Torres and Newhouse Write to Justice Department Requesting Update on Savanna’s Act Implementation
WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35) and Congressman Dan Newhouse (WA-04), sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting an update on the implementation of Savanna's Act, legislation passed last year which addresses the disproportionately high number of missing or murdered Native American women by requiring the Department of Justice to implement additional law enforcement protocols for investigating such cases.
"All too often, cases involving indigenous women go unreported, despite the fact that they are murdered and disappear at unconscionably high rates," Rep. Torres said in the letter. "Federal statistics show that Native American women are murdered at rates more than 10 times the national average and yet are the least likely of all ethnic groups to have newspaper coverage. Native Americans, women of color, and their families deserve the primetime coverage and government and public response that other cases have received."
"The Justice Department plays play a pivotal role in the national effort to find justice for these women, and we urge you to provide Congress with an update on your efforts to implement Savanna's Act." Rep. Torres continued. "We are requesting complete transparency in the implementation process of this legislation, which calls for a report from the Department detailing the annual data on missing Native Americans and the law enforcement agencies that provide such data."
"Savanna's Act was signed into law over a year ago and requires the Department of Justice to update Congress on how the reforms and guidelines are being implemented to better protect native women and communities," said Rep. Newhouse. "I am deeply disappointed this statutory deadline has not been met, given the dire state of the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women in Central Washington and across the country. We worked hard with our tribal partners and local advocates to get Savanna's Act signed into law, and now we urge Attorney General Garland to act swiftly to execute these bipartisan policies in order to deliver justice to the families and loved ones of these women."
Savanna's Act, introduced by Congresswoman Torres, Congressman Newhouse, and then-Congresswoman Deb Haaland, was signed into law on Oct. 10, 2020. It is named in honor of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, a 22-year-old pregnant member of the Spirit Lake Tribe who was tragically murdered in August 2017. The law directs the Department of Justice to review, revise, and develop law enforcement protocols, increase coordination, and improve data collection to address missing or murdered Native Americans.
The letter reads:
Dear Attorney General Garland:
We write to you today to respectfully inquire about your implementation of Savanna's Act (Public Law 116-165), bipartisan legislation that was signed into law on October 10, 2020. The law addresses the disproportionately high number of missing Native American women by directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to review, revise, and develop law enforcement protocols, increase coordination, and improve data collection to address missing or murdered Native Americans. Additionally, the law authorizes the Department to provide grants to carry out these activities. Savanna's Act was signed into law more than a year ago and we are eager for your report on how DOJ has implemented these reforms to better protect indigenous women.
All too often, cases involving indigenous women go unreported, despite the fact that they are murdered and disappeared at unconscionably high rates. For instance, federal statistics show that Native American women are murdered at rates more than 10 times the national average and yet are the least likely of all ethnic groups to have newspaper coverage. Native Americans, women of color, and their families deserve the primetime coverage and government and public response that other cases have received. According to a Government Accountability Office report released on November 1, 2021, the implementation of Savanna's Act would, "present opportunities to increase and improve data on the number of missing or murdered Indians, including AI/AN women" (GAO-22-104045).
We understand that the change in executive administration and agency leadership has adversely impacted your ability to meet the deadlines set forth in the law, but our communities cannot wait any longer. You play a pivotal role in the national effort to find justice for these women, and we urge you to provide Congress with an update on your efforts to implement Savanna's Act. We hope you will do your utmost as Attorney General to oversee a robust law enforcement agency response to cases of missing or murdered Native Americans, the recording of Tribal enrollment information or affiliation of victims in Federal databases, and the reporting of this data to the public. We are requesting complete transparency in the implementation process of this legislation, which calls for a report from the Department detailing the annual data on missing Native Americans and the law enforcement agencies that provide such data.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to finding justice for those who lack a voice. We appreciate your assistance in this matter and look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Norma J. Torres
Member of Congress
Dan Newhouse
Member of Congress
Click here to view the letter.
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Torres y Newhouse Escriben al Departamento de Justicia Para Solicitar Información Actualizada Sobre la Implementación de la Ley de Savanna
WASHINGTON – Congresista Norma J. Torres (CA-35) y Congresista Dan Newhouse (WA-04), enviaron una carta al Fiscal General Merrick Garland solicitando una actualización sobre la implementación de la Ley de Savanna, legislación aprobada el año pasado que aborda el numero desproporcionadamente alto de mujeres Nativas Americanas desaparecidas o asesinadas al exigir al Departamento de Justicia que implemente protocolos adicionales de aplicación de la ley para investigar tales casos.
"Con demasiada frecuencia, los casos que involucran a mujeres indígenas no se denuncian, a pesar de que son asesinadas y desaparecen a un ritmo muy elevado", dijo Representante Torres en la carta. "Las estadísticas federales muestran que las mujeres nativas americanas son asesinadas 10 veces mas que el promedio nacional y, sin embargo, son las que tienen menos probabilidades de tener cobertura periodística de todos los grupos étnicos. Los Nativos Americanos, las mujeres de color y sus familias merecen la cobertura en horario estelar y la respuesta del gobierno y del publico que otros casos han recibido".
"El Departamento de Justicia juega un papel fundamental en el esfuerzo nacional para encontrar justicia para estas mujeres, y le instamos a que le brinde al Congreso una actualización de sus esfuerzos para implementar la Ley de Savanna", Rep. Torres continuo. "Estamos solicitando una transparencia total en el proceso de implementación de esta legislación, que exige un informe del Departamento que detalle los datos anuales sobre los nativos americanos desaparecidos y las agencias de aplicación de la ley que brinda dichos datos".
"La Ley de Savanna se convirtió en ley hace más de un año y requiere que el Departamento de Justicia actualice al Congreso sobre cómo se están implementando las reformas y pautas para proteger mejor a las mujeres y comunidades nativas", dijo Representante Newhouse. "Estoy profundamente decepcionado de que no se haya cumplido este plazo legal, dado el terrible estado de la crisis de mujeres indígenas desaparecidas y asesinadas en Washington Central y en todo el país. Trabajamos duro con nuestros socios tribales y defensores locales para que la Ley de Savanna se convirtiera en ley, y ahora instamos al Fiscal General Garland a actuar rápidamente para ejecutar estas políticas bipartidistas a fin de hacer justicia a las familias y seres queridos de estas mujeres.
La Ley de Savanna, presentada por Congresista Torres, Congresista Newhouse, y la entonces Congresista Deb Haaland, se convirtió en ley el 10 de octubre de 2020. Se nombra en honor a Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, una miembro embarazada de 22 años de la Spirit Lake Tribe, que fue trágicamente asesinada en agosto de 2017. La ley ordena al Departamento de Justicia que revise y desarrolle protocolos de aplicación de la ley, aumente la coordinación y mejore la recopilación de datos para abordar a los Nativos Americanos desaparecidos o asesinados.
Haga clic aquí para ver la carta.