#Trumps Feds Show Up Unprepared For Hearing On Murdered And Missing Native Women
This shows they just do not care.
06/21/2019 06:00 am ET Updated 1 day ago
Feds Show Up Unprepared For Hearing On Murdered And Missing Native Women
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/449434-senate-confirms-trump-judicial-nominee-criticized-for-being-hostile
Justice Department and Bureau of Indian Affairs officials couldnt take a position on any of the Senate bills addressing this crisis.
By Jennifer Bendery
WASHINGTON ― The Senate is finally focusing on the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women, and the Trump administration sent over