This is important for so many within our Native American communities when it comes to supporting our law enforcement officers there who are severely hindered in their ability to address the crisis of not just MMIW, but drug trafficking…

We need to provide these essential resources.

We need to provide these essential resources.

There is a challenge there. It is caused by a number of issues, we know, from a lack of Federal support to the unique challenges facing officers in rural communities.

The BADGES Act would seek to evaluate Federal law enforcement practices for handling and processing evidence in cases in Indian Country.

The BADGES Act would create that five-year demonstration program that would allow BIA to adjudicate their own background checks for officer candidates.

There is a challenge there. It is caused by a number of issues, we know, from a lack of Federal support to the unique challenges facing officers in rural communities.

I don't think that that is consistent with our trust obligation to Indian people, when we are not prosecuting cases in Indian Country that we prosecute elsewhere.

The BADGES Act would create that five-year demonstration program that would allow BIA to adjudicate their own background checks for officer candidates.

We need to provide these essential resources.

The BADGES Act would create that five-year demonstration program that would allow BIA to adjudicate their own background checks for officer candidates.

I don't think that that is consistent with our trust obligation to Indian people, when we are not prosecuting cases in Indian Country that we prosecute elsewhere.

This is important for so many within our Native American communities when it comes to supporting our law enforcement officers there who are severely hindered in their ability to address the crisis of not just MMIW, but drug trafficking…

The BADGES Act would seek to evaluate Federal law enforcement practices for handling and processing evidence in cases in Indian Country.

There is a challenge there. It is caused by a number of issues, we know, from a lack of Federal support to the unique challenges facing officers in rural communities.

first of all, I want to start off by thanking my colleague Senator Duckworth for not only sharing her story of her wonderful family and beautiful two daughters--I have seen myself what an incredible mother they have, and they are fantastic…

Reserving my right to object, Republicans had a chance to work in a bipartisan fashion, and rightwing extremists in the GOP said no. I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.

Reserving my right to object. Republicans had a chance to work in a bipartisan fashion, and rightwing extremists in the GOP said no. I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.

reserving my right to object, MAGA Republicans had their chance to work in a bipartisan fashion, and rightwing extremists in the GOP said no. I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.

Thank you, Senators Cortez Masto and Bennett, who have led these legislative efforts to fix systemic challenges in Indian Country.

I want to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for holding this hearing on several important pieces of legislation that have a positive impact on Indian Country.

Thank you, Senators Cortez Masto and Bennett, who have led these legislative efforts to fix systemic challenges in Indian Country.

I would like to thank our United States Senator, Catherine Cortez Masto, and United States Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma on their collaboration to propose this bipartisan bill.

This legislation would allow health care providers working part-time to access IHS scholarship and loan repayment programs.

Thank you again for the opportunity to testify today, and thanks to Senators Cortez Masto and Bennet, who have led these legislative efforts to fix systemic challenges in Indian Country.