This is life for Americans in Navajo Nation as the U.S. government, once again, fails tribes. huffpost.com/entry/coronavi…
"I’ve said before, it’s easier to be a military person in a war zone across the world than to be a Native American in the United States.”
But it's not unique. Tribes everywhere face health disparities, poor infrastructure + decades of negligence by the US govt.
That's because the chronic issues that have plagued Native communities for decades mean they are extremely vulnerable to getting sick. You can't wash your hands to stay safe if you don't have water.
The White House wanted to give them $0 in direct relief in the $2T CARES Act. Zero. Treasury flubbed its roll-out of the $8B tribes did get. SBA made tribal casinos ineligible for emergency payroll relief.
The House passed a $3T relief bill last week that would do wonders for tribes, but it's huge & GOP opposes it.
The Senate just ended a 3-week session with no bills on COVID-19. McConnell "has not yet felt the urgency" on more $.
I asked @lisamurkowski if she's been satisfied with the Trump admin's response to tribes amid the pandemic. She cited Treasury's delay in getting aid to tribes.
"Not at all." huffpost.com/entry/coronavi…
"At every turn, the Trump administration has failed to live up to its trust responsibility to tribes across the country — deploying COVID-19 resources in a way that systemically excludes Native communities."
"There is nobody in Indian Country and the Navajo Nation that is untouched.” huffpost.com/entry/coronavi…