PHX Reporter

Washington, D.C. — On May 17, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) celebrated the House Natural Resource Committee’s passage of his bipartisan Native American Child Protection Act (NACPA). The legislation reauthorizes and revises programs that ensure Tribes have the tools they need to treat, prevent, investigate, and prosecute instances of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect involving Native American children and families.

“I know that breaking the cycle of violence requires a community effort,” said Rep. Ruben Gallego. “Tragically, children in Tribal communities face disproportionate levels of abuse. That’s why Native communities need the resources now to address this epidemic, and I’m grateful for the Natural Resources Committee pushing my bill forward.”

The programs revised by NACPA were originally established in 1990 and passed as part of then-Senator John McCain's Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act. Building off this, the NACPA would protect Native children through several provisions. The bill:

• Creates a National Indian Child Resource and Family Services Center that will provide technical assistance and training to Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations.

• Requires the development of model intergovernmental agreements between tribes and states to prevent, investigate, treat, and prosecute family violence.

• Revises the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Program to allow funding to be used for additional activities such as operational costs for child protective services.

• Includes urban Indian organizations as eligible entities and encourages culturally appropriate treatment services and programs.

In February, Rep. Gallego held a press conference with Arizona Tribal leaders to push for the bill’s passage.

The legislation now heads to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives for full consideration.

For a full copy of the bill text, click here

Original source can be found here.