law and ensure resources are deployed quickly to support Tribal communities in Arizona. Sinema also asked the administration to make a stronger effort in consulting with Tribal Nations in order to truly reduce the spread of coronavirus throughout Arizona. Following Navajo Nation President Johnathan Nez’s request that the non-federal cost-share portion of the FEMA-Tribal Agreement be waived, Sinema urged the Director of FEMA to waive tribal governments’ portion of costs of FEMA’s coronavirus response efforts to protect the health and safety of tribal communities.
Sinema has also added a resources page to her website, www.sinema.senate.gov/corona, for Arizonans looking for the latest information on coronavirus.