Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

Floor Speech

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Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to lead a Special Order alongside my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to discuss a crisis afflicting our Nation. It is the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women.

Each of the Members speaking tonight represents different regions of the United States and different native communities that are all affected by the disproportionate number of crimes against Native American and Alaska Native women.

My colleagues and I have introduced several pieces of legislation, including Savanna's Act and the BADGES for Native Communities Act, in an attempt to improve collaboration between law enforcement agencies and empower them to seriously work toward solving many of these unsolved cases.

Over the next hour, I look forward to hearing each of these Member's unique perspective on ways we can work to solve this crisis and bring justice to these women.

I have spoken on this topic a number of times here on the floor, in the House Judiciary Committee, and at home with my constituents who have been directly affected by this crisis.

While a lot that I might say here tonight, Mr. Speaker, may sound like a broken record--I apologize for that--I cannot stress enough how important it is that we use our voices as U.S. Representatives to address a crisis of this magnitude and offer solutions for these women and their families and their communities.

Native women throughout the country face a murder rate 10 times higher than the national average, with 84 percent experiencing some kind of violence in their lifetime.

In my home State of Washington, Native Americans make up about 2 percent of the population, but a recent report by the Washington State Patrol shows that indigenous women account for 7 percent of the State's reported missing women.

This crisis is one that affects communities in both highly populated, urban areas, as well as rural districts, in districts like the one I represent in central Washington.

I have seen firsthand how these injustices affect local communities, and I have vowed to exercise my position in Congress to help deliver justice for these women.

My congressional district sits at the epicenter of this crisis. There are currently over 100 open cases in Washington State, with 31 open cases on or near the Yakama Indian Reservation in central Washington alone. This includes seven new cases in just the past 5 years.

The number of open cases is alarming, but the truth is we don't even have accurate data to truly understand the breadth of this problem. Due to a lack of shared information, data, and reporting, there is no real way to know exactly how many Native American women have gone missing or whose fate hangs in the balance of an unsolved murder case.

The complicated jurisdiction between Federal, Tribal, and local law enforcement causes serious problems throughout many investigations, and far too many Tribal law enforcement agencies lack the resources and access to information that would help solve missing persons cases and murders.

This leaves the families and the communities of these victims frustrated, without answers, and begging for solutions. And while we represent them in the people's House, it is the voices of those who are directly affected that we should be listening to.

Our communities in my district in central Washington have not been silent. Just this past Monday, the YWCA in Yakima hosted their annual vigil for the victims of domestic violence. This year, the organization partnered with the Yakama Nation to bring attention to the missing and murdered indigenous women crisis and to honor those who have lost their lives to domestic violence.

Citizens of the Yakama Nation and other local Tribes have hosted rallies of support in large public forums to raise awareness of the crisis and to demand action.

A reporter by the name of Tammy Ayer from the Yakima-Herald Republic has done a truly excellent job of keeping the public informed of these ongoing efforts, diligently highlighting the activism on the ground and providing resources for families and friends of missing Native women. The voice she lends to the voiceless has and will continue to be a powerful agent for change.

I hosted a roundtable earlier this year with Tribal members, with law enforcement officers, Bureau of Indian Affairs officials, and other local advocates to learn directly from these pillars of our local community about how we can assist them in their efforts.

I have lived just outside of the Yakama Nation Reservation my entire life, Mr. Speaker, but hearing the heartfelt testimonies of the families and the loved ones of missing Native women from just down the road from me was truly an eye-opening experience, and a deeply heart- wrenching experience. I believe it is one that all Members of Congress need to hear, and that is why we are here tonight.

That is also why in June I sent letters to the House Judiciary and the Natural Resources Committees asking them to hold field hearings in central Washington on this matter. The voices of communities impacted by this crisis must be heard. My request was echoed by numerous local Tribes, by advocacy groups, and by women's organizations who have all sent their own letters to the committees inviting Members to come meet with them, listen to the voices on the ground, and discuss solutions for missing and murdered indigenous women.

