releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B80A2612-BA2E-4B76-91A2-BFD1F6111AD9
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B80A2612-BA2E-4B76-91A2-BFD1F6111AD9 | Heitkamp Shines Light on Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women with #NotInvisible during Native American Heritage Month | 2017-11-29 | 2017 | 2017-11 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today recognized Native American Heritage Month and launched a social media campaign to raise awareness about the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and bring it out of the shadows. Heitkamp is encouraging Native women, their families, advocates, and others to show their support and help raise awareness about this epidemic by posting a photo holding a sheet of paper with #NotInvisible. Click here for video of Heitkamp discussing the initiative. Across the country, 84 percent of Native American women experience some kind of violence in their lifetime, and on some reservations, Native American women are murdered at 10 times the national average. In 2016, North Dakota had 125 reported cases of missing Native women according to the National Crime Information Center, but numbers are likely much higher as cases are often under reported and data isn’t officially collected. “Native American Heritage Month is a time to reflect on the history and traditions of Native Americans, and it’s also a reminder that indigenous populations face many challenges that urgently require awareness and solutions,” Heitkamp said. “Folks in Indian Country across our nation know all too well about the epidemic of missing and murdered Native women as so many of them are directly impacted by it every day. But outside those communities and reservations, the issue lacks the awareness it deserves. With this effort, we’re standing with Native women, their families, advocates, and supporters to bring this crisis out of the shadows and say that Native women are not invisible. Only once we raise awareness about this epidemic can we then help implement solutions to stop these tragedies from occurring. This is a crisis that requires more federal resources and attention, which is why I’ve introduced Savanna’s Act to keep our Native women and girls – and all of our communities – strong and safe.” Heitkamp introduced Savanna’s Act in October. It has received bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate and already received a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Click here for a fact sheet on Savanna’s Act. Today, U.S. Representatives Norma Torres (D-CA) and Tom Cole (R-OK) will introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Heitkamp launched a website with key resources and information on missing and murdered indigenous women, including offering steps to take if you know or suspect a person has gone missing by force. Click here for more information. Heitkamp has also featured the stories of missing and murdered women on her Facebook page to raise awareness about the crisis. Click here to read their stories. Earlier this month, Heitkamp released the latest episode of her podcast, “The Hotdish,” interviewing two experts and advocates who have dedicated their lives to helping indigenous women overcome obstacles and hardship. Click here for details. “The Hotdish” is available on iTunes and SoundCloud, as well as on Heitkamp’s Senate website. Click here to subscribe to “The Hotdish” on iTunes. Background Heitkamp has long worked to stop violence, exploitation, and trafficking of Native women and children by: Combating human trafficking in Indian Country. Heitkamp held an initial Senate hearing in September 2013 on stopping human trafficking with a focus on Indian Country. She has worked closely with Cindy McCain, a global leader in the effort to stop human trafficking. McCain testified at a Senate hearing earlier this month on human trafficking in Indian Country and highlighted Heitkamp’s work on the issue. In 2015, Heitkamp brought Cindy McCain to Fort Berthold, to talk about how to combat human trafficking. In September, Heitkamp called forfederal agencies and organizations to provide specific training on human trafficking to federal government employees in Indian Country. Heitkamp also played a key role in passing bipartisan legislation in 2015 to fight human trafficking, and introduced multiple other bills on the issue. Calling for a permanent federal law enforcement presence in Indian Country. When she served as North Dakota’s Attorney General and now as a U.S. senator, Heitkamp has worked to raise awareness about the need for a permanent federal law enforcement presence across Indian Country. In 2016, she brought then-Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James B. Comey to Fort Berthold to press him on the issue. Just a few weeks ago, Heitkamp spoke with the current FBI director about law enforcement challenges in Indian Country and pressed the agency to make these issues a priority. Protecting Native women from violence. In the U.S. Senate, Heitkamp has built on her work as North Dakota’s Attorney General to combat domestic violence. The first bill she cosponsored was the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which she then played a major role in passing in 2013. Heitkamp worked to include a key provision in the bill to address the continuing crisis of violence against women in tribal communities. The provision strengthens the existing programs and provides tribal governments the force they need to prosecute non-Indian perpetrators who commit these crimes on tribal land. Keeping communities strong and safe. Through her Strong & Safe Communities Initiative, which Heitkamp launched in September 2014, she has worked to address the emerging challenges in North Dakota as a result of the state’s population boom, including crime, exploitation, and trafficking issues in Indian Country. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |