American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2 (Mar. 11, 2021)

This page is a partial compilation of federal assistance and resources provided to the U.S. Territories and freely associated states to prepare for and combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), provided as a courtesy for awareness by the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA). Content will be updated as information is received. Please refer to sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the latest and most up-to-date information about beating COVID-19. Questions? Reach out to Tanya_Joshua@ios.doi.gov.

Contents
I. White House Directives and Other Guidance
II. Legislation
III. Vaccination Efforts in the Insular Areas
IV. Office of Insular Affairs (OIA)
V. Federal Partners

I. WHITE HOUSE DIRECTIVES AND OTHER GUIDANCE

The Biden-Harris Plan to Beat COVID-19

• How the American Rescue Plan Helps You
• Testing, PPE, Guidance, Vaccine-Distribution, Mitigate, Mask-Up

DOI’s Commitment to Support for COVID-19 Response Efforts

• Letter from Acting Secretary de la Vega, February 17, 2021

Pandemic Oversight Website

• To prevent and detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement of funding.

DOI Office of the Inspector General

• OIA Took Appropriate Action with CARES Act Funds, June 2020

II. LEGISLATION

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, U.S. Public Law 117-2, signed March 11, 2021

For COVID-19 Legislation passed in 2020, visit this page: https://www.doi.gov/oia/covid19

III. VACCINATION EFFORTS IN THE INSULAR AREAS

COVID-19 Vaccinations in the U.S. and in the insular areas – View the CDC Tracker for the latest.

IV. OFFICE OF INSULAR AFFAIRS (OIA)

For assistance available to the Insular Areas under the CARES Act, visit the COVID-19 assistance page: https://www.doi.gov/oia/covid19

OIA Press on COVID-19 Assistance

• November 8, 2021 – Summary itemization of CARES Act grants to Insular Areas
• November 1, 2021 – Interior Office of Insular Affairs Announces Full and Final Allocation of $55 Million in CARES Act Funds to Insular Areas
• June 23, 2021 - Letter: Interior Awards $5,795,259 in TAP, MAP, and CARES Act funds for Northern Mariana Islands in FY 2021
• June 23, 2021 - Department of the Interior Announces $3,866,108 in Grants to American Samoa for Fiscal Year 2021
• June 21, 2021 - Letter: Interior Awards $3,353,861 in TAP, MAP, and CARES Act funds for Guam in FY 2021
• June 15, 2021 - Letter: Interior Awards $3,417,256 in TAP and MAP funds for the U.S. Virgin Islands in FY 2021 
• April 14, 2021 - Interior Supports Enhancement of CNMI Capacity and Management of Disaster/COVID-19 Pandemic Assistance
• February 18, 2021 - Grant Application Process Still Open for Insular Areas Funding - $9 Million in CARES Act Funds
• February 12, 2021 - Interior Awards $1,670,450 to Support Repatriation of Stranded Residents Back to American Samoa
• February 9, 2021 - Interior Awards $1,033,100 to Mitigate COVID-19 Among Pacific Islanders in Hawai’i

V. FEDERAL PARTNERS

Agriculture:

• The American Rescue Plan
• USDA Expands Nutrition Assistance for Seniors Amid Pandemic with ARP Funding, April 23, 2021
• Facts on nutrition assistance in the American Rescue Plan

Commerce - Economic Development Administration:

• Indigenous Communities Program
• Notice of Funding Opportunity (pdf)

Education:

• Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, The American Rescue Plan

Health and Human Services:

• Biden-Harris Administration Launches Relief Program to Improve Access to Affordable Water Services , June 2, 2021
• HHS Awards $40 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding to Support Emergency Home Visiting Assistance for Families Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic, May 11, 2021
• Administration for Children and Families - Child Care Funding Released in ARP Rescue Plan, April 15, 2021
• Maternal Child and Health Bureau - MIECHV ARP Awards

Housing and Urban Development:

• HUD Announces $5 Billion to House People Experiencing Homelessness, May 17, 2021

Labor:

• The American Rescue Plan – delivering immediate relief to American workers

Treasury:

Treasury Announces Additional $21.6 Billion in Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Allocation - Press Release, May 7, 2021

Treasury Distributes $742 million to States and Territories through Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF), May 13, 2021

IRS offers overview of tax provisions in American Rescue Plan; retroactive tax benefits help many people now preparing 2020 returns, May 11, 2021

The American Rescue Plan Will Deliver Immediate Economic Relief to Families, March 18, 2021

• Capital Projects Fund
• Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
  • Treasury Launches Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to Deliver $350 Billion, May 10, 2021
  • Allocations to Territories and the Allocation Methodology
• Emergency Rental Assistance
  • ERA Allocations by State and Territory
• Homeowner Assistance Fund
  • HAF Allocations by State and Territory
• Retroactive Tax Benefits
  • State Small Business Credit Initiative