PASSED: House Natural Resources Committee Approves Gallego’s Bipartisan Native American Child Protection Act
Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) celebrated the House Natural Resource Committee’s passage of his bipartisan Native American Child Protection Act (NACPA). The legislation reauthorizes and revises programs that ensure Tribes have the tools they need to treat, prevent, investigate, and prosecute instances of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect involving Native American children and families.
“I know that breaking the cycle of violence requires a community effort,” said Rep. Ruben Gallego. “Tragically, children in Tribal communities face disproportionate levels of abuse. That’s why Native communities need the resources now to address this epidemic, and I’m grateful for the Natural Resources Committee pushing my bill forward.”
The programs revised by NACPA were originally established in 1990 and passed as part of then-Senator John McCain's Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act. Building off this, the NACPA would protect Native children through several provisions. The bill:
In February, Rep. Gallego held a press conference with Arizona Tribal leaders to push for the bill’s passage.
The legislation now heads to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives for full consideration.
For a full copy of the bill text, click here. |