Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is backing a bipartisan bill to improve Tribal law enforcement organizations' ability to hire and retain new recruits, who are sorely needed in Indian Country.
What the Bill Does
The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act, originally introduced by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) last July, seeks to remedy the issue by increasing federal access to retirement, pension, death, and injury benefits that non-Tribal jurisdictions have easier access to.
After all, a Department of the Interior report from 2024 showed that public safety and justice initiatives receive only 13% of the necessary funding, and that the number of Tribal law enforcement officers is 13,000 fewer than what the FBI Community Safety Standards considers adequate.
What Gallego is Saying
"Tribal law enforcement officers are on the front lines of protecting their communities from crises like the fentanyl epidemic and the ongoing tragedy of missing and murdered indigenous people," said Sen. Gallego in a press release. "Ensuring they have equal access to federal resources and support isn't just a matter of fairness; it's essential to the safety, justice, and well-being of tribal nations."
Gallego Isn't Alone
Sen. Gallego is not the only Arizona official seeking to solve the crises in Tribal communities, as May saw an event in Phoenix to mark National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness Day, led by State Representative Mae Peshlakai (D-7).
Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) further commented, "This is a human rights crisis, and silence is not an option."
Last May, State Representatives Walt Blackman (R-7) and Teresa Martinez (R-16) held a press conference calling for greater awareness of the issue.
Previous Support for Tribal Communities
In January, Gallego joined Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) to introduce the Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act, which ratifies the Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Agreement.
Then, in May, the Arizona Senator cosponsored bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and modernize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA).
