# 116-hr-6819: COVID–19 DISASTER in Indian Country Act

116-hr-6819, COVID–19 DISASTER in Indian Country Act, is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Haaland, Debra A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM); status Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-6819
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 116-hr-6819
- Congress: 116
- Title: COVID–19 DISASTER in Indian Country Act
- Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced: 2020-05-12
- Sponsor: Rep. Haaland, Debra A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM)
- Cosponsors: 21
- Policy area: Native Americans
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

COVID-19 Designation of Immediate Special Authority of Spectrum for Tribes' Emergency Response in Indian Country Act or the COVID-19 DISASTER in Indian Country Act This bill grants emergency special temporary authority and provides funds to deploy wireless broadband service on tribal lands and Hawaiian home lands. Specifically, the bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant emergency special temporary authority to Indian tribes, certain tribal entities, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands if they request such authority to use electromagnetic spectrum to provide wireless broadband service over tribal lands or Hawaiian home lands. The FCC must grant such emergency authority within 10 days of receiving a request. In addition, the bill provides funds to specified Department of Agriculture grant programs for (1) immediate deployment of wireless broadband service on tribal lands and Hawaiian home lands, including repairs to damaged infrastructure and backhaul costs; and (2) technical assistance and training.

## Cosponsors (21)

- Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4] (R-OK), 2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4] (D-MN), 2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6] (D-WA), 2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Horn, Kendra S. [D-OK-5] (D-OK), 2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] (D-HI), 2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (D-CA), 2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40] (D-CA), 2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA), 2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] (D-FL), 2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gabbard, Tulsi [D-HI-2] (D-HI), 2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8] (D-PA), 2020-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Heck, Denny [D-WA-10] (D-WA), 2020-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres Small, Xochitl [D-NM-2] (D-NM), 2020-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4] (D-OR), 2020-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2020-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4] (D-NV), 2020-05-15T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 116-hr-2382: USPS Fairness Act
- 116-hr-1830: National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act
- 116-hr-8015: Delivering for America Act
- 116-hr-7120: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020
- 116-hr-2694: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
- 116-hr-1773: Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019

## Sources
- [116-hr-6819 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6819)

## Related
- [116-hr-2382: USPS Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-2382)
- [116-hr-1830: National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1830)
- [116-hr-8015: Delivering for America Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8015)
- [116-hr-7120: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7120)
- [116-hr-2694: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-2694)
- [116-hr-1773: Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1773)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-6819 (as of 2025-11-18).