[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 27, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            ASHLYNEE MIKE AMBER ALERT IN INDIAN COUNTRY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. NORMA J. TORRES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 26, 2018

  Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise tocommend the United States Congress 
for taking the right step forward in helping combat the high numbers of 
children abduction and crime rates in Indian Country.
  As a former 911 operator, I know that the AMBER Alert program has led 
to the rescue of countless lives across the United States--but until 
now, access to this critical tool has been limited for our tribal 
communities.
  Mr. Speaker, the passage of this bill will give tribes across the 
United States the ability to respond quickly to child abductions and 
help ensure the public safety of their citizens. These precious young 
lives are no less valuable than any others and they deserve to be 
protected.
  Last November, I introduced Savanna's Act as a result of the 
disturbing increase in murdered and missing Native American women and 
girls. My bill is named in honor of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, a 22-
year-old pregnant member of the Spirit Lake Tribe who was tragically 
murdered.
  While I am hopeful that the institution of an AMBER alert program 
will help bring some much needed relief to this issue, we must do more 
to address the gap of information sharing between tribal, local, and 
federal law enforcement agencies. My bill aims to do just that.
  Let's keep the momentum going and finally bring full justice to our 
Native American neighbors.

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