HYANNIS, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A delegation of Massachusetts congressional leaders is reiterating its request for the Trump administration to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency to waive cost-sharing requirements for COVID-19 related assistance for the state’s federally recognized tribes.
In a letter, the delegation wrote that the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head do not have the tax base to help cover the cost of service to their citizens. This has led them to not being able to implement all of the emergency measures that they could have if they did not need to share the cost.
The delegation also expressed that the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on Native communities. According to the letter, seven tribal nations have had case rates higher than any state in the United States.
This is the second letter sent by the delegation. The first was sent in April, to which President Trump has not yet replied.
Chairpersons from the two tribes also sent waiver requests to President Trump in April.
Members of the delegation include Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, as well as senators of congress Seth Moulton, Joseph Kennedy III, Ayanna Presley, Stephen Lynch, Lori Trahan, Richard Neal, James McGovern, Katherine Clark, and William Keating.
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(Photo: Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Facebook)