The Yakama Nation has generously offered to host the hearing, which would provide Members with the opportunity to hear firsthand from both the Tribes, law enforcement officers, and families of these victims who are dealing with this crisis every day, about how we can best move forward.

Their testimony would help demonstrate the impact this crisis is having on our communities in central Washington and in other regions around the country.

Mr. Speaker, I hate to say it, but it has been 4 months since these letters were first delivered to the House Judiciary and Natural Resources Committees, but we have received no response. It has been nearly a month since I testified before the Judiciary Committee to ask for committee action and a response to my letter. Still, nothing.

Thankfully, the current administration has been actively pursuing our local input. The Department of the Interior is conducting a series of roundtable events with Tribes and law enforcement agencies across the country, most recently in Arizona and Alaska.

While the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs certainly have a role to play in implementing these solutions for the women and their loved ones, Congress must also pay attention and we must do our part to listen and then legislate.

The two legislative proposals I mentioned earlier, Savanna's Act and the BADGES for Native Communities Act, would provide immediate assistance to Tribes and law enforcement in addressing this crisis. As you will hear tonight, Mr. Speaker, these bills have strong bipartisan support.

I know my colleagues and I stand ready to develop solutions that will work for local Tribal communities and law enforcement, and I look forward to hearing from my friends and colleagues from around the country over the next hour to discuss the impact the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women has had on their communities and about what actions this body can help take to stop it.

I yield to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Gianforte), my good friend who represents the great State of Montana, as well as the Northern Cheyenne and Blackfeet Tribes. Montana is a large State and with understaffed law enforcement agencies, reporting an investigation of crimes against Native American women can slip through the cracks.

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Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I certainly appreciate Mr. Gianforte putting a face to this very serious issue that we are experiencing all over the United States, and particularly in Montana, and pointing out some of the ways that this legislation could potentially benefit our communities.

I thank the gentleman very much for sharing tonight.

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, one of the pieces of legislation that my colleagues and I have introduced this Congress, is Savanna's Act, named after a young lady, Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who was a member of the Spirit Lake Tribe and was tragically murdered in August of 2017.

Earlier this year, I worked with a bipartisan group of colleagues to improve this legislation from the previous version of the bill that was introduced in the 115th Congress. It does a lot of things, but two things I want to point out, it aims to develop guidelines and best practices for law enforcement agencies and encourages agencies to enhance reporting and recordkeeping for better coordination.

It also aims to improve communication between law enforcement and the families of the loved ones of the victims, which is an issue that was brought to my attention by the central Washington families who, in some cases, have waited for months just for an update on their loved one's case.

So it is with that background that I want to yield to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Torres), my good friend. I really appreciate her leadership and her partnership in this effort on bringing this issue forward and bringing some good solutions forward as we work to improve law enforcement's response in the cases of these missing and murdered indigenous women. I can't say enough about the contribution of Congresswoman Norma Torres, and I would like her to share some things from her perspective.

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Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for sharing with us her experiences, and I thank her for her leadership and being the lead sponsor on Savanna's Act, as well. It is truly a pleasure to work with my friend. I hope that, with her leadership, we will be able to get this across the finish line and get it to the President.

It is my honor now, Mr. Speaker, to introduce someone who truly is in the middle of much of this issue. He cosponsors Savanna's Act, and he is a leader on not only bringing solutions to help solve this problem but probably just as importantly, if not more importantly, he is also helping to shine a bright light on an issue that, frankly, many Americans just are not aware of.

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Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman is right. This is a serious issue. As the gentleman said, something this serious should be bipartisan, and the good thing is that it is bipartisan. People on both sides of the aisle recognize the horrific nature of these unsolved crimes and are wanting to do something about it.

I am really heartened by the fact that in this day and age, and in this climate here in Washington, D.C., there are some issues that we can rally around together in a bipartisan fashion.

I think that is a perfect segue into introducing a friend of mine from the Bipartisan Working Group, someone who embodies the desire to find solutions and to find common ground on issues so that we can move forward. This is a great example of the work that we can accomplish when we put our heads together.

