Dear USET/USET SPF Family,
Yesterday the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1620, the “Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021” (VAWA), which recognizes the jurisdiction Tribal Nations have over non-Natives for sexual crimes against Native women. H.R. 1620 provides funding for the Tribal Access Program, grants to Tribal and state courts to implement protection orders, and protects children experiencing domestic violence. H.R. 1620 also includes language that recognizes restrictive land status and the complications that can arise from that designation.
USET SPF has advocated to reauthorize VAWA with a Tribal title that promotes greater exercise of Tribal sovereignty. USET SPF adopted USET SPF Resolution No. 2019 SPF:007, which calls for a reauthorization of VAWA with expanded Tribal provisions to protect Native women. We have also provided Testimony
to Congress calling for enhanced VAWA reauthorizations that protect Native women.
USET SPF encourages member Tribal Nations to contact their Senators to pass this important legislation. To find contact information for your Senators, please click here.
For more information, please contact Brian Howard, USET SPF Senior Policy Analyst, at bhoward@usetinc.org.
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