Us Congress House Bill HR353

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/2/23
• Refer: 5/2/23
• Refer: 6/9/23

Caption

Expressing support for the designation of May 5, 2023, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls".

Impact

If adopted, HR353 aims to raise awareness about the systemic issues surrounding missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The resolution aligns with previous federal efforts to combat this crisis, such as Operation Lady Justice and Savanna's Act. By designating a day of awareness, the bill seeks to unify public awareness and advocate for improved data sharing among law enforcement agencies, which has been identified as a critical area needing attention to develop effective responses and resource allocation.

Summary

House Resolution 353 expresses support for the designation of May 5, 2023, as the 'National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.' The resolution highlights the alarming rates of violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women, revealing that more than 84% have experienced violence in their lifetime, with significant portions resulting from sexual and intimate partner violence. It serves to emphasize the need for heightened attention and action toward the ongoing crisis impacting Indigenous communities.

Contention

The primary contention surrounding HR353 lies in the ongoing struggle to adequately address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people. While the resolution is a positive step in acknowledging the problem, advocates emphasize that more concrete actions and funding are necessary to confront the root causes of violence in these communities. The resolution calls for a new study by the Department of Justice to gather updated statistics, implying the inadequacy of past efforts and the pressing nature of this issue in public discourse.