Savanna’s Act, a Federal Bill named after a 22-year-old Native American Woman who was Killed at Eight Months Pregnant, has the potential to Dramatically Help Native American Women in the U.S. Native American Women suffer from disproportionate Rates of Violence including: Domestic Violence, Sexual Abuse, and going “Missing”, and this Bill would help address that Violence by Improving Responses from the Federal Government.

Specifically, it would Ensure that the Department of Justice Trains Law Enforcement Agencies on how to Record Tribal Enrollment Information in Crime Databases, as well as requiring the Attorney General to get recommendations from Tribes. This would Improve Access to Federal, State, and Local Information Databases, with the Ultimate Goal of Creating Guidelines for how to Respond to the Rampant Violence against Native American Women.

So, in short, an All-Around amazing, and much needed step forward. The question is: Why is Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA, 6th District) so Opposed to it? He is leaving Congress.

Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND, 28th District), who is Sponsoring the Bill, recently called out Goodlatte on Twitter. Why? Because he’s the only, literally only, Person keeping this Bill from Progressing. "We are so close to passing this critical bill to help address the crisis of missing and murdered Native American women, and getting it signed into law. And the actions of one congressman shouldn't stop us ... "

Savanna’s Act has already Passed in the Senate, and Unanimously at that. Sadly, it’s currently stuck in the House. If it isn’t Passed by the end of this year, it will have to be Reintroduced in January. This isn’t unusual, of course, but given that Heitkamp is not Returning to Congress, she Lost her Re-Election Bid in November, it’s a huge deal.

So why exactly is Goodlatte Blocking the Bill? It’s pretty much Unknown. It’s certainly not his First Time Stalling Protections for Native American Women. In 2013, Goodlatte voted Against Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. And within the Violence Against Women Act, a Measure to Extend Protections Explicitly to Native American Women, also Sponsored by Heitkamp.

In a Statement, she Explained why she Thinks her Bill is being thwarted: “My bill is being blocked from a vote in the U.S. House because of petty partisan games being played by one individual, Republican Congressman Bob Goodlatte. Unlike Congressman Goodlatte, I am serious about saving lives and making sure Native American women are invisible no longer ― and I’m determined to not let Savanna’s Act go down without a fight. And I hope every member of Congress puts pressure on him so we can pass Savanna’s Act now.”

Lawmaking should never be a Game, but especially not when the Lives of Vulnerable, Marginalized People are at Stake.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker