Another Republican has come forward to explain why he voted against the Tribal Law and Order Act.

Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colorado) was one of 92 Republicans who opposed the bill on July 21. He said it shouldn't have been attached to H.R.725, the Indian Arts and Crafts Amendments Act.

"Unquestionably, the issue of violence and crime against Indians warrants the attention of Congress, and it deserves better than to be considered under the process that is most commonly used to name post offices," a spokesperson for Coffman told The Denver Post.

According to Thomas, Coffman has only sponsored 10 bills during the 111th Congress. None of them deal with Indian issues.

Coffman is a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, which did not hold a hearing on the bill. But he doesn't appear to have had any major dealings with any of the Indian bills before the committee.

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee conducted over a dozen hearings and listening sessions on the Tribal Law and Order Act and President Barack Obama endorsed it last year at the White House Tribal Nations Conference.

The new law encourages more prosecution of crime in Indian Country, increases penalties for offenders, reauthorizes key justice programs and establishes consistent protocols to address sexual violence.

Get the Story:
President Obama signs tribal-justice changes (The Denver Post 7/30)
Obama signs ‘historic’ Tribal Law and Order Act (Indian Country Today 7/30)
Law gives more authority to tribes (The Farmington Daily Times 7/30)
Signed Tribal Law Act will improve safety on South Dakota reservations (The Rapid City Journal 7/30)
Obama: Indian crime rates are 'unconscionable' (USA Today 7/30)
Indian country crime targeted by new law Obama signed (The Tulsa World 7/30)
Signing of tribal law act welcomed (The Billings Gazette 7/30)
Obama signs bill targeting crime on Indian reservations (CNN 7/29)

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

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

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GOP claims Tribal Law and Order Act process showed 'disrespect' (7/28)
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