This resolution expresses support for designating May 5, 2025, as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls while urging updated federal study and continued action against this crisis.
Steve Daines
Senator
MT
This resolution expresses support for designating May 5, 2025, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls." It highlights the severe crisis of violence, homicide, and human trafficking disproportionately affecting American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls. The bill calls for national recognition of this day to honor victims and urges the Department of Justice to conduct an updated study on the crisis. Ultimately, it acknowledges ongoing efforts while emphasizing that more action is urgently needed to address this national tragedy.
New Resolution Calls for National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls on May 5, 2025
This resolution isn't about passing a new law with fines or taxes; it’s about making a powerful statement and demanding updated facts on a crisis that has been devastating Tribal communities for years. Specifically, this Senate resolution officially supports designating May 5, 2025, as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). It also formally recommends that the Department of Justice commission a brand-new study to update the public on the current statistics of this violence. The last major study was nearly a decade ago, and data is critical for effective action.
The Scale of the Crisis: More Than Just Numbers
The resolution lays out the grim reality, citing data that shows over 80% of Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime, and homicide is the sixth leading cause of death for Native women and girls under age 44. Their murder rate is more than 10 times the national average. When you hear statistics like this, it’s easy to tune out, but think about what that means for a family in a Tribal community: the fear is constant, and the resources to help are often non-existent. The resolution points out that current funding for emergency and long-term victim services simply isn't enough to meet the needs of Tribal governments trying to protect their people.
Formalizing Awareness and Demanding Data
Supporting this National Day of Awareness on May 5th—a date chosen to honor the memory of Hanna Harris, a Northern Cheyenne woman murdered in Montana—is a crucial step for the families. It’s a formal acknowledgment from the government that this crisis is real, and the victims are seen. For the average person, this means that May 5th should become a focal point for national media and local community events, raising the profile of MMIWG cases and hopefully generating new leads or support for victims' families.
But the most practical impact of this resolution is the call for updated data. The text specifically recommends that the Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice order a new study. Why does this matter to you? When policy makers, local police, and advocates try to allocate scarce resources—whether it’s funding for shelters, new police training, or setting up task forces—they need current, accurate numbers. Without fresh data, they are operating blind, using statistics from 2016 that may not reflect the current reality of violence, human trafficking, and missing persons cases in 2024 and beyond. This push for updated research is essential for moving past awareness and into effective, evidence-based solutions.