Torres Small).

Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 23 pueblos and Tribes in New Mexico. This week, New Mexicans observed our first Indigenous People's Day, celebrating the lengthy history and ongoing contributions of Native American communities in New Mexico.

New Mexico's past, present, and future is tied to the vibrancy of its Native American sovereign governments. One of the most serious threats facing these communities is the crisis of murdered and missing women. The murder rate for Native American women is 10 times higher than the national average, and we have trouble even counting these tragedies. Due to outdated databases and insufficient coordination between law enforcement agencies, we can't count the number of Native American women who go missing each and every year.

This crisis demands a response. I am proud and honored to join my colleagues--Congresswoman Norma Torres, Congressman Dan Newhouse, and Congresswoman Deb Haaland--in cosponsoring H.R. 2733, Savanna's Act.

Savanna's Act improves Tribal access to Federal databases, creates new guidelines for responding to these cases, and creates grant programs for law enforcement agencies to improve their practices.

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Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, it truly is a great thing that we can come together on an issue of such importance. I thank the gentlewoman for her contributions and her sponsorship of Savanna's Act. Together, we can get this done. I thank the gentlewoman very much for coming tonight.

Mr. Speaker, it may not be obvious to many of us, but some States are taking action. Some specific States have accomplished some things. In my own State of Washington, I have to mention the name of State Representative Gina Mosbrucker, who has been a critical ally in addressing this crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women.

We have 29 federally recognized Tribes in Washington State, so it is critical that we have the State's support to help address this crisis. Representative Mosbrucker has spearheaded legislation to improve the reporting of crimes on and off the reservations and enhance coordination between the Washington State Patrol as well as Tribal law enforcement.

Earlier this year, the Washington State Patrol released a report, as mandated by Representative Mosbrucker's legislation, outlining the number and status of cases of missing and murdered indigenous women throughout the State. The report revealed that there is much more work to be done in order to empower law enforcement of all jurisdictions-- State, Federal, Tribal, and local--to accurately report and investigate these crimes.

I know Washington State is not the only State that is doing things. I welcome my friend, Representative Don Bacon from Nebraska, to the podium. His State, for example, has one of the highest rates of crime against Native American women. Like Washington State, Nebraska has been active in tackling some of the shortcomings we see in the coordination between Tribes and law enforcement.

I thank my friend, Representative Bacon, for his leadership on this issue and his help in getting this legislation through. He has been a strong supporter not only here but also in his home State.

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Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Bacon very much for his participation tonight and helping shed light on this very important issue in our Tribal communities around the country.

I told you earlier, Mr. Speaker, that I held a public meeting in Yakima earlier this year. The reporter that I had mentioned asked me a very pointed question. This issue had been brought to light in the early 1990s by one of my predecessors who held this seat. That person vowed to do something about this, and here we are, 20-some years later, almost 30 years later, and nothing has been done.

She asked me: What is different today?

I think the right answer to that, Mr. Speaker, is that the difference, from what I have seen, personally, is that the men and women in our Tribal communities are standing up. They are saying: We are tired of this, and we are just not going to take it anymore.

They are making their voices heard loud and clear and demanding action, and this is something that we need to deliver in order to help our Native American communities around the country.

It truly is a pleasure for me to yield to the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Johnson), who has been a true leader on this issue, helping bring focus to this issue so that we can find solutions.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I thank the honorable gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse) for yielding.

I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to highlight, to call attention to a crisis that is facing our Tribal communities--really, our Tribal communities throughout the country--and that is violence against American Indian women.

More than 1.5 million American Indian women have experienced violence--ultimately, sexual violence--during their lifetimes. The numbers are staggering. They have experienced violence, murder, and kidnapping at much, much higher rates than other women--1.5 million women.

I know some of these women. Like my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I have looked in their eyes. I have heard their heart-wrenching stories of violence, of trauma. I have held their hands. I have hugged them as, through tears, they have described to me events that I otherwise could not imagine.

