Expressing support for the designation of May 5, 2026, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls".
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1257
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Native Americans
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-04: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-09T13:12:32Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 1257) expresses the House of Representatives' support for designating May 5, 2026, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls" (MMIWG). It aims to raise public awareness about the high rates of violence, disappearances, and trafficking faced by American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, while honoring victims like Hanna Harris.
Key Provisions
- Supports the designation of May 5, 2026, as a national awareness day.
- Calls on the public and groups to:
- Commemorate documented and undocumented cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
- Show solidarity with victims' families.
- Recommends that the Department of Justice's (DOJ) National Institute of Justice conduct a new study on MMIWG data, as the last major study was in 2016.
- Acknowledges progress (e.g., Savanna's Act and Not Invisible Act) but stresses more work is needed.
The resolution cites statistics, such as high homicide rates (10 times the national average for Indigenous women under 44), thousands of missing persons reports, and ongoing crises like 5,614 missing Indigenous women and girls reported in 2024.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- None. This is a non-binding resolution that does not create new laws, amend statutes, or require enforcement. It builds on prior laws like Savanna's Act (2020) and the Not Invisible Act (2020), which established commissions and units to address MMIWG.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Encourages DOJ to update data via a new study; highlights ongoing efforts by DOJ and Department of the Interior (DOI), such as the Missing and Murdered Unit and regional outreach.
- On citizens: Promotes public commemoration and awareness, potentially increasing community support and pressure for better investigations.
- On international relations: None directly mentioned.
- Overall, symbolic impact to sustain focus on the MMIWG crisis without mandating actions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Indigenous communities, Tribal leaders, and families of victims/survivors.
- Federal agencies: DOJ, DOI (Bureau of Indian Affairs), and National Institute of Justice.
- Law enforcement: U.S. Attorneys' Offices, state agencies, and Tribal police.
- Public and advocacy groups: Those involved in awareness, service provision, and anti-trafficking efforts.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Purely expressive; no enforceable obligations or funding. Reinforces prior commissions' recommendations without new authority.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to express opinions on public issues; no First Amendment or federalism concerns.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by Rep. Newhouse with diverse cosponsors); signals congressional priority on Tribal justice issues, potentially influencing future funding or legislation. Referred to Natural Resources and Judiciary Committees for review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (17)
Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Fedorchak, Julie [R-ND-At Large], Rep. Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2], Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6], Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5], Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2], Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-04: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-05-04: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-05-04: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Expressing support for the designation of May 5, 2026, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls". — issued 2026-05-04 — PDF (4 pages)