| Copyright © 2012 |
Quiet Mountain Essays
| News from the Friends Committee on National Legislation |
The Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved the SAVE Native Women Act, and the Violence
Against Women Act includes provisions to protect Native women who are victims of domestic
violence or sexual assault.
On December 8, the Senate Indian Affairs Committee amended and unanimously approved S. 1763,
the SAVE Native Women Act. FCNL’s letter of support for this bill was delivered to each member of
the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in November.
Chairman Akaka, in his presentation of the bill, noted that there are “still some outstanding concerns”
about the bill on the part of Vice Chair Barrasso and others. Chairman Akaka offered an amendment
in the nature of a substitute to the original bill which mostly makes technical changes and corrections,
but also adds to the bill a new provision which would make it a federal crime to violate a tribal
protection order for domestic violence. Senator Murkowski offered an amendment which would
address concerns raised by the State of Alaska about tribal protection orders. Both the amendment in
the nature of a substitute and the Murkowski amendment were agreed to.
Amendments similar to those outlined in the SAVE Native Women Act have been included in the
overall Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization of 2011 (S.1925), which was introduced by
Senator Patrick Leahy (VT). The bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Fifteen faith-
based organizations presented an interfaith sign-on letter of support for the Native American
provisions in the VAWA Reauthorization bill. The letter was hand-delivered to all the members of the
Senate Judiciary Committee as well as the initial co-sponsor of the bill, Senator Michael Crapo (ID).
Against Women Act includes provisions to protect Native women who are victims of domestic
violence or sexual assault.
On December 8, the Senate Indian Affairs Committee amended and unanimously approved S. 1763,
the SAVE Native Women Act. FCNL’s letter of support for this bill was delivered to each member of
the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in November.
Chairman Akaka, in his presentation of the bill, noted that there are “still some outstanding concerns”
about the bill on the part of Vice Chair Barrasso and others. Chairman Akaka offered an amendment
in the nature of a substitute to the original bill which mostly makes technical changes and corrections,
but also adds to the bill a new provision which would make it a federal crime to violate a tribal
protection order for domestic violence. Senator Murkowski offered an amendment which would
address concerns raised by the State of Alaska about tribal protection orders. Both the amendment in
the nature of a substitute and the Murkowski amendment were agreed to.
Amendments similar to those outlined in the SAVE Native Women Act have been included in the
overall Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization of 2011 (S.1925), which was introduced by
Senator Patrick Leahy (VT). The bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Fifteen faith-
based organizations presented an interfaith sign-on letter of support for the Native American
provisions in the VAWA Reauthorization bill. The letter was hand-delivered to all the members of the
Senate Judiciary Committee as well as the initial co-sponsor of the bill, Senator Michael Crapo (ID).