In just the last few years, we have had 6,000 American Indian women, our countrywomen, who have gone missing; and just a few, just a handful of those cases have been logged with the Department of Justice. In that way, our Federal Government is not doing enough to combat this problem.

We know--every one of us here tonight knows--that we can do better. That is why I have felt so good about how many of my colleagues today have mentioned Savanna's Act, which, clearly, I am a cosponsor of, I am a supporter of.

It is not a perfect bill. It does not do enough, but it tries to highlight, it tries to call attention to, it brings attention to, it brings resources to the experiences of those 1.5 million American Indian women who have faced this violence.

No, Mr. Speaker, it is not a perfect bill, but for those of us who have looked those women in the eyes, for those of us who have heard their stories, we know that it is an important first step and one that this Congress should take.

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Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank and appreciate the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Johnson). I thank him for his leadership in making sure that people understand the gravity of the situation that we face, so I thank him very much.

Mr. Speaker, we have talked a lot about both these bills, probably more, though, about Savanna's Act. Let me talk a little bit about the BADGES for Native Communities Act.

It is a bill that strengthens Tribal communities' ability to investigate crimes related to missing and murdered indigenous women and better enforce pubic safety.

BADGES stands for Bridging Agency Gaps and Ensuring Safety for Native communities. It gives Tribes and Tribal law enforcement agencies access to Federal resources and databases so that they can more effectively investigate open cases.

It will always provide resources for Tribes to recruit and retain qualified law enforcement personnel, which addresses an issue facing Native communities across the country.

Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico and Representative Tom Cole, the two lead sponsors of the BADGES for Native Communities Act and co- chairs of the House Native American Caucus, could not be here with us this evening, but I know their advocacy has inspired many Members of Congress, myself included, to work to bridge those gaps on behalf of Native communities across the country.

This legislation, like Savanna's Act, has strong bipartisan support, and tonight, I call upon the Committee on the Judiciary to give this legislation a hearing.

Mr. Speaker, another strong advocate in the people's House who fights day in and day out on the behalf of American Indian and Alaska Native communities is the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), dean of the House and my friend.

Mr. Speaker, the good dean couldn't be with us here this evening, but he will include a statement in the Congressional Record. In his statement, Representative Young speaks of the extreme isolation and lack of law enforcement in remote Native communities and the concerning fact that Native communities lack full access to criminal databases, undermining Tribal law enforcement in court systems.

I thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), my friend, for his years of leadership and for his original cosponsorship for both Savanna's Act and the BADGES for Native Communities Act.

Also, Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my opening remarks, I have requested a field hearing in central Washington on Yakama Nation Reservation. I also mentioned that several local Tribes have echoed my request to both the House Committee on the Judiciary and House Committee on Natural Resources.

I include the following letters in the Record from the Yakama Nation, also from The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, from the YWCA, from the Samish Indian Nation, from the Puyallup Tribe, from the Missing and Murdered Native Americans, from the Washington State Women's Commission, and also from the Muckleshoot Tribal Council. Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Toppenish, WA, June 20, 2019.

Hon, Jerrold Nadler,

Chairman, House Committee on the Judiciary,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Raul Grijalva,

Chairman, House Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.

Hon. Doug Collins, Ranking Member,

House Committee of the Judiciary,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Rob Bishop, Ranking Member,

House Committee on Natural Resources,

Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Nadler and Grijalva and Ranking Members Collins and Bishop: Shix Patchway. On behalf of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, I am writing to in support of Savannah's Act, H.R. 2733 and to invite the House Committee on the Judiciary and House Committee on Natural Resources to conduct a field hearing on the proposed legislation at the Yakama Reservation.

We are truly to grateful to Representatives Dan Newhouse, Norma Tones and Deb Haaland for introducing Savanna's Act. For many years the Yakama Nation has made formal requests to the Department of Justice and Bureau of Indian Affairs to assistant with locating missing persons, and solving the unsolved homicide cases that have occurred on and around the Yakama Reservation--with no response or action by the Governmental Agencies.

