U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski joined the Alaska House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs to discuss the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the inclusion of the Alaska Tribal Public Safety Empowerment Act, and the impacts that its passage will have on public safety efforts in Alaska. The Violence Against Women Act was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 and reauthorizes VAWA through 2027. The VAWA reauthorization will increase resources for law enforcement and enhance support services such as healthcare and safe housing for victims.
Sen. Murkowski said:
“The VAWA and the Alaska Pilot (Project) recognizes tribes as partners in providing public safety injustice and will help provide the federal support needed to supplement and support the efforts of this state. I’ve been asked how do you kind of sum up this pilot program and, really, it’s in ensuring that our tribes are partners with the state in providing public safety and justice. We know that when you have more than one out of five native young people who suffer from PTSD due to childhood exposure to violence, we know that the status quo is not working and when one in three native villages lack any law enforcement presence, we know that something has to change.”
Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky of Bethel expressed gratitude to Sen. Murkowski for pushing the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization over the finish line, saying that VAWA is a victory for women everywhere. Zulkosky said that the reauthorization is especially important for districts such as hers where law enforcement presence is often sparse or non-existent.
The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 was signed into law at the White House earlier this week. Senator Murkowski’s participation in the House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs can be seen here.
Transcribed audio courtesy of KTOO 360TV.