Rep. Gallego Discusses Bill to Protect Native American Children with Local Tribal Leaders
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) joined Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) President Martin Harvier and Colorado River Indian Tribes Chairwoman Amelia Flores to tout Rep. Gallego’s recently introduced, bipartisan Native American Child Protection Act.
Inside SRPMIC’s Family Advocacy Center, Rep. Gallego detailed ways the bill will 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.
“For too long, our Native communities have experienced disproportionate levels of violence and abuse. I’ve heard directly from Tribal leaders and families that they need more to do more, and that’s exactly what our bill will do,” said Rep. Gallego. “I was proud to join President Harvier and Chairman Flores to promote the commonsense, bipartisan solutions in the Native American Child Protection Act, and I look forward to keeping them, and all our Tribal communities, updated as we move it through Congress.”
The programs revised by this Native American Child Protection Act were originally established in 1990, passed as part of then-Senator John McCain's Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act. The programs were never fully funded and have not been reauthorized by Congress.
“The federal government has a trust responsibility to work with tribal communities to address the critical needs of Native American children and their families,” said Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community President Martin Harvier. “I want to thank Congressman Gallego for taking up Senator John McCain's mantle and working to reauthorize the Native American Child Protection Act. This bill would fulfill a promise to native people that culturally appropriate programming and support will be authorized and funded, allowing tribes to create community prevention and treatment programs that strengthen Native American families.”
"As a tribal leader, one of my most important responsibilities is to protect our children and give them the opportunities they need to succeed. Too often, the cycle of abuse goes unnoticed and the victims untreated because we lack the resources to address the generational trauma our people struggle to overcome," said Chair Chairwoman Amelia Flores from the Colorado River Indian Tribes. "That's why I am proud to support the Native American Child Protection Act and on behalf of the Colorado River Indian Tribes I thank Congressman Gallego for leading the charge to reauthorize these programs and give tribes like CRIT the resources we need to investigate and address every single instance of potential child abuse and neglect."
"The Native American Child Protection Act (NACPA) introduced by Congressman Gallego will expand access to funding and ensure that Tribes have the resources to protect children and families," says Shan Lewis, Vice Chairman, Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, and President of the Inter Tribal Association of Arizona. "This important legislation will provide Tribes with more effective and culturally appropriate tools to address complex issues."
The NACPA would protect Native children through several provisions. The bill:
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Creates a National Indian Child Resource and Family Services Center that will provide technical assistance and training to Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations.
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Requires the development of model intergovernmental agreements between tribes and states to prevent, investigate, treat, and prosecute family violence.
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Revises the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Program to allow funding to be used tor additional activities such as operational costs for child protective services.
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Includes urban Indian organizations as eligible entities and encourages culturally appropriate treatment services and programs.
Related Resources:
Press Release: Gallego Introduces Bill to Protect Native American Children
One Pager: The Native American Child Protection Act
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