Rep. Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico) #MMIW #NotInvisible

S.227, Savanna's Act, requires the federal government to start to account for missing and murdered Native people, especially women and girls. It is named in memory of Savanna Greywind, a 22-year-old Spirit Lake Nation woman who was kidnapped and murdered in 2017.

"Savanna was just one of the many Native American women who have been victims of the silent crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women in the United States. Native women experience murder rates 10 times higher than the national average, and murder is the third leading cause of death for American Indians and Alaska Natives," Haaland said. "Eighty-four percent of Native women endure violence during their lifetime, and they are twice as likely to experience sexual assault or rape in their lifetimes than any other group. This is unacceptable."

S.982, the Not Invisible Act, requires the federal government to work with tribes, survivors and family members affected by trafficking and other violent crimes. It is the first bill to be introduced and passed by all four tribal citizen who serve in the U.S. Congress.

"This bill is about including indigenous voices by putting Native American survivors in the driver's seat on the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women that has plagued Tribal communities for centuries," said Haaland. "The Not Invisible Act is about elevating indigenous voices, because survivors of these horrific crimes and tribal leaders know what is best for their own communities."

S.227 and S.982 cleared their final hurdles in the 116th Congress on September 21. Both were signed into law by President Donald Trump on October 10, 2020.