Tri Cities Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C - On July 6, 2023, Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), and Sharice Davids (D-KS) introduced the Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Actto improve hiring and increase retention for tribal law enforcement officers in order to better protect native communities and help address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls (MMIW).

“Native tribes in Central Washington and across the nation are encountering significant barriers in recruiting and retaining law enforcement officers for their reservation lands,” said Rep. Newhouse. “While their communities are combatting the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and high crime rates, they need to be well-equipped to protect families and local businesses. The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act will empower our law enforcement officers with the necessary resources to ensure the safety of both tribal and non-tribal communities.” 

“It’s important for the federal government to respect tribal sovereignty and strengthen public safety,” said Rep. Kilmer. “I’m proud to help introduce the bipartisan Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act with Representatives Newhouse and Davids so that we can take steps to improve the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of crimes in Indian Country – and ensure that Tribes across the region can recruit and retain the law enforcement officers they need to serve their communities.” 

“Improving the recruitment and retention of tribal law enforcement officers is vital to increasing public safety in tribal communities,” said Rep. Davids. “I am proud to join my colleagues in leading this important legislation, which removes administrative barriers and gives tribal law enforcement officers increased access to the same federal benefits, including retirement benefits, as other federal law enforcement officers.”

Read the full text of the bill here.

“The Colville Tribes strongly supports the ‘Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act.’ The bill would implement long overdue reforms and remove administrative barriers to tribal law officers enforcing federal laws on their reservation lands. It will also assist the Colville Tribes and other tribes in recruiting and retaining officers, which is critical for rural tribes that have large land bases and not enough officers to adequately patrol.”– Jarred-Michael Erickson, Chairman, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation

“Support for Tribal law enforcement recruitment and retention is crucial to addressing many serious systemic public safety issues, including the ongoing crisis of disproportionate violence against Native people and drug-related crime across Indian Country. The issue is particularly pressing for Yakama and other tribes with large-land bases and a severe lack of resources to adequately patrol such a vast area. The federal government must continue to work with Tribes like the Yakama Nation to ensure that we have the tools and funding necessary that give us the law enforcement resources and authorities needed to protect the communities and people who live, work, and raise their families on our lands. The Yakama Nation appreciates Congressman Newhouse's continued work to address long-standing impediments to Tribal sovereignty and our public safety efforts.”– Gerald Lewis, Chairman, Yakama Nation Tribal Council

“The Chehalis Tribe strongly supports the bill. Our Tribe is fortunate in that we are able to pay our law enforcement officers competitive salaries but competitive retirement benefits are currently out of reach for Chehalis and most other tribes around the country. If enacted, this will allow Chehalis and other tribes to take care of the officers that patrol and keep our communities safe.” – Dustin Klatush, Chairman, Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation

“As in the other regions of the country, law enforcement and public safety is critically important to tribal communities in the Pacific Northwest. The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians supports legislation like the ‘Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act’ that enhances the ability of Indian tribes to recruit and retain law enforcement officers and better protect their tribal communities.”– Leonard Forsman, President, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians

“The Quinault Indian Nation strongly supports the “Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act.” This bill will help address barriers in recruiting Officers and takes steps to improve law enforcement on the reservation. Pensions and benefits for Tribal Law Enforcement have long been a negative factor in recruiting and retention placing a major burden on Officers' families. This act will go a long way in providing stability to Officers and positive action Quinault Law Enforcement can take in recruiting and retaining prospective candidates. Law Enforcement is critically important to the safety and security of the Quinault Nation and Tribal Law needs this tool to enhance care for our Officers and their families as they work to keep our Nation safe.”– Guy L. Capoeman, President, Quinault Indian Nation

“The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act is critical in rectifying decades-long lapses in Tribal law enforcement. The lack of equal benefits and protections that are afforded to their state and federal peers directly affects not only the safety and well-being of tribal officers and their families, but also the communities they serve.” – Rick Peterson, Vice-Chairman, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

“The Choctaw Nation Tribal Police Department is in support of this bill. Tribal law enforcement officers are often subjected to the same physical and emotional rigors as other officers in different jurisdictions, yet they are not rewarded for their efforts with adequate retirement benefits. Unfortunately, this is no different within the Choctaw Nation. This legislation would enable us to recruit and retain more quality officers, which would, in turn, allow us to protect and serve the communities within the Choctaw Nation Reservation more effectively.”– Jesse Petty, Chief of Police, Choctaw Nation

