Johnson Supports Resolution to Designate National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) along with his colleagues introduced a House Resolution designating today as the “National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls.” American Indian women face murder rates more than 10 times the national average and homicide was the sixth leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native women under 44 years old in 2017. The resolution highlights the disparity and calls for more work to be done for the victims.

“Of the 105 missing persons in South Dakota right now – 73 of them are Native American. This is extremely disproportional and deserves more attention,” said Johnson. “I hope our resolution shines a light on the tragedy of the missing and murdered native women who have not received the justice they deserve.”

In 2020, the Johnson-supported Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act were signed into law by President Trump to develop protocols to address cases for missing or murdered indigenous people and increase intergovernmental coordination between tribal, local, and state police to identify and combat violent crimes against Indians and on Indian lands.

Click here for the full text of the House Resolution.