"With a violent crime rate 2.25 times the U.S. average and fewer than 3,000 Bureau of Indian Affairs officers to police more than 56 million acres, law enforcement on Native American reservations has been in need of assistance for some time.

And it's clear that the federal government, because of longstanding treaties, has a legal and humanitarian obligation to help, even though tribal nations are sovereign states.

So Congress, and in particular South Dakota's delegation, deserves praise for passing the Tribal Law and Order Act.

U.S. Sens. Tim Johnson and John Thune, along with U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, have been unified in representing the interests of our state's reservations, previously working to increase the number of officers patrolling the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, for example.

But this effort addresses problems inherent to policing reservations, where problems of jurisdiction and distance often hamper officers' efforts."

Get the Story:
Editorial: New act should give reservations hope (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 7/24)

Also Today:
Press Release: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF LANDMARK LEGISLATION ADDRESSING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST NATIVE WOMEN (Amnesty International 7/21)

Indian Arts and Crafts Amendments Act:
H.R.725

Tribal Law and Order Act:
S.797 | H.R.1924

Related Stories:
Congress backs first significant Indian Country crime bill in years (7/22)
Former US Attorneys support passage of Tribal Law and Order Act (7/21)
Tribal Law and Order Act boosts tribal court sentencing authority (7/14)
Editorial: Bill brings boost to Indian Country law enforcement (7/6)
Supporters expect House passage of Tribal Law and Order Act (6/25)
Senate passes Tribal Law and Order Act as part of another bill (6/24)
Patrice Kunesh: Action needed on Tribal Law and Order Act (5/10)
House committee holds hearing on Law and Order (12/10)
Dorgan praises Obama support on Law and Order (11/3)
Tribal Law and Order Act ready for Senate floor (9/11)
Senate Indian Affairs Committee approves bills (9/11)
Editorial: Obama should back Tribal Law and Order (9/4)
State opposes Alaska Native provisions in bill (8/7)
Senate Indian Affairs hearing on Law and Order (6/25)
Witness list for hearing on Law and Order Act (6/24)
In The Hoop: Uhh, good luck with that testimony... (6/24)
Senate Indian Affairs hearing on Law and Order (6/22)
Indian Affairs hearing on Law and Order Act (6/18)
Tribal law and order bill introduced in Senate (4/6)