Cole, First Native American to Chair House Appropriations: "Data indicates that Native women and girls experience a murder rate 10 times higher than the national average.”
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, led by Chairman Mike Simpson (R-ID), held an oversight hearing on the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Read the witnesses' testimony here.
Full Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) – an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, the longest-serving Native American in the House of Representatives, and the first Native American to Chair the House Appropriations Committee – delivered the following remarks at the hearing.
Watch Chairman Cole's remarks here and read Subcommittee Chairman Simpson's remarks here.
Thank you, Chairman Simpson.
Good morning, everyone. I would also like to welcome you all here and thank you for participating in this important hearing.
As an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and longest serving Native American in the House of Representatives, Tribal issues have always been at the forefront of the policy decisions I have made and advocated for as a Member of Congress and as a member of this important Committee.
Native American and Alaska Native women and girls continue to be disproportionately targeted by dangerous predators. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data indicates that Native women and girls experience a murder rate 10 times higher than the national average. Tragically, I have seen these stats firsthand in my home state of Oklahoma, which ranks number 2 on the list of the top 10 states with Native American and Alaska Native missing persons cases.
While these statistics are alarming, data collection is unfortunately still lacking, and it will require sufficient awareness and resources to solve this crisis once and for all. I have supported and cosponsored several bills aimed at increasing data collection, record keeping, and reporting, including the Savanna’s Act and Not Invisible Act—both of which were signed into law in 2020. I also continue to join resolutions recognizing the crisis of violence against Native women and girls and recognizing May 5 of each year as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Because of the extreme lack of resources, statutory roadblocks, and several other barriers, this crisis won’t be solved without the work and partnership of leaders of the federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement. To put it into perspective I use the phrase: “Fishermen know where to fish, hunters know where to hunt, predators know where to prey.” We can’t give predators a place to prey anywhere, but especially in Indian Country!
I have been – and will remain – committed to ensuring the federal government provides the services and resources needed to protect Native Americans throughout Indian Country. Ending violence against Indigenous women will take all of us.
I want to thank Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Chellie Pingree for holding this hearing and their continued leadership on the issue. Through this Subcommittee, Chairman Simpson has increased funding for Tribal Law Enforcement programs, including an 82% increase for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Initiative. The Interior bill also provides a 33% increase for the Violence Against Women Act to support prevention and responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. This bill clearly illustrates Chairman Simpson and this Committee’s commitment to ending violence against Indigenous women and girls.
I look forward to hearing testimony from each of our witnesses and engaging with each of you directly to understand what we can do to provide Tribes and federal agencies what they need to protect these women and girls.
Thank you, again, Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Pingree. I yield back.
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