Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-02) released the following statement in recognition and observance of May 5th as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

“The silent crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women is wreaking havoc on our families and our communities,” said Mullin. “Our priority must be to ensure the safety and wellbeing of native women and children. All parties have to work together to end this epidemic of violence. I have cosponsored a resolution to recognize May 5th as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. I will continue to work with my colleagues to raise awareness of this crisis and fight against it.”

Mullin, a member of the Cherokee Nation, has introduced several pieces of legislation to combat the crisis, some of which have become law. Mullin introduced Savanna’s Act, which was signed into law in October 2020. Savanna’s Act requires the Department of Justice to make standardized law enforcement and justice protocols that serve as guidelines for law enforcement agencies with regard to missing and murdered Native Americans, develop protocols to investigate those cases, and provide tribes and law enforcement agencies with training and technical assistance to develop and implement the law enforcement and justice protocols.

Mullin also introduced the Not Invisible Act which became law in October 2020. The bipartisan bill establishes an advisory committee on violent crime made up of law enforcement, tribal leaders, federal partners, service providers, and survivors to make recommendations to the Department of Interior and Department of Justice and establish best practices for law enforcement on combatting the epidemic of missing persons, murder, and trafficking of Native Americans and Alaska Natives.