The Yakama Nation Tribal Council has formed a Special Committee for this very important issue, The Yakama Nation Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Committee. The Committee has been gathering community input through informal and formal processes, and working to implement action items in response. On January 14, 2019, the Committee hosted a meeting at the Yakama Nation Legends Casino that gathered input and shared actions item and was well attended by many law enforcement agencies and a representative from Governor Jay Inlsee's Office.

The Yakama Nation has supported the Washington State Legislature's work to address the ongoing MMIW crisis, specifically Washington State HB 2951 and SB 1713. As the Yakama Nation testified in Olympia, there needs to be a genuine response to the reports of missing and murdered Native women and girls across Tribal lands. Also, all new legislation needs to be guided by a clear strategic framework and principles to move beyond the current conditions endangering our lives and future generations of Native women and girls.

The Yakama Nation is formally requesting a field hearing on our Yakama Lands to address the issues relating to the missing and murdered women and peoples and the need for Savanna's Act, H.R. 2733. We would like your Committees to have an opportunity to hear firsthand from our community as well as other impacted Tribes.

The Yakama Nation offers our assistance to the Committees to facilitate true action by the United States to address the crisis facing Native communities nationwide.

Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to your response. JoDe Goudy, Chairman, Yakama Nation Tribal Council. ____ The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Nespelem, WA, June 19, 2019.

Hon. Jerrold Nadler,

Chairman, House Committee on the Judiciary,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Raul Grijalva,

Chairman, House Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.

Hon. Doug Collins, Ranking Member,

House Committee of the Judiciary,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Rob Bishop, Ranking Member,

House Committee on Natural Resources,

Washington, DC. Dear Chairmen Nadler and Grijalva and Ranking Members Collins and Bishop: On behalf of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (``CCT''), I am writing to request that one or both of your committees hold a field hearing in Washington state to examine issues relating to missing and murdered Indian women and the need for enactment of Savanna's Act, H.R. 2733.

The CCT worked with Rep. Dan Newhouse when the House version of H.R. 2733 was being developed. The CCT joins Rep. Newhouse's request that a field hearing be held on the Yakama Nation Reservation as explained in his June 6, 2019, letter to your committees.

As explained in Rep. Newhouse's letter, information on many open cases involving missing and murdered Yakama Nation women was recently made available by local media. Previously, the CCT made personnel from the Colville Tribal Police Department available to assist the Yakama Nation in an attempt to resolve cases of missing Yakama women.

Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions. Sincerely, Rodney Cawston, Chairman. ____ YWCA, Yakima, WA, June 18, 2019.

Dear Representative Newhouse: The YWCA of Yakima calls on you and Congress to take aggressive action to find answers and protective solutions to the Missing and Murdered Native Women in Yakima County and throughout our country. We support your efforts with Savanna's Act. It's time for the violence against women to stop.

We request field hearings in Yakima County to learn more from our Yakama Tribal members and others with information on what is happening in Yakima County. We are highly concerned about the level of violence against women in our area.

For 110 years the YWCA of Yakima has been providing services to women and children in our community. Last year alone we helped over 13,000 women, children, and men who were experiencing domestic violence. Our emergency shelter frequently helps Native women reclaim their lives and build new futures for them and their children.

Thank you for leading an effort to bring these issues forward. This is a crisis that needs attention now. How many more women will we allow to go missing or be murdered? How many more children will grow up not knowing where their mother is? Sincerely, Cheri Kilty, Executive Director. ____ Samish Indian Nation, Anacortes, WA, June 18, 2019. Hon. Jerry Nadler, Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Washington, DC. Hon. Raul Grijalva, Chairman, House Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC. Hon. Doug Collins, Ranking Member, House Committee of the Judiciary, Washington, DC. Hon. Rob Bishop, Ranking Member, House Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairmen Nadler and Grijalva and Ranking Members Collins and Bishop: I am writing on behalf of the Samish Indian Nation to share the importance to our people of Savanna's Act, introduced by Representatives Dan Newhouse (R- WA), Norma Torres (D-CA), and Deb Haaland (D-OK) to address the devastating issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) that impacts tribal communities here in Washington and across the country. I am also writing to underscore the importance of hearing directly from the tribal communities that have been impacted by this epidemic.

Indigenous Women in Washington have especially been impacted by the crisis, with currently 71 open cases statewide. Samish Indian Nation has not escaped this impact, as our late former Chairwoman lost her daughter-in-law in a violent criminal act over 30 years ago, and that case has even to this day never been solved.

With this in mind, we ask you to hold a field hearing in Central Washington to bring together Tribal leaders, local and Tribal law enforcement, and other community stakeholders and hear firsthand accounts of the MMIW crisis and how legislation like Savanna's Act would help ensure justice for Native Women and their families.

Thank you for your consideration and for your leadership and advocacy for our Nation's Native Communities. I look forward to welcoming you to Washington and to a collective response to this crisis. Sincerely, Thomas D. Wooten, Chairman. ____ Puyallup Tribe of Indians, June 27, 2019. Hon. Jerrold Nadler, Chairman, House Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC. Hon. Raul Grijalva, Chairman, House Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC. Hon. Doug Collins, Ranking Member, House Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC. Hon. Rob Bishop, Ranking Member, House Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairmen Nadler and Grijalva and Ranking Members Collins and Bishop: I.am writing on behalf of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians to share our collective support of Savanna's Act, H.R. 2733 introduced by Representatives Dan Newhouse (R- WA), Norma Torres (D-CA), and Deb Haaland (D-OK). The issue of missing and murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) has had devastating impacts on tribal communities in Washington State and across Indian Country. The Puyallup Tribe has not been immune to this crisis as we have several missing or murdered tribal members whose cases remain unsolved.

The Urban Indian Health Institute reports that Washington State ranks second in the nation for missing and murdered indigenous women. In data collected on urban areas, Seattle is number one, and Tacoma is number two. With this data in mind we respectfully and urgently stress the importance for the committees to hear directly from the communities hit the hardest as you discuss policies that will impact them the most.

We support Yakama Nation's invitation to the House Committee on the Judiciary and House Committee on Natural Resources to conduct a field hearing on the proposed legislation. Hosting a field hearing in Central Washington would be a meaningful opportunity to gather a diverse community of Tribal leaders, law enforcement, and community stakeholders and hear firsthand how legislation like Savanna's Act is needed to assure justice for Native women and the loved ones they've left behind.

Thank you for your consideration, and advocacy. We look forward to your response. Sincerely, David Z. Bean, Chairman Puyallup Tribal Council. ____ Missing and Murdered Native Americans, Yelm, WA, June 27, 2019. Hon. Jerrold Nadler, Chairman, House Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC. Hon. Raul Grijalva, Chairman, House Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC. Hon. Doug Collins, Ranking Member, House Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC. Hon. Rob Bishop, Ranking Member, House Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairmen Nadler and Grijalva and Ranking Members Collins and Bishop: I am writing as an advocate for families of the missing and murdered and as a family member who has lost my mother and my cousin to share our collective support of Savannah's Act, H.R. 2733. Please accept the invitation to conduct a field hearing on the proposed legislation. The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) is gaining momentum across the nation with tragic stories like Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who was pregnant with her first child when she was murdered in August 2017. Savanna's story is heartbreaking; and, tragically, there are thousands of these stories across the country. There are over 40 missing or murdered women on the Yakama reservation, each with its share of horrific details and failed investigations.

Native American's are the only race in our country where no thorough data is collected, thus there is no reliable way of knowing how many Native Women go missing. Outdated databases and a lack of coordination between law enforcement agencies are creating a literal joke of ``Who's on First'' where no one wants to take jurisdiction. This bad joke played out this winter in the death of 14 year old Henny Scott. The family fought to get law enforcement to take a missing report or help find Henny wasting critical time. Henny was found dead by a volunteer search party on the Norther Cheyenne reservation in December 2018. This could have been prevented and is unacceptable, and yet, Henny's is just one story.

