{"id":18971,"date":"2021-12-08T14:17:46","date_gmt":"2021-12-08T19:17:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=18971"},"modified":"2021-12-08T14:27:50","modified_gmt":"2021-12-08T19:27:50","slug":"draft-version-of-safety-for-indian-women-released-by-senate-committee-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/12\/08\/draft-version-of-safety-for-indian-women-released-by-senate-committee-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"Draft version of ‘Safety for Indian Women’ released by Senate committee leaders"},"content":{"rendered":" \"Brian<\/a>
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), left, and Sen. Brian Schatz (R-Hawaii) serve as vice chair and chair, respectively, of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Photo: SCIA<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n
Draft version of ‘Safety for Indian Women’ released by Senate committee leaders<\/div>\r\n
Wednesday, December 8, 2021<\/div>\r\n
By Acee Agoyo<\/div>\r\n
Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n A draft discussion of legislation<\/a> to help tribes protect Native women has been released by the leaders of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs<\/a> ahead of a hearing on the critical issue<\/a>.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nSen. Brian Schatz<\/a> (D-Hawaii), the chair of the committee, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski<\/a> (R-Alaska), the vice chair, are seeking further comments from Indian Country on the draft, titled \u201cSafety for Indian Women.\u201d A similar section was included in the 2013 version of the Violence Against Women Act<\/a>.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cNearly a decade ago, the Violence Against Women Act of 2013 restored Tribal jurisdiction over domestic violence crimes, recognizing Tribes\u2019 right to exercise their authority and giving them resources to go after criminals,\u201d Schatz said in a news release on Wednesday<\/a>. \r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cSince then, we\u2019ve heard from Native communities on how we can strengthen VAWA to fully empower Tribal governments and protect Native people,\u201d Schatz said. \u201cOur bipartisan discussion draft gives Native communities more tools to fight domestic violence crimes and keep Native women, children and families safe. I am thankful for Vice Chairman Murkowski\u2019s partnership in this important work.\u201d\r\n

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<\/p>\r\n\u201cNative women are overrepresented by nearly 250 percent among domestic violence victims in Alaska, yet one in three communities in rural Alaska have no local law enforcement,\u201d said Murkowski. \u201cTribes in Alaska need to be empowered to exercise special tribal criminal jurisdiction on a pilot basis.\u201d\r\n

<\/p>\r\n \u201cWe recognize and appreciate the jurisdictional complexities in Alaska and affirm the concurrent jurisdiction of the State of Alaska over these covered crimes,\u201d said Murkowski. \u201cThe release of the bipartisan discussion draft is an important step toward ending violence against Native women in Alaska and in Indian Country. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this critical effort as the legislative process advances.\u201d\r\n

<\/p>\r\nComments on the 39-page draft can be submitted to draft_title_comments@indian.senate.gov by December 22.\r\n

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