Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) strongly supports the reauthorization of the Violence against Women Act (VAWA) 2022. TCC and its member Tribes have submitted testimony and consultation comments in support of VAWA Reauthorization since its expiration in late 2018.
The bipartisan VAWA 2022 bill, introduced by Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, and 22 other senators will reauthorize VAWA through 2027 as well as create new Alaska specific provisions, the ‘Alaska Tribal Public Safety Act’. The Alaska provisions empower tribal governments to work in partnership with state and federal authorities, to address public safety, an issue that was declared a federal law enforcement emergency by U.S. Attorney General, William Barr in 2019.
TCC Tribes and their Tribal Courts have actively exercised the affirmed authority to issues civil domestic violence protection orders to protect tribal members, with full faith and credit by the State of Alaska, since the reauthorization of VAWA in 2013.
The expanded authority proposed in the most recent VAWA reauthorization will allow Tribes to build off of their current response and compliment the rural public safety response of the State of Alaska.
Congress’ commitment to address the epidemic of violence against women and children, with additional provisions to protect Alaska Native/American Indian women and children is both welcome and long overdue.
“We are pleased that Congress listened to our Tribes, tribal service providers, and indigenous victims, and took the time to really look at the data,” said Brittany Madros, Tribal Government & Justice Division Director. “Alaska Native communities, particularly women and children, experience higher rates of violence than any other race. This bill creates a pathway for tribes, federal and state partners to change these heartbreaking numbers”.
TCC applauds Senator Murkowski’s advocacy in including the ‘Alaska’s Tribal Public Safety Empowerment Act’ in the 2022 VAWA reauthorization. These provisions will equip tribal communities with real tools to support Tribal, State, and Federal efforts in decreasing the overrepresentation of Alaska Native women and children who experience violence in their lifetime.
“TCC would like to express our gratitude to our Alaska Delegation and Congressman Don Young for his leadership in the U.S. House to reauthorize VAWA in 2021, where Young advocated to include similar Alaska provisions,” said Brian Ridley, TCC President. “We are extremely proud that Senator Murkowski and Congressman Young are taking action to protect those who are most at-risk of being exposed to violence – Alaska Native women and children. Like many other Tribes and Tribal Organizations, TCC also looks forward to working with our entire Alaska delegation to ensure passage of this vital and lifesaving bill.”