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\r\n<\/p>\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. —\r\nIt’s a new era for the recognition of tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians, with Democrats once again pushing for passage of the Violence Against Women Act<\/a> after years of opposition from Republicans.\r\n <\/p>\r\nNearly every Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives<\/a> is backing H.R.1620<\/a>, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021<\/a>, which was introduced on Monday. Key provisions of the bill ensure that tribes can arrest, prosecute and sentence non-Indians who commit trafficking, stalking and sexual assault offenses in Indian Country<\/a>.\r\n <\/p>\r\n“This bill is transformational in the ways of dealing with those who have suffered domestic and sexual violence,” said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee<\/a> (D-Texas), the sponsor of H.R.1620, on International Women’s Day<\/a>.\r\n <\/p>\r\n“This legislation will help to save lives!” Jackson Lee added.\r\n <\/p>\r\n NEW: @JacksonLeeTX18, @RepJerryNadler & @RepBrianFitz Introduce Bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021 https:\/\/t.co\/zURw9516PI<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t <\/P>\r\nBut while Jackson Lee described the measure as “bipartisan” it counts just one Republican co-sponsor among the 150-plus co-sponsors<\/a>. During the last session of Congress, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick<\/a> (R-Pennsylvania) had supported a prior version of the bill that passed the House<\/a>, only for it to languish in the U.S. Senate<\/a>.\r\n <\/p>\r\nThat was a different era, though. In the 117th Congress, which began in January, Democrats control the House and have the upper hand in the Senate.\r\n <\/p>\r\nAnd this time around, there’s a Democrat in the White House. President Joe Biden, who sponsored the first version of VAWA back in 1994, is calling on lawmakers to send him the new bill as soon as possible, saying “delay is not an option,” especially in the era of COVID-19<\/a>, which has exacerbated domestic violence and gender-based crimes.\r\n <\/P>\r\n“Every single Senate Democrat signed on to the Senate version of the House-passed bill, but Republican Senate leadership refused to bring VAWA to the floor for a vote,” Biden said on Monday in recounting the political football that left Native women<\/a> without enhanced protections. “This should not be a Democratic or Republican issue — it\u2019s a matter of justice and compassion.”\r\n <\/P>\r\n“I am grateful to see the House of Representatives champion ending gender-based violence, and I urge Congress to follow past precedent and bring a strong bipartisan coalition together for swift passage of VAWA,” Biden added<\/a>.\r\n <\/P>\r\n On this day in 2013, President Obama signed the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization with important provisions that protect Native women from violence. #VAWA #WomensHistoryMonth https:\/\/t.co\/t2lbDhEnpx<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t <\/P>\r\nIn March 2013, Biden joined tribal leaders and then-president Barack Obama in signing an updated version of VAWA into law. For the first time since a disastrous U.S. Supreme Court decision<\/a>, the federal government recognized the “inherent” sovereignty of Indian nations<\/a> to prosecute non-Indians who abuse women on their lands.\r\n <\/P>\r\nBut the law is limited in scope, as it only applies to certain crimes of domestic violence and dating violence committed by non-Indians with prior ties to a tribal community. Criminal violations of protection orders are also included in the 2013 version.\r\n <\/p>\r\nH.R.1620 expands the recognition of tribal jurisdiction to stalking, sexual assault, sexual violence and sex trafficking, which aren’t covered by existing law. Crimes against children and tribal police officers, which weren’t included in VAWA from 2013 either, also would fall under tribal authority should the bill finally make it to the White House for Biden’s signature.\r\n <\/p>\r\nThe bill also takes steps to address missing and murdered Indigenous women by requiring the federal government to account for MMIW cases and improve reporting of such cases. The issue is expected to take on added importance in the Biden administration as Rep. Deb Haaland<\/a> (D-New Mexico) moves toward confirmation as the first Native person<\/a> to lead the Department of the Interior <\/p>\r\n“Congresswoman Haaland wants to elevate the urgency of the missing and murdered Indigenous women’s crisis,”\r\nsaid Bryan Newland, a citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community<\/a> who currently serves as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs<\/a> at the department.\r\n <\/p>\r\n“I share her sense of urgency in this effort,” Newland told tribal leaders during the recent winter session of the National Congress of American Indians<\/a>, which took place virtually.\r\n <\/P>![\"House](\"https:\/\/pbs.twimg.com\/profile_images\/1929934859171930112\/-b7Vj24S_200x200.jpg\")
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