Newhouse requests fast action on bills addressing missing, murdered indigenous women

Before Congress breaks for August recess, U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and a bipartisan contingent of 11 lawmakers called for congressional action on legislation to address the crisis of America’s missing and murdered indigenous women.

“Each of our congressional districts are impacted by unsolved murder cases or missing person reports from native communities. We have heard the outcries from families and loved ones of these indigenous women, and we are working to — finally — begin addressing this issue,” wrote Rep. Newhouse and his colleagues in a July 17 letter sent to their chamber’s leaders. “In order to do so, we need your support and action.”

As the U.S. House of Representatives reconvenes for legislative business, the lawmakers urged U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to bring legislation they have introduced and supported to address the crisis before the full House for consideration.

The proposals, Savanna‘s Act, H.R. 2733, and the Not Invisible Act, H.R. 2438, in March passed unanimously in the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. The bills would go a long way to empower America’s native communities, ensure law enforcement officers have the tools they need to solve cases of missing and murdered indigenous women, and deliver justice to the families and loved ones, according to their letter.

“We should not leave commonsense legislation addressing our most vulnerable populations off of the House calendar,” Rep. Newhouse and his colleagues wrote, asking that the bills be brought up for consideration this month.

Among the members who joined Rep. Newhouse in signing the letter were U.S. Reps. Tom Cole (R-OK), Pete Stauber (R-MN), and Deb Haaland (D-NM).