AUDIO/VIDEO: Democrats call for action to address #MMIW crisis

Tuesday, May 7, 2019  

Led by Sen. Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), Democratic lawmakers are calling for the passage of bills to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women.

In speeches on the U.S. Senate floor on Tuesday, the lawmakers spoke about the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. The day, observed on May 5, falls on the birthday of Hanna Harris, a young citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe who went missing and was murdered in Montana in 2013.

"It's critical that we understand the magnitude of violence that Native women face," said Udall, who serves as vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

During his remarks, Udall displayed a portrait of Harris, who was only 21 years old when she was murdered. She left behind a son who was only 10 months old at the time.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington), Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) and Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana) also spoke of the need to take action to address the #MMIW crisis and to strengthen tribal jurisdiction over crimes that occur on their homelands.

"It's a crisis we need to address now," said Smith, who also serves on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

Bills with provisions to address missing and murdered indigenous women and girls include:

• S.227, known as Savanna's Act in honor of Savanna Marie Greywind, a Spirit Lake Nation woman who went missing and was murdered in North Dakota in 2017.

• H.R.1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. #MMIW provisions are found in Title IX, titled "Safety for Indian Women."

• H.R.2438, the Not Invisible Act of 2019. The bill is sponsored by all four tribal citizens who serve in the U.S. House.

The speeches lasted about 54 minutes, Audio can be found on the Indianz.Com SoundCloud.

SOON: Democrats will address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women on floor of U.S. Senate.
WHEN: Around 3:15pm Eastern
WATCH: https://t.co/5ehBBqShFl
CSPAN: https://t.co/CgFh2jnucy
Facebook: https://t.co/TNiXEB1JJw#MMIW #MMIWG #NotInvisible #NotInvisibleAct

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 7, 2019

The speeches have already started, with Sen. Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, up first. "One out of three Native women has been raped." Tune in NOW.#MMIW #MMIWG #NotInvisible #NotInvisibleAct

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 7, 2019

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) is up next. "Indian Country needs action" to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women. "It can start today."#MMIW #MMIWG #NotInvisible #NotInvisibleAct

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 7, 2019

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington) is speaking now. She said the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women has caused "terror and pain to tribal communities" across the nation and noted that the problem extends to urban areas.#MMIW #MMIWG #NotInvisible #NotInvisibleAct

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 7, 2019

Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) is the latest to speak about missing and murdered indigenous women on the floor of the U.S. Senate. "It's a crisis we need to address now."#MMIW #MMIWG #NotInvisible #NotInvisibleAct

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 7, 2019

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana) discusses the the "epidemic" of violence against Native women. "On many reservations ... Native women face murder rates 10 times the national average. Too much of it goes unreported and unprosecuted."#MMIW #MMIWG #NotInvisible #NotInvisibleAct

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 7, 2019

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