“The Stockbridge-Munsee Community strongly supports the Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act. This legislation will help end the cycle of having new officers leave once they complete training since the Tribe is unable to compete with the pension benefits available to officers in the state law enforcement system which has come at a great cost to the Stockbridge Munsee Community. We applaud the legislation that will greatly benefit tribal communities by helping to stabilize tribal law enforcement through the retention of trained officers instead of continually training new officers and make our tribal communities safer.”– Shannon Holsey, President, Stockbridge-Munsee Indian Community

"Congressman Newhouse's amendments are a vital step in dismantling jurisdictional barriers contributing to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP) crisis. The passage of this bill will address data discrepancies contributing to public safety concerns in Native communities by holding the Attorney General accountable for coordinated approaches for all Department of Justice activities. This will result in more comprehensive data collection practices of public safety data regarding American Indian and Alaska Native people.” – Esther Lucero, President & CEO, Seattle Indian Health Board

The following Members are primary co-sponsors of the legislation: Reps. Cole (R-OK), Craig (R-MN), Glusenkamp Perez (D-WA), Kildee (D-MI), McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Schrier (D-WA), Simpson (R-ID), Strickland (D-WA), and Vasquez (D-NM).

“Communities across the nation rely on law enforcement to ensure safety and security, especially in Indian country. It is important the federal government upholds its trust responsibility and strengthen public safety. I am proud to join as an original cosponsor on this piece of legislation to ensure tribes have the tools to recruit and retain the brave men and women in law enforcement,” said Rep. Cole, Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus and member of the Chickasaw Nation.

“Tribal governments across Minnesota, and the United States, deserve access to all the support and resources needed to ensure the safety of their communities. I’m working with Rep. Newhouse to pass this bipartisan bill to improve hiring and retention for tribal law enforcement officers and provide tribal communities with the tools needed to keep their communities safe," said Rep. Craig.

“Every community depends on law enforcement to fight crime and ensure public safety, including Tribal nations. But right now, Tribal law enforcement officers don't receive the same resources, training, and benefits other federal law enforcement do. I'm proud to work with Republicans and Democrats on this legislation to end this disparity, recruit more Tribal law enforcement officers and help keep Indian Country safe,” said Rep. Kildee.

“For too long, tribal communities have faced bureaucratic barriers that have made it difficult to recruit and retain law enforcement officers and hindered their public safety. The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act enacts much-needed reforms to allow tribal officers to enforce federal law and receive benefits available to other federal law enforcement officers. This legislation will help improve safety in tribal communities, and I am proud to join Representative Newhouse in supporting it,” said Rep. Schrier.

“Support for tribal law enforcement is crucial to protect native communities and strengthen public safety. It’s well past time we make these necessary changes to support local tribes and law enforcement with the resources they need to serve their community,” said Rep. Simpson.

The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act will:

• Authorize tribal officers acting under a 638 contract or compact to be considered federal law enforcement officers and enforce federal law, provided they meet certain qualifications, including having completed certain training and background investigation requirements that are comparable to BIA law enforcement officers. This action would eliminate the need for Indian tribes to enter into Special Law Enforcement Commission (SLEC) agreements, which are currently required under existing for tribal officers to enforce federal law and have proven administratively burdensome for tribes to obtain.
• Treat tribal law enforcement officers acting under a 638 contract or compact as federal law enforcement officers for purposes of other federal laws, including for benefits applicable to federal law enforcement officers for injury and death, retirement, and pension benefits. Tribal law enforcement officers are currently not eligible for these federal benefit programs and including tribal officers will enhance tribes’ ability to recruit and retain officers, especially in rural areas.
• Provide for the Secretary of the Interior to implement procedures for credentialing tribal officers and for the Attorney General to coordinate training and reporting activities.

Background:

• On May 5, 2023, Rep. Newhouse introduced a resolution to designate May 5, 2023 as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
• In March, Rep. Newhouse introduced the Bridging Agency Data Gaps & Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act, a bipartisan bill that strengthens tribal law enforcement and increases public safety in Indian Country.
• In October 2020, President Trump signed two historic pieces of legislation – Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act – into law. Rep. Newhouse introduced Savanna’s Act and strongly supported the Not Invisible Act to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women (MMIW).

Issues: Law Enforcement

Original source can be foundhere.