The Urban Indian Health Institute reports that Washington State ranks second in the nation for missing and murdered indigenous women. Seattle holds sadly is number one and Tacoma is number two. I must respectfully and urgently request your committees to hear directly from the communities hit the hardest as you discuss policies that will impact them the most.

Thank you for your consideration and for your strong leadership and advocacy for our nation's Native communities. We look forward to your response. Sincerely, Carolyn DeFord,

Founder, Missing and Murdered Native Americans, MMIW Family Member, Daughter of Leona Kinsey. ____ Washington State Women's Commission, Olympia, WA, July 10, 2019.

Hon. Jerrold Nadler,

House Committee on the Judiciary,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Raul Grijalva,

House Committee on Natural Resources,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Doug Collins,

House Committee of the Judiciary,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Rob Bishop,

House Committee on Natural Resources,

Washington, DC. Dear Chairs Nadler and Grijalva and Ranking Members Collins and Bishop: I am the Director of the Washington State Women's Commission, a government agency focused on eliminating systemic barriers for women. I am writing in support of Savanna's Act (H.R. 2733), introduced by Representatives Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Norma Torres (D-CA), and Deb Haaland (D-OK). Savanna's Act is a bipartisan effort that will help address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) across the country. I also support holding a field hearing on the Yakama Nation Reservation.

In April 2019, two Native girls, Mary Gates (age 14) and Myra Queahpama (age 15), went missing from Yakima County in Washington state. Every day they are missing makes it more difficult to find them. Their families deserve to be heard. I am writing to support a field hearing on the Yakama Nation reservation to learn more from our Yakima Tribal members about this issue. Of the 56 missing Native American women in Washington, 20 are from Yakima County, according to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.

The Women's Commission shares the concern of many about the level of violence against women in the area. I respectfully request your committees hold a field hearing at the Yakama Reservation, and to support the passage of Savanna's Act.

Thank you for your consideration and for your strong leadership and advocacy for our nation's Native communities. Sincerely, Michelle Gonzalez, Director. ____ Muckleshoot Tribal Council, Auburn, WA, July 12, 2019.

Re Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Epidemic.

Hon. Jerrold Nadler,

House Committee on Judiciary,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Raul Grijalva,

House Committee on Natural Resources,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Doug Collins,

Ranking Member, House Committee Judiciary, Washington, DC.

Hon. Rob Bishop,

Ranking Member, House Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC. Dear Chairmen Nadler and Grijalva and Ranking Members Collins and Bishop: On behalf of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe (``Tribe''), I am writing to request that the Committee on the Judiciary and Committee on Natural Resources conduct a joint field hearing in Washington State on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (``MMIW'') epidemic.

The MMIW crisis is a heart-wrenching problem impacting Indian country. Over recent decades, thousands of American Indian and Alaska Native (``AI/AN'') women have disappeared. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that murder is the third-leading cause of death among AI/AN women and that rates of violence on reservations can be up to ten times higher than the national average.

This crisis is plaguing Washington State at an alarming rate. A 2018 report by the Urban Indian Health Institute found that Washington State ranked second in the nation for the number of MMIW cases (71 cases). Further, the study determined that Seattle was the city with the highest number of MMIW cases (45). This is extremely concerning for the Tribe considering we are located less than 30 miles from Seattle.

While there is no single cause for the high rates of MMIW, experts suggest several explanations, including jurisdictional barriers; lack of cross jurisdictional communication and planning; failure to adequately fund tribal justice systems; and the targeting of Native women by sex traffickers.

Legislation pending in the Judiciary and Natural Resources committees, including Savanna's Act (H.R. 2733) would help address the MMIW crisis. Savanna's Act, introduced by Representatives Norma Torres, Deb Haaland, and Dan Newhouse, would increase coordination among all levels of law enforcement; increase data collection and information sharing; and empower tribal governments with the resources needed in cases involving MMIW.

