For Immediate Release
August 7, 2022
Contact:
Manu Tupper or Mike Inacay (Schatz) at press@indian.senate.gov
Senate Passes Bill With Historic Climate, Energy Provisions For Native CommunitieS
Bill Now Heads to U.S. House Of Representatives For Consideration
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, helped secure strong funding and new resources to support Native communities’ climate and energy priorities in the Senate-passed Inflation Reduction Act.
“Native communities have the technical expertise, capacity, and place-based knowledge needed to develop effective climate change and energy solutions,” said Chairman Schatz. “With critical investments in the Inflation Reduction Act, we’re making sure the federal government steps up to support Native-driven climate resilience, advance Tribal energy development, and fulfill its trust responsibility to Native communities.”
The Inflation Reduction Act contains —
- $272.5 million to Native communities for climate resilience and adaptation, including;
- $25 million in targeted climate resilience funding to the Native Hawaiian community for the first time ever;
- $12.5 million to mitigate drought impacts for Tribes; and
- $10 million for Tribal fish hatcheries;
- $150 million for Tribal home electrification;
- $75 million for loans to Tribes for energy development; and
- A tenfold increase (from $2 billion to $20 billion) in loan guarantees for Tribal energy development.
The Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act today. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
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