releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=bf8f341d-8402-4c9c-ab71-30ab481e2a7a
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=bf8f341d-8402-4c9c-ab71-30ab481e2a7a | Heitkamp Announces Important Step Forward to Combat Violence Against Women in the Bakken Region | 2014-08-26 | 2014 | 2014-08 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced the grantees for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)s $3 million special initiative to support local communities fight crime in western North Dakota and on the MHA Nation. Heitkamp first announced these funds in April 2014. Announced today are the organizations that will receive the funding: First Nations Womens Alliance in Devils Lake, ND North Dakota Council on Abused Womens Services in Bismarck, ND Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation in New Town, ND Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes in Poplar, MT Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence in Helena, MT Since taking office, Heitkamp has continually urged the Administration to place special focus on increased law enforcement resources for the Bakken region, in particular on the Fort Berthold reservation, to make sure North Dakota communities are safe. The Violence Against Women Bakken Region Initiative funds will be used to support services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking as well as aid the local criminal justice system in responding to these crimes. Heitkamp met with the Associate Attorney General of the United States Tony West in May 2014 to push for law enforcement and judicial improvements in Indian Country, including the concern of increased violence against women in Indian Country. As I said before, the Bakken Region Initiative is an excellent step toward making sure all North Dakotans feel safe in their communities, said Heitkamp. The organizations that will receive funding through this project play a critical role in addressing violence against women in the Bakken region. By bringing top Administration officials to North Dakota to hear firsthand about the emerging challenges, great strides have been made to make sure local law enforcement and organizations receive needed support to address these challenges and help our state maintain our treasured quality of life. DOJ heeded my consistent calls for additional resources for Indian Country and Native women and children, and has sent a significant portion of this funding directly to tribes and organizations that work with Native women and children in North Dakota. Heitkamp helped reauthorize and improve the Violence Against Women Act, which was one of the first pieces of legislation she co-sponsored in the Senate in February 2013.The bill significantly strengthens the ability of the Federal government, the States, law enforcement, and Tribal governments to combat domestic violence and sexual assault. Last week, Heitkamp joined the Acting Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Michael Botticelli in North Dakota to release the new national strategy to combat drug crime and trafficking across the country, with a particular focus on addressing the growing problems in the Bakken Region. This visit follows the former White House Drug Czar visit to North Dakota last year to hear from federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and other officials about the major increase in drug crimes occurring in the oil patch and spreading to other areas of the state.Just four months after that visit, ONDCP announced a series of steps to help reduce drug crime and abuse in the Bakken, including naming Williams County as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, making it eligible for more federal funds. The designation and todays announcement are a direct result of the former ONDCP directors visit to the state. The $3 million will be used for two different programs: Violence Against Women Bakken Region Initiative: Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) and the Violence Against Women Bakken Region Initiative: Enhanced Response to Victims. The Bakken Region Tribal SAUSA Initiative will support the salary, travel and training costs of a Tribal SAUSA for MHA Nation. The Bakken Region Enhanced Response to Victims Initiative will fund state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, as well as local and tribal victim service providers responding to the increased demand for domestic violence and sexual assault victim services. Funding and technical assistance will also help those working to prevent violence and support survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |