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Indian Affairs Committee Legislative Hearing on S. 1763, S. 872 and S. 1192

Statement of Chairman Daniel K. Akaka

Thu, November 10, 2011

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Legislative Hearing


Aloha!  Today the Committee will hold a legislative hearing on three bills. 
     
Two of these bills are designed to improve public safety in Native communities and improve the security of Native women and families.
     
The Committee held an oversight hearing on the issues impacting Native women in July, and another on implementation of the Tribal Law and Order Act in September.  At both of these hearings, we heard that domestic violence and sexual assault against Native women is still an epidemic, and much work remains to be done to effectively address the issue. 
     
In response, I introduced S. seventeen-sixty-three, the Stand Against Violence and Empower Native Women Act, or "SAVE" Native Women Act
     
In addition, Senator Begich introduced S. eleven-ninety-two, the Alaska Safe Families and Villages Act, in June.  This bill would establish a new demonstration project through the Department of Justice aimed at improving local public safety in Alaska Native Villages.  We are pleased to have Senator Begich here today to provide testimony about the bill. 
     
The other bill we will consider today is the Lytton Gaming Oversight bill, which was introduced by Senator Feinstein, who will discuss this proposal today.  This bill would amend the Tribe's Restoration Act to ensure that any expansion of gaming or the physical structure of their gaming facility would be governed by the exemptions in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
     
I look forward to hearing from my Senate colleagues - Senators Feinstein and Begich on their bills, and from tribal representatives and other stakeholders.
     
I encourage any other interested parties to submit written comments to the Committee.  The hearing record will remain open for two weeks from today.
     
I want to again express a warm mahalo - thank you - to the witnesses at today's hearing.  I want to thank my Senate colleagues and the Administration for providing their views on these bills.  And I especially want to thank the tribal representatives and other stakeholders who travelled so far to be with us today. 
     
We will consider your comments very carefully as we consider how to move forward on these bills. 

-END-

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