Elizabeth Warren calls for look into coronavirus impact on Native American rights

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has teamed up with the co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus to request more information on how the COVID-19 pandemic is facing native communities in the U.S.

Along with Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), Warren wrote to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) on Wednesday, warning that existing economic hardships felt by Native Americans around the U.S. had only been made noticeably worse by the pandemic.

“The Administration’s failure to uphold the trust responsibility to provide adequate relief, health services, and public safety resources to tribal communities has exacerbated the pandemic’s impact. This failure requires the Commission’s voice,” the two wrote.

“We respectfully request that the Commission consider examining COVID-19’s civil rights impacts on Native peoples,” they added.

The letter comes as Democrats have sought more action from the federal government on coronavirus relief but have been unsuccessful in convincing Republicans to bring a second stimulus package, the HEROES Act, to a vote in the Senate.