"In late June, the Senate passed a bill passed that could lower the crime rate on Indian reservations, some of which rank among the most dangerous places in America.

But wait. That’s only part of the good news — and probably not the most important part. The most important part is that the bill passed the Senate unanimously.

Not only does that greatly boost the odds of the bill ultimately becoming law, but also it’s an amazingly good sign of bipartisanship on a very challenging issue.

Co-sponsored by Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and John Thune, R-S.D., the Tribal Law and Order Act strengthens one of the weakest points of federal law: the conduct of law enforcement on Indian reservations.

The current situation is “shameful,” writes Paul Nitze, a Denver prosecutor with experience in tribal law."

Get the Story:
OUR OPINION: Better policing for Indian country (The Grand Forks Herald 7/6)
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Tribal Law and Order Act:
S.797 | H.R.1924

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