East Idaho Times

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, who chairs the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, convened an oversight hearing to address the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). The session featured testimonies from Tribal leaders and involved questioning relevant agency officials.

In his prepared remarks, Rep. Simpson expressed gratitude towards the Tribal witnesses for sharing their experiences on this critical issue. He also acknowledged Chairman Cole's presence, highlighting his contributions as the first Native American chair of the Appropriations Committee and a member of the Chickasaw Nation. "I sincerely appreciate that Chairman Cole took the time to be here this morning to discuss and address the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women," stated Simpson.

Simpson cited alarming statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: over two in five American Indian and Alaska Native women face rape in their lifetime, with homicide ranking as a leading cause of death among young females in these communities. Additionally, 40 percent of sex trafficking victims are identified as American Indian and Alaska Native women. In 2023 alone, more than 5,800 females from these groups were reported missing, with children comprising 74 percent of this number.

Highlighting local concerns, Simpson noted that Idaho's Missing Person’s Clearinghouse reported 79 missing Native Americans in 2023. The average rate of missing indigenous people is nearly double that for non-Native Americans in Idaho. "This is completely unacceptable," he remarked.

Rep. Simpson has also published an op-ed emphasizing the significance of addressing this issue.

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