WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The 25th Navajo Nation Council recently passed Legislation No. 0067-24, which will amend and extend the obligation deadline for Navajo Nation’s Fiscal Recovery Funding for central support and regulatory services to Dec. 31, if the resolution is signed into law by the Navajo Nation President.
The legislation, passed on March 26, will amend Section Seven of Resolution No. CJY-41-21, which was signed into law in July 2021 and allocated over $1 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funding for various purposes and also allocated 10% of the ARPA funds for central and regulatory services to help carry out the expenditure of the ARPA funds.
The 10% allocation supports the operations and staffing of the Navajo Nation Fiscal Recovery Fund Office, which is tasked with coordinating and facilitating many of the Nation’s ARPA functions and reporting to the federal government. Without the extended deadline, the FRF Office would no longer be funded or staffed.
Legislation Sponsor Council Delegate Shaandiin Parrish said the legislation inserts new language into CJY-41-21, synching NNFRF obligation deadlines with the U.S. Treasury’s deadlines.
“The Budget and Finance Committee has been working diligently, combing through the deadlines, to find ways to optimize the usage of Fiscal Recovery Funds,” Parrish said. “This legislation is specific to administrative dollars and will help to save jobs across the Navajo Nation.”
On Nov. 9 the U.S. Treasury’s Interim Final Rule on Obligation of FRF authorized the use and expenditure of FRF for personnel costs and other operating costs after the obligation deadline when the use and expenditure are related to compliance with federal laws, regulations, and the funding agreement.
“This legislation ensures that the Navajo Nation’s FRF Office will continue to operate and that jobs are preserved to help expend ARPA funds. The 25th Navajo Nation Council continues to meet consistently with President Nygren and the Executive Branch to develop pathways and solutions to ensure that we expend all ARPA dollars and to make sure that the Nation does not revert any ARPA funds back to the federal government. This is a top priority as we move forward,” 25th Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley said.
The 25th Navajo Nation Council approved Legislation No. 0067-24 with a vote of 14 in favor and zero opposed. Once the resolution is certified by the Speaker of the Council and delivered to the Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President, the President will have 10 calendar days to consider the resolution.
