This pilot project supplements the work that the State of Alaska is doing with regard to public safety.
We are trying to build some efficiencies, but that efficiency is going to come when we leverage the resources of everybody.
Following 477 is very important to us, and something that the Department fully supports.
We are aware that DOJ recently transferred to DOI two discretionary grant programs as proposed by a tribe.
I think Attorney General Garland seemed to agree with me, and I think that is why he directed the Office of Tribal Justice and the DOJ grant...
I am honored to have worked with Native leaders in Alaska and across the Nation over multiple Congresses on these issues of public safety.
This Committee has been a great forum to both shed light on the need to improve public safety and justice in Native communities.
We can't have DOJ over here not talking and intersecting with what Interior and HHS is.
We saw that through passage of VAWA 2022, which included the tribal title that we authored.
I cannot underscore enough how important this is for Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Interior....
I am trying to make sure that as you are taking these initial steps, again, there is a sharing of information back and forth.
Sometimes it is easier to have somebody be that assistance in some community somewhere else in America where they have no idea they are spea...
This all takes time, this is work. But know that there are so many of us that are really committed to keeping that momentum going.
We need the commitment of our Federal partners, and in this area, I think we are making some progress.
I expect more Alaska tribes to take advantage of DOJ support this year.
