During a Regular Meeting of the Ho-Chunk Nation Legislature
on Feb. 23, the Legislature narrowly passed the ‘Resolution to Clarify Enable
Child Support Garnishment of HELP Program Funds.’ This resolution rescinds Resolution
Establishment of HELP Program 12-21-21 N and restates guidelines. The principal procedure changed was that “HELP
Program payments is not considered income, but is garnishable to meet child
support obligations pursuant to the General Welfare Exclusion Ordinance.”
The Ho-Chunk Nation Economic Legacy Project (HELP) is the
$700 monthly payment for Ho-Chunk Nation adults from January 2022 to June
2022. The American Rescue Plan Act of
2021 (ARPA) funds the HELP program.
The child support deduction will likely begin with the April
payments. “The Treasury Department will
need about two weeks to set up the program,” said Executive Director of Treasury
Samie Overboe during the Regular Meeting of the Ho-Chunk Nation Legislature.
The lack of per capita affects approximately 1,000 children
of tribal members. On July 7, 2020, the
Legislature declared that no per capita would be disbursed due to the negative
economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued to pass resolutions
declaring no per capita until the present.
The vote was an affirmative of five, five opposed, and two
abstaining, which is a tie vote. President
White Eagle voted to break the tie, and voted in favor, and the motion carried.
Those who voted in favor were Vice President Karena
Thundercloud, Rep. Phyllis Smoke, Rep. Kristin White Eagle, Rep. Robert Pilot,
and Rep. Danielle DeLong. Those who
opposed were Rep. Conroy Greendeer, Jr., Rep. Stephanie Begay, Rep. Darren
Brinegar, Rep. Sarah Lemieux, and Rep. Paul Fox. Those who abstained were Rep. Shelby Visintin
and Rep. Brianna Littlegeorge.