WHEREAS, Native women experience domestic violence and sexual assault at epidemic rates. American Indians and Alaska Natives are 2.5 times as likely to experience violent crimes, and at least two times more likely to experience rape or sexual assault crimes, compared to all other races; and

WHEREAS, Thirty-four percent of American Indian and Alaska Native women will be raped in their lifetimes and 39 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native women will be subjected to violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime; and

WHEREAS, The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act continues to be the federal government’s only funding source dedicated to supporting lifesaving services provided by domestic violence programs and shelters; and

WHEREAS, While some Family Violence Prevention and Services Act funding stream set-asides are for tribes, most are allocated to state governments, some federal territories, and state and federal territorial domestic violence coalitions. The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act excludes tribal domestic violence coalitions entirely; and

WHEREAS, It is important for tribal coalitions to have equal access to Family Violence Prevention and Services Act fund stream set-asides. Tribal coalitions across the country are grassroot initiatives and they understand the inner circles of providing services to victims in their tribal communities. The purpose of tribal coalitions is to enhance the capacity of survivors, advocates, Indian women’s organizations, and victim services providers to form nonprofit, nongovernmental tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions to advance the goal of ending violence against American Indian and Alaskan Native women; and

WHEREAS, Increasing the overall funding of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act support to in order to allow increased support to Native American tribes and allowing in order to allow tribal coalitions access to Family Violence Prevention and Services Act funds will help to focus on public awareness and prevention of family violence, services for domestic violence victims and their children, and training and resources for tribally based programs and agencies that address these issues; and

WHEREAS, The overarching goal of tribal coalitions is to increase dedication to improving systemic and community responses to victims and to raise awareness, educate, and provide technical assistance, training, and supportive services for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sex trafficking, including cultural and unique barriers facing Native American women; and

WHEREAS, The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act’s reauthorization at a higher level of funding will allow communities across the country to continue to provide critically needed direct services to victims of domestic violence and their children. The reauthorization will also improve the delivery and access of services to meet a broad range of diverse needs for tribes; now, therefore, be it