Special News for Indian Country
Biden Administration Invests Additional $1.8 Billion in American Rescue Plan Funding to Combat COVID-19 in Indian Country

On Tuesday, June 16, the Biden Administration announced an additional investment of $1.8 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to combat COVID-19 in Indian Country. This is in addition to an investment of more than $4 billion that was announced in April 2021. These funds are one-time, non-recurring, and can only be used for the purposes specified in the statute. According to the June 16, IHS Dear Tribal Leader Letter, these funds “may also cover obligations for purposes specified in the statute that were incurred to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19 during the period beginning January 31, 2020, through March 11, 2021.”
Allocations Include:
  • $240 million for Public Health Workforce Activities
  • $420 million for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment
  • $500 million to Detect, Diagnose, Trace, Monitor, and Mitigate COVID-19 Infections
  • $220 million distributed to I/T/Us
  • $280 million allocated to IHS National Supply Service Center for testing supplies, personal protective equipment, and related COVID-19 supply needs.
  • $600 million for COVID-19 Related Facilities Activities
  • $381 million to IHS, Tribal, and urban Indian health programs for the lease, purchase, construction, alteration, renovation, and maintenance and improvement of facilities.
  • $167 million to IHS and Tribal health programs for COVID-19 related sanitation facilities construction projects.
  • $23 million to IHS and Tribal health programs for COVID-19 equipment needs.
  • $29 million to support the appropriate management and oversight of facilities-related expenditures and to expand COVID-19 related environmental health activities.

IHS will distribute all funds directly to Tribal Health Programs and Urban Indian Organizations to avoid any delays.
For any questions, contact NIHB Policy Center Deputy Director, Christopher Chavis at cchavis@nihb.org or 202-750-3402
National Indian Health Board | www.nihb.org | 202-507-4070
Visit the NIHB COVID-19 Tribal Resource Center at:

Reach the NIHB COVID-19 Response Team, contact CWheeler@nihb.org
For media inquiries, contact April Hale at AHale@nihb.org