Opinion

Opinion: Republican VAWA amendment dangerous for tribes





"Senate amendments to the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (“VAWA”) should be completed today. According to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), “Republicans are working with Democrats on an agreement to consider just a few amendments to the bill, and a short time agreement on those amendments.”

From the very beginning, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) had opposed the VAWA, even requesting that Senate Judiciary Republicans unanimously vote against it because of what he believes are “problematic provisions of the committee bill [that] would give tribal courts authority to arrest, try and imprison any American” – provisions that he believes are “probably unconstitutional.” Now, Senator Grassley has teamed up with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) to offer “a substitute that would address GOP concerns with the bill.” Although the full details of Grassley and Hutchinson’s changes have yet to be released, it is likely that they will map their previously stated opposition to providing tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians.

These “concerns” are unfounded and, quite frankly, offending."

Get the Story:
Ryan Dreveskracht: The Grassley-Hutchinson VAWA Amendment is an Affront to Tribal Sovereignty (Galanda Broadman 4/26)

Related Stories:
No explanation for Alaska Native exclusion from VAWA bill (4/25)
White House reaffirms support for tribal provisions in VAWA (4/24)
Alaska Natives excluded from tribal jurisdiction in VAWA bill (4/24)
Opinion: GOP roadblock to the Violence Against Women Act (4/23)
Speech by Attorney General Eric Holder at VAWA event (4/18)
Sho-Ban leader joins Vice President Biden at VAWA event (4/16)
Editorial: Set aside politics for Violence Against Women Act (03/22)
Blog: Senate Republicans fight Violence Against Women Act (3/21)
Democrats push for action on Violence Against Women Act (3/15)
Opinion: Violence Against Women Act helps Indian women (3/15)
Turtle Talk: Republicans fighting Indian provisions in VAWA (3/12)
Rep. Betty McCollum co-sponsors SAVE Native Women Act (3/8)
Sen. Hatch opposes bill provisions to protect Native women (3/7)

Join the Conversation