Expressing support for the designation of May 5, 2025, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls".

Bill Number: H.Res. 381
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Native Americans
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-05-05: 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: 2026-06-09T13:12:30Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This House Resolution (H. Res. 381) aims to express congressional support for designating May 5, 2025, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls" (MMIWG). It highlights the ongoing crisis of violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, drawing attention to high rates of missing persons, murder, and trafficking, while commemorating victims and urging further action.

Key Provisions

Background on the Crisis: The resolution cites statistics showing that over 84% of American Indian and Alaska Native women experience violence in their lifetime, with homicide as a leading cause of death (rates over 10 times the national average). It notes around 1,500 missing persons cases and 2,700 murders reported, plus high trafficking rates (e.g., 64% of victims in Hawai'i identifying as Native Hawaiian). It also addresses inadequate funding in Tribal areas and high rates in Tribal lands.
Past Efforts: References initiatives like Operation Lady Justice (2019), Savanna's Act and Not Invisible Act (2020), the Missing and Murdered Unit in the Department of the Interior (2021), the Not Invisible Act Commission (2022-2023), and ongoing DOJ programs.
Current Status: Despite progress, 5,614 Indigenous women and girls were reported missing in 2024, with 628 active cases at year-end, many involving minors.
Actions Recommended:
Support the national awareness day designation.
Encourage the public and groups to commemorate victims' lives (documented or not) and show solidarity with families.
Recommend that the Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice (NIJ, a research arm focused on crime data) commission a new study on MMIWG, as the last one was in 2016.
Acknowledge that more work is needed to address the crisis.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no legal changes or new enforceable requirements. It builds on existing laws like Savanna's Act (which improves coordination between federal and Tribal agencies for MMIWG cases) and the Not Invisible Act (which established a commission for recommendations on violent crime in Tribal communities) by recommending further research but does not amend them.

Potential Impacts

On Government Agencies: May prompt the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of the Interior (DOI) to prioritize updated data collection and training, potentially leading to better resource allocation for investigations in Tribal areas. It could influence funding decisions for Tribal services without mandating changes.
On Citizens: Raises public awareness of the MMIWG crisis, encouraging community involvement in remembrance events and support for victims' families, which might foster broader societal solidarity and advocacy.
On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it underscores U.S. commitments to Indigenous rights, potentially aligning with global efforts on violence against women (e.g., UN initiatives).
Overall: Symbolic emphasis could drive voluntary actions like increased reporting or local events, but effects depend on follow-up by agencies and lawmakers.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Indigenous Communities: American Indian and Alaska Native women, girls, families, and Tribal governments, who face the crisis directly and benefit from heightened awareness and potential resource improvements.
Government Entities: DOJ (including NIJ and U.S. Attorney's Offices), DOI (Bureau of Indian Affairs), and federal task forces, tasked with investigations, data sharing, and implementing recommendations.
Law Enforcement and Service Providers: Local, state, and federal agencies, plus nonprofits aiding victims, who may see enhanced training and collaboration.
General Public: All U.S. citizens and interest groups encouraged to participate in awareness efforts.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: No binding force, but it reinforces federal obligations under laws like the Indian Civil Rights Act (protecting Tribal members' rights) and highlights gaps in jurisdiction over crimes in Indian country (Tribal lands), where federal involvement is often needed due to limited Tribal authority.
Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's plenary power over Indian affairs (under the Commerce Clause), promoting equity without infringing on states' rights or individual liberties.
Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from both parties) signals broad consensus on addressing Indigenous issues, potentially boosting momentum for future legislation on funding or data standards. It honors a specific victim (Hanna Harris) to personalize the crisis, emphasizing remembrance over partisanship, but underscores persistent underfunding as a policy challenge.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]

Cosponsors (16)

Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4], Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3], Rep. Fedorchak, Julie [R-ND-At Large]

Recent Actions

2025-05-05: 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.
2025-05-05: 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.
2025-05-05: Submitted in House
2025-05-05: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

Expressing support for the designation of May 5, 2025, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls". — issued 2025-05-05 — PDF (5 pages)