Of our native communities. As part of our hearing, microphones will be set on mute. Members and witnesses, you will need to unmute your microphone each time you wish to speak. Documents can be sent to rebecca at the email address weve provided. And all documents will be entered into the record at the conclusion of the hearing. I recognize myself for five minutes for an opening statement. Let me find that, now that ive said that. I believe that todays hearing is long overdue. Day after day, our nations tribal communities are suffering inequality, unequal access to Drinking Water, energy grid, broadband, and other problems that have created unnecessary hardship and turmoil. And covid19 is exacerbating the existing problems now. And the Navajo Nation has seen rates higher than wuhan, china, during the height of the pandemic. And weve heard repeatedly about the struggles of the native communities to protect against covid19. As the pandemic rages on, access to ppe and testing and proper san
Without objection the chair is authorized to declare recess at any time. Let me begin by saying the practice will continue to apply during remote hearings. We must continue to the rules of the committee and the house. Members are reminded the technology they are utilizing today the committee will operate in accordance with Solutions Vendor the subsequent guidance with respect to the rights of all of the members that participate. Please keep your camera on and also to participate in others like this one they prevented them from being recognized in the questions and i would move to the next available member and recognize the time provided they return to the proceedings. I will recognize that for the remainder of the time and if they witness loses connectivity during the testimony or questioning. It from the seventh Congressional District beginning in 18871996 to take on that critical role. Being a member of the Small Business committee to serve as a chair of minority enterprise. I look f
Provided and into the record to the conclusion of the hearing. I recognize myself for 5 minutes for Opening Statements. Let me find my Opening Statement here. I believe this hearing is long overdue. Suffering terrible inequalities. Unreliable access to the energy grid, little or no broadband connectivity, and reliable funds for the federal government and other systematic problems that created unnecessary hardship and turmoil and covid19 is exacerbating these long existing problems. One third of tribal members are at high risk of serious covid19 complications due to Underlying Health factors and Navajo Nation has seen higher infection rates than those in china at the peak of the pandemic. Despite this stark reality the impact of covid19 on tribal communities, weve seen the struggles of tribal communities and access to personal protective equipment and testing to protect against covid19. Is this pandemic redesign and covid19 cases continue to rise in many areas of the Country Access to p
Time they pass an act that may retroactively make that funding more flexible. If they do that, then it is going to be something that more local governments can take advantage of. As you will remember, 45 of the 1. 8 billion it was the intention of congress that that go to local government. E intend to be faithful with what that arc cant tech tour looks like coming out of congress where 45 went to the local government and 55 would stay with the state. But we are looking to see if there is additional flexibility granted. Because right now, quite honestly, local government is not really presenting expenditures. They are telling me they need the funding for offset loss of revenue. That is not an acceptable use. So we havent made any decisions on that yet. Your first question . So the parish officials i havent heard of that, and certainly that is not the way it works. If a local official who has the authority wants to do something that is more rely strictive than my orders, then he can can
Of tests that were positive was 5. 3 , which is encouraging. Have 61 newy, we do deaths to report today. You have been hearing me report similar numbers for a long time now. I do not want anybody to think that these are really numbers. These are people. This is very tragic. Forwardy much looking to the day when the number of deaths is zero. It is true as we reported last week that the number of deaths is higher than we would expect it to be, given the number of cases that we have and the rate of transmission. We are continuing to look at. Hat and figure out why that is currently, we have 1006 hundred 1056tients hospitalized patients hospitalized. Interestingly, today we look back to number five in the nation. We had slid down to six yesterday. We traded spots with rhode island today. Speaking of testing, the best ins that we had yesterday the White House Coronavirus task force telephone conference with the nations governors was the commitment that the federal. Overnment made native. Lo