Tester praises passage of Savanna's Act, hearing on issue set for Wednesday

Havre Daily News staff

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., Friday praised the unanimous passage of a bill to help address the missing and murdered indigenous women epidemic Thursday night.

Savanna’s Act, sponsored by Sen. Heidi Heitcamp, D-N.D., would require the U.S. Department of Justice to better collect and report crime data and increase access to federal crime databases that track missing persons across Indian Country. It would also create standard guidelines for responding to cases of missing and murdered indigenous women, laying out a clear framework for cooperation between tribal, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

“All of us must work together to end this epidemic,” Tester said in a press release. “Savanna’s Act would ensure we all have access to the most comprehensive data regarding these crimes and make sure law enforcement agencies are on the same page as they investigate this unacceptable epidemic.” 

According to the National Institute of Justice, more than 80 percent of Native women have experienced violence — almost half within the last year. As a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Tester has worked to raise awareness about this epidemic, support survivors, and bring their assailants to justice.

  Tester has called for a Senate hearing on the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Savanna’s Act would require the U.S. Department of Justice to better collect and report crime data and increase access to federal crime databases that track missing persons across Indian Country. It would also create standard guidelines for responding to cases of missing and murdered indigenous women, laying out a clear framework for cooperation between tribal, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Earlier this year, Tester secured $133 million to help tribes assist survivors of violent crimes through the Crime Victims Fund and is sponsoring legislation to make this funding permanent.

The SURVIVE Act was passed unanimously out of committee and is awaiting a vote on the Senate floor.