Murkowski urges DOJ for timely implementation of Savanna’s Act

Senators Lisa Murkowski and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), pressing the Department to expedite their efforts to finalize implementation of ‘Savanna’s Act.’ The letter listed specific questions aimed at clarifying the DOJ’s efforts to implement the law.

The letter states that while the senators appreciate the DOJ’s ongoing efforts to address the increased rates of victimization amongst these communities, the department has fallen short in its implementation of Savanna’s Act.

“Without implementation of this law, countless cases of violence against Native men, women, and children are not being effectively responded to by the systems and people that should be protecting them.”

The letter also strongly encourages the DOJ to take into consideration the recently released recommendations from the Not Invisible Act Commission, which were published in November 2023.

“We cannot begin to reduce violence for Native Americans and Alaska Natives if we do not bring together inter-jurisdictional resources and streamline responses to crime. In order for law enforcement, Tribal members, and other stakeholders to best protect the public safety of Native Americans and Alaska Natives, DOJ must fulfill its obligation to fully administer Savanna’s Act.”

Senator Murkowski, who serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, has long been involved in the passage of ‘Savanna’s Act,’ cos-sponsoring the bill in 2017, and it remains a top priority for her.

“For years, Savanna’s Act has remained one of my top priorities, which is why I’ve worked tirelessly alongside many Native advocates, family members and Congressional colleagues to not only to shepherd this legislation into law, but to ensure that Native voices are a key driver throughout the implementation process. I’m proud of the good, bi-partisan work we’ve accomplished in the fight against missing, murdered, and trafficked Indigenous women and girls, but there is still work to be done,” said Senator Murkowski.

Savanna’s Act was a bipartisan effort to improve the federal response to missing or murdered indigenous persons (MMIP), including by increasing coordination among Federal, State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies. Authored in October 2017, Senator Murkowski cosponsored Savanna’s Act, which was introduced by former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp. The legislation is named for Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who was abducted and killed in 2017 in Fargo, North Dakota. The bill passed the U.S. Senate unanimously in December of 2018.

It was later re-introduced by Senator Murkowski and separately by Senator Cortez Masto in 2019. The two senators also introduced the ‘Not Invisible Act,’ legislation aimed at addressing the crisis of missing, murdered, and trafficked Native people by engaging law enforcement, tribal leaders, federal partners, and service providers and improving coordination across federal agencies.

Both bills were later passed by the Senate in March 2020, and in October of that same year, were signed into law by then-President Donald Trump, and in August, 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska announced that it completed ‘Savanna’s Act’ guidelines for Alaska.

“I’ll continue to push to ensure the Department of Justice upholds their responsibility to implement this legislation in a timely manner. Now is not the time to let our foot off of the gas.”