Newhouse-Led Legislation to Address Crisis of MMIW Heads to President Trump’s Desk

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) praised the unanimous passage of Savanna's Act and the Not Invisible Act by the U.S. House of Representatives. Both pieces of legislation were previously passed unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee and the United States Senate. The bills will now head to President Trump's desk to be signed into law.

House passage of these two bipartisan bills, which aim to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women, comes as a result of Rep. Newhouse's efforts over several years to encourage federal action.

On July 17, 2020, Rep. Newhouse led a bipartisan letter to Speaker Pelosi urging congressional action on Savanna's Act and the Not Invisible Act. Most recently, on September 17, he was joined by his colleagues in demanding a House vote on the legislation.

Click here to watch Rep. Newhouse's remarks on the House floor in support of Savanna's Act.

"The passing of this legislation is long overdue," said Rep. Newhouse. "Throughout Central Washington and across the country, the families and loved ones of thousands of missing or murdered indigenous women are awaiting justice. This crisis has been going on for decades, and our Native communities have had enough. It is because of their voices and their strong advocacy that we are able to pass this legislation and – finally – send Savanna's Act to President Trump's desk to be signed into law."

Rep. Newhouse joined Reps. Norma Torres (D-CA) and Deb Haaland (D-NM) to introduce Savanna's Act in May 2019. The legislation, named in honor of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, addresses the disturbing increase in murdered and missing Native America women by creating new guidelines for responding to such cases and by incentivizing various law enforcement agencies to implement them.

"Native women have endured horrific rates of assault, rape and murder for far too long, and innocent people like Savanna have been lost with too little effort spent on ending this scourge," said Rep. Torres. "That shameful reality stops today. I am incredibly grateful to the bipartisan group of lawmakers who joined forces with me to champion Savanna's Act throughout the legislative process and usher it to a successful vote today. While we celebrate this victory, every one of us knows it's bittersweet. I hope this vote brings some closure to the countless family members in Native communities who live with the pain of a lost loved one every day. Their unwavering advocacy made this day a reality, and an untold number of lives will be saved as a result."

"Everyone deserves to feel safe in their communities, but Native American and Alaskan Native women continue to face murder and violence at rates that should make our country ashamed. Savanna Greywind's story is heartbreaking and the fact that there are an unknown number of stories like hers is terrifying. This long-standing epidemic will take time, resources, and dedication to resolve it—and today we're taking a major step by passing Savanna's Act to improve data collection of missing and murdered indigenous women which is critical to solving this problem. Representatives Torres and Newhouse were great partners as I worked hard to prioritize the safety of all Native women, on and off Tribal lands, with this bill," said Rep. Haaland, Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.

Rep. Newhouse cosponsored the Not Invisible Act, a bill that further coordinates federal efforts to respond to and solve cases of missing and murdered indigenous women.

Click here to watch Rep. Newhouse's remarks on the House floor in support of the Not Invisible Act.

"For too long, indigenous women and Native communities have faced this crisis alone and suffered in silence," said Rep. Newhouse. "…By sending this bill to President Trump's desk, we are signaling that we have heard them, and they are no longer invisible.

Both pieces of legislation are supported by Central Washington tribes.

"Today's passage of Savanna's Act and the Not Invisible Act are important steps in helping the Yakama Nation and tribes across the United States protect our loved ones. The establishment of data bases on missing and murdered Indian people and ensuring tribal law enforcement agencies have access to those data bases will provide valuable information. The establishment of a multi-agency Commission that will include federal, state, local and tribal officials to make recommendations on best practices to combat the disappearance, homicide and trafficking of Native peoples is also a welcomed development. We greatly appreciate Dan Newhouse's leadership in the enactment of this important bipartisan legislation," said Athena Sanchey-Yallup, Secretary of the Yakama Nation Tribal Council and Chair of the Yakama Nation Missing and Murdered Indian Women Committee.

"In 2017, the Urban Indian Health Institute, began a study to assess the number of cases of missing and murdered American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls in cities across the United States. Washington State was identified as the second highest in the nation with 71 cases and Seattle had the highest ranking for a city with 45 cases. The statistics for the non-reporting, under-reporting and under-prosecuted cases of missing and murdered indigenous women is staggering! The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation fully supports and thanks Congressman Newhouse for securing enactment of Savanna's Act because it will improve law enforcement data to help prevent these horrific crimes against our daughters, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunties, and nieces," said Chairman Rodney Cawston, Colville Business Council.

Background:

On May 14, 2019, Rep. Newhouse joined Reps. Norma Torres (D-CA) and Deb Haaland (D-NM) to introduce Savanna's Act, a bill that aims to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women (MMIW) across the country. The bill develops guidelines and best practices for law enforcement agencies across the country, improves coordination between law enforcement agencies, and enhances reporting, record keeping, and communication for law enforcement and families of victims.

Since the bill's introduction, Rep. Newhouse has continued to urge Congress to act and pass legislation to provide relief to Native communities. In October, he hosted an hour-long bipartisan call-to-action on the House floor. Click here to watch remarks by Rep. Newhouse and his colleagues.

Later that month, Rep. Newhouse arranged meetings with House leadership for two Yakama Nation leaders, then-Chairman JoDe Goudy and Councilwoman Lottie Samm, who traveled to Washington, D.C., to express the impact the MMIW crisis was having on local communities and to discuss the importance of passing legislation like Savanna's Act.

Savanna's Act was referred to the House Judiciary Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee. While House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-CA) did not meet with the delegation, Rep. Newhouse and the Yakama Nation leaders met with Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) of the House Natural Resources Committee, Chairman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples, and Chairwoman Karen Bass (D-CA) of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Following the announcement of the Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, or Operation Lady Justice, Rep. Newhouse invited Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney to Central Washington to hear firsthand from tribal leaders. The group discussed how federal actions and legislation would help Native communities more effectively investigate crimes and deliver justice to the loved ones of these women. Click here to read more about the meeting in the Yakima Herald-Republic.

Last month, Rep. Newhouse convened a similar meeting, inviting U.S. Attorney Bill Hyslop to meet with local, state, and tribal law enforcement officers and discuss the challenges they face in curbing the disproportionately high murder and violence rates against Native American women. At this meeting, Rep. Newhouse discussed how Savanna's Act would aid law enforcement agencies to track findings and more effectively investigate cases of MMIW. The U.S. Attorney also announced Operation White Swan, a federal effort that aims to curb violence on the Yakama Nation reservation.

On March 11, Savanna's Act passed through the House Judiciary Committee unanimously. Rep. Newhouse issued a statement of support.

On July 17, Rep. Newhouse led a bipartisan letter to Speaker Pelosi, urging congressional action on Savanna's Act and the Not Invisible Act before August recess. The letter has not received a response.

On September 17, Rep. Newhouse was joined by his colleagues to demand a House vote on Savanna's Act and the Not Invisible Act.