§606 Grants to Directly Eligible Tribes

Summary

The Administrator may give grant money directly to tribes that are eligible. Tribes apply by sending an application with the same information a State would give. Before filing with the Department, a tribe must give a copy of its application to any State that contains part of the tribe so the State can review it. A Governor has 30 days to tell the Administrator in writing if the application conflicts with the State homeland security plan and must explain why. The Administrator makes the final decision and will tell the States when a tribal application is approved. The Administrator will allocate funds using the same factors used for States, and will pay approved grants directly to the tribe, not through a State. Each year, tribes together must get at least 0.1 percent of the total money appropriated for grants under sections 604 and 605, unless the Administrator gets fewer than 5 applications or approves fewer than 2. A tribe that applies must name a tribal liaison to work with federal, State, local, and regional officials on terrorism prevention and response. Tribes that get direct grants can also receive State or high-risk urban area funds if those plans allow it. States must still set aside funds to help tribes meet needs not covered by direct grants. Tribes can get money directly from their State and should not be forced to go through local governments. States may not impose unreasonable requirements on tribes to get funds. Getting funds does not affect a tribe’s authority.