[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 5, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E427-E428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  NATIONAL DAY OF AWARENESS FOR MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SUZANNE BONAMICI

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 5, 2020

  Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize May 5, 2020 as the 
National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and 
Girls.
  Today, we recognize our nation's devastating history of colonization 
and the disproportionate effects for Native women. The coronavirus 
pandemic has exposed health care inequalities in our country, 
especially the health care available to Native communities. But we must 
be equally concerned about the number of Native women and girls that 
face incredible violence in this country every day. In the United 
States, Native women face tragically high rates of violence, sexual 
assault, and murder. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, homicide is the third leading cause of death among 
Native women. These rates are ten times higher than the national 
average and far too often, families are left without answers.
  I am a cosponsor of Savanna's Act, which will recognize Native women 
and make sure that their invisibility to law enforcement ends. The bill 
would create and improve procedures, communication, and cooperation 
among federal, state, tribal, and local agencies that may

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share jurisdiction over crimes against Native women. We cannot allow 
the experiences of Native communities continue to slip through 
bureaucracy. Today, I am calling on House Leadership to quickly bring 
this bill to the floor.
  I am thankful for the work of the City of Portland to shine a light 
on this issue by passing a resolution later this week calling attention 
to this urgent crisis. We need to all work together to demand action.
  We must strive to better understand the institutional racism and 
systemic inequalities that Native communities face. I will keep 
fighting for justice for those who are missing or murdered, and I 
remain committed to taking action to prevent these crimes in the 
future.

                          ____________________