Newhouse unveils bipartisan bill to ensure safety of Native Americans

U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) on Sept. 22 offered a bipartisan bill that would require federal law enforcement agencies to report on cases of missing or murdered Native Americans.

“Central Washington tribal communities are, unfortunately, at the center of the epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous women, and that is unacceptable,” said Rep. Newhouse. “The federal government needs to play an important role in helping our tribal communities.” 

Rep. Newhouse is one of six original cosponsors of the Bridging Agency Data Gaps and Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act, H.R. 8960, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ). U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) is also among the original cosponsors of H.R. 8960.

If enacted, the legislation would address federal inefficiencies that negatively impact Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) law enforcement recruitment and retention, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Newhouse’s office.

Additionally, the bill would increase the effectiveness of federal missing persons resources, and would provide tribes and states with resources to combat the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW) and girls, the summary says.

The BADGES for Native Communities Act “will provide tribes and tribal law enforcement access to federal resources and criminal databases so they can effectively and quickly investigate these tragic cases,” Rep. Newhouse said.

The congressman also pointed out that H.R. 8960 builds on his efforts to increase resources for tribal law enforcement officers to further enhance their ability to enforce public safety and help improve public safety.

“In turn, this legislation will also provide assistance for tribes to address MMIW cases, prevent future cases, and deliver justice to the families of victims,” he said.

H.R. 8960 is endorsed by the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, the Seattle Indian Health Board, Amnesty International, the National Council of Urban Indian Health, and the National Congress of American Indians.

“I am committed to delivering assistance for our native communities and I look forward to this legislation being signed into law,” said Rep. Newhouse.