A resolution 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: S.Res. 200
Origin Chamber: Senate
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Native Americans
Status: Passed Senate
Latest Action: 2025-05-05: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2753; text: CR S2758)
Last Updated: 2026-05-15T18:17:58Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This Senate resolution (S. Res. 200) expresses 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, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women and girls, drawing on statistics about high rates of violence, missing persons, and homicides. The resolution aims to raise public awareness, honor victims, and urge continued action to address these issues.

Key Provisions

Designation Support: The Senate endorses May 5, 2025, as a national day of awareness, noting its historical significance as a day of remembrance for victims like Hanna Harris, a Northern Cheyenne Tribe member murdered in 2013.
Calls for Commemoration and Solidarity: Encourages the public and organizations to remember documented and undocumented cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and to support victims' families.
Recommendation for New Research: Urges the Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice to conduct and publicize an updated study on MMIWG, as the last major study was in 2016.
Acknowledgment of Ongoing Efforts: Recognizes prior initiatives like Operation Lady Justice (2019), Savanna's Act (2020), the Not Invisible Act (2020), and the Department of the Interior's Missing and Murdered Unit (2021), while stressing that more work is needed to combat the crisis, including better funding for Tribal services.

The resolution's preamble cites data on violence rates (e.g., over 84% of Indigenous women experience violence in their lifetime), elevated homicide risks, missing persons cases, and human trafficking vulnerabilities.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no legal changes or enforceable requirements. It builds on existing laws like Savanna's Act (which improves law enforcement protocols for MMIWG cases) and the Not Invisible Act (which creates a commission to address violent crime in Tribal communities) but does not amend them.

Potential Impacts

On Government Agencies: May prompt the Department of Justice to update research, potentially leading to better data for policy-making. It could encourage increased coordination among federal agencies like the Department of Justice and Department of the Interior with Tribal governments, though without mandatory funding.
On Citizens: Raises national awareness of the MMIWG crisis, fostering public support and solidarity, which might indirectly boost advocacy and resources for victims' services.
On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but it reinforces U.S. commitments to Indigenous rights, potentially aligning with global efforts on violence against women in Indigenous populations.
Broader Effects: Highlights funding shortages in Indian Country (Tribal areas), which could influence future budget allocations for emergency and long-term victim support, though outcomes depend on subsequent legislative action.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Indigenous Communities: American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women and girls, who face disproportionate violence; their families; and Tribal governments, which struggle with inadequate resources for investigations and services.
Law Enforcement and Federal Agencies: Department of Justice, Department of the Interior, and related task forces, tasked with improving responses to missing and murdered cases.
Public and Advocacy Groups: General U.S. population and organizations focused on women's rights, human trafficking, and Indigenous issues, encouraged to participate in awareness efforts.
Victims' Advocates: Groups addressing human trafficking and violence, as noted in studies from Hawaii and national data.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: As a simple resolution agreed to by the Senate, it has no force of law and cannot compel action, but it serves as a formal congressional statement that could support future binding legislation or executive actions on Indigenous justice.
Constitutional: Aligns with federal trust responsibilities to Tribes under the U.S. Constitution (e.g., treaty obligations and plenary power over Indian affairs), without raising separation-of-powers issues.
Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (introduced by senators from both parties) for Indigenous issues, potentially building momentum for addressing systemic gaps in law enforcement jurisdiction on Tribal lands (e.g., the "jurisdictional maze" where federal, state, and Tribal authorities overlap). It underscores the need for better data sharing and funding, which could influence elections or policy debates in Congress.

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

Sponsor

Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]

Cosponsors (24)

Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA], Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK], Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI], Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND], Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO], Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT], Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]

Recent Actions

2025-05-05: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2753; text: CR S2758)
2025-05-05: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
2025-05-05: Introduced in Senate

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 (4 pages)