Historic Funding Announcement
This week, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland revealed the availability of $120 million in fresh funding, backed by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
This financial support is aimed at helping Tribal communities prepare for the most critical climate-related environmental threats to their territories. The funding can be utilized by Tribes to strategize, adapt, or respond to these threats by securely relocating vital community infrastructure.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, both championed by President Biden, have significantly bolstered the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) Tribal Climate Resilience program, facilitating unprecedented funding levels for Tribes and Tribal organizations.
Significant Visits and Support
During her visit to the Gun Lake Tribe in Michigan, which received $4 million from last year’s Tribal Climate Annual Award for its Electric Infrastructure Implementation Project, Secretary Haaland made this significant announcement.
She was accompanied by Neera Tanden, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, and Bryan Newland, Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.
Commitment to Tribal Nations
“As I’ve visited Indigenous communities across the country, I have seen firsthand how pressing the climate crisis is for Indigenous peoples and the urgency with which we must move to honor our obligations to Tribal Nations,” stated Secretary Deb Haaland.
“This investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is a crucial step toward further enabling Tribes to make thoughtful and proactive decisions about how to protect their people, their homelands, sacred sites, and critical community infrastructure.”
Partnership and Investment
“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to ensuring that we are strong partners with Tribal Nations, and we are proud of these investments to address critical climate resiliency needs of Tribes across the country,” said Neera Tanden, White House Domestic Policy Council Director.
Broad Investment for Climate Resilience
This week’s funding announcement is part of a nearly $560 million investment in Tribal climate resilience programs, made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and annual appropriations.
This boost to the BIA’s Tribal Climate Resilience program also includes the launch of the first-ever Voluntary Community-Driven Relocation Program at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit, with an initial $135 million commitment to support relocation and planning for Tribal communities severely affected by climate threats.
This funding is part of the more than $50 billion invested by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to enhance climate adaptation and resilience nationwide, particularly in communities most vulnerable to climate impacts.
It supplements additional actions announced by President Biden last week to protect communities from climate change and extreme weather, including flooding, extreme heat, wildfires, and drought.
Fulfilling Federal Trust Responsibilities
“This historic investment reflects the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to fulfilling the federal government’s trust responsibility to protect Tribes’ ability to exist in their homelands in the face of a changing climate,” said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland.
“This funding equips Tribes with the resources they need to create and implement proactive strategies for their communities to safeguard homes and infrastructure, and if necessary, to relocate to safer areas.”
Justice40 Initiative and Funding Applications
The Tribal Climate Resilience program supports the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of specific federal investments reach communities historically marginalized by underinvestment and burdened by pollution and environmental hazards.
Applying for Grants
With this week’s announcement, Tribes and Tribal organizations can apply for grants in planning and implementation categories.
These categories cover a wide range of activities affecting every Tribe, including climate adaptation planning, drought measures, wildland fire mitigation, community-driven relocation, managed retreat, protect-in-place efforts, and ocean and coastal management.
The BIA will provide technical assistance to support Tribes and Tribal organizations in applying for these funds, including an informational webinar, a grant writing webinar, and virtual office hours to help answer questions. For more details, visit BIA’s Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program webpage or email resilience.funding@bia.gov.
Investing in Infrastructure
President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is channeling record investments into providing affordable high-speed internet, safer roads and bridges, modern wastewater and sanitation systems, clean drinking water, reliable and affordable electricity, and good-paying jobs in every Tribal community.
Enhancing Tribal Access to Capital
While in Michigan, Secretary Haaland and Domestic Policy Advisor Tanden also led a roundtable on expanding Tribal access to capital.
The discussion included Tribal representatives and leaders from financial, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors to explore innovative approaches to boost economic development and investment in Tribal communities nationwide.