The Violence Against Women Act is set to expire at the end of the month unless Congress reauthorizes it.

A new version of the bill includes a section to deal with violence against Native women. It would boost tribal punishments for domestic violence, increase federal funding, create a national tribal sex offender and protection order registry and authorize additional studies.

American Indian and Alaska Native women suffer from the highest rates of domestic violence in the United States. One out of every three Native American women will be raped in their lifetimes. Their attackers are more likely to be non-Native.

Get the Story:
Abuse bill aims to better protect Indian women (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 9/6)

Get the Bill:
S.1197: Violence Against Women Act of 2005

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