During Wednesday’s U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Congressman Tom Cole advocated for more resources toward helping to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women in the U.S.
He noted that Native women and girls face more danger than they should.
“Native American and Alaska Native women and girls continue to be disproportionately targeted by dangerous predators. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data indicates that Native women and girls experience a murder rate 10 times higher than the national average. Tragically, I have seen these stats firsthand in my home state of Oklahoma, which ranks number 2 on the list of the top 10 states with Native American and Alaska Native missing persons cases. Yet, while these statistics are alarming, data collection is unfortunately still lacking, and it will require sufficient awareness and resources to solve this crisis once and for all,” said Cole.
You can watch Cole’s statement to the committee below.
