Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) led Members in introducing a bipartisan resolution to recognize May 5, 2022, as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
 
“This crisis is something that impacts tribes and communities across the United States,” said Chairman Newhouse. “Hundreds of families have gone decades without answers, and we must continue to bring attention to the need to end the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women – once and for all. I am proud to lead Members from both sides of the aisle in recognizing these women, their families and loved ones – our neighbors – and will working toward delivering the justice they deserve.”
 
Native American and Alaska Native women face murder rates more than ten times higher than the national average. According to GAO researchers, they also experience higher rates of violence, and federal and tribal officials have declared that this incidence of violence constitutes a crisis.
 
In 2020, President Trump signed two pieces of legislation into law to address this crisis: Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act. Western Caucus Members have continued to urge action from the Administration to implement these laws and work with state, local, and tribal officials to increase coordination, improve investigation, and enhance reporting and communication between law enforcement officers, Native communities, and families of victims.
 
The resolution was introduced with the support of Vice Chairs Chris Stewart (UT-02) and Pete Stauber (MN-08) and Reps. Adam Smith (WA-01), Kelly Armstrong (ND-AL), Tom Cole (OK-04), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Dave Joyce (OH-14), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), Maria Salazar (FL-27), Dusty Johnson (SD-AL), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Jay Obernolte (CA-08), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Matt Rosendale (MT-AL), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), and Aumua Amata Radewagen (AS-AL). 
 
Read the full text of the resolution here.