In closing, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe strongly encourages the Committee on the Judiciary and Committee on Natural Resources to conduct a joint field hearing in the State of Washington on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women epidemic and related legislation. Respectfully, Jaison Elkins, Chairman, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.

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Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, these letters outline the importance to both our Native communities in Washington State and the futures of indigenous people around the country.

To quote from the Yakama Nation, Chairman Goudy's letter: ``As the Yakama Nation testified in Olympia, there needs to be a genuine response to the reports of missing and murdered Native women and girls across Tribal lands.''

Chairman Goudy continues: ``Also, all new legislation needs to be guided by a clear strategic framework and principles to move beyond the current conditions endangering the lives and future generations of Native women and girls.''

The unique perspective of Native communities like that of the Yakama Nation are invaluable, Mr. Speaker, as we continue to debate the best policies moving forward that will actually provide solutions to this crisis. So I respectfully repeat my invitation to the House Committee on the Judiciary and Committee on Natural Resources to come to my congressional district in central Washington, and I can promise all those members and chairmen the insight they will gain will help them realize how this crisis truly affects our friends and neighbors on and off Tribal lands.

Mr. Speaker, you have heard tonight how this devastating crisis affects Tribes, States, and congressional districts across the country. It is easy to focus on these heartbreaking statistics, but these women are more than just numbers. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, neighbors, and friends.

There are those who are missing, like:

18-year-old Rosalita Longee, who was last seen in Wapato in 2015;

37-year-old Roberta Jean Raines, last seen in Toppenish in 2001;

29-year-old Daisy Mae Tallman, who went missing in October of 1987; Daisy's backpack and keys were found northwest of White Swan;

29-year-old Karen Louise Johnley, who was last seen by a friend at the Lazy R Tavern in Harrah, Washington in 1987;

16-year-old Janice Hannigan, who, in 1971, went missing after she was discharged by the hospital on Christmas Eve. She never arrived home and has never been heard from again.

Then there are also the unsolved murders, including:

31-year-old Rosenda Strong, who was last seen alive in Wapato on October 2 of last year. Her body was found in July outside of Toppenish, and no arrests have been made;

23-year-old Destiny Louise Lloyd, who went missing on Christmas Day 2017. She was found days later south of Harrah;

31-year-old Minnie Andy. Minnie was assaulted in Wapato in July 2017. She died from her injuries;

39-year-old Linda Dave, whose remains were found in Toppenish in February of 2017 under a bridge;

33-year-old mother of eight, Naoma George. She was beaten to death in an alley in Wapato in the fall of 2013;

44-year-old Barbara Celestine. Barbara died of blunt trauma to the head in 2005;

30-year-old Shari Dee Sampson Elwell of Wapato. Shari was found dead in White Swan in 1992;

44-year-old JoAnne Betty John. The mother of 11 had been missing for 2\1/2\ years before her remains were found in 1992. She was identified by her dental records;

13-year-old Rozelia Sohappy, who was last seen New Year's Eve in 1988. Her remains were found outside of Brownstone;

20-year-old Jenece Wilson of Toppenish. She died of a severe blow to the head in the summer of 1987;

26-year old Babette Crystall Green, a member of the Warm Springs Tribe in Oregon. Her remains were found in 1987 near Wapato;

25-year-old Clydell Alice Sampson, who, after being missing for 2 years, was found in 1986 by hunters outside of Granger. She died of a shotgun blast to the head;

33-year-old Mavis Josephine McKay. Mavis' remains were found in 1957 in Satus. Mavis was a citizen of the Umatilla Tribe.

These are just some of the women with open cases from on or near the Yakama Nation reservation in central Washington, and this does not even begin to cover the number of open cases in other parts of the country.

This is not an issue we can ignore, Mr. Speaker. The Native communities we represent deserve action. Congress must, as to provide answers to their friends, families, and loved ones, act to deliver justice to missing and murdered indigenous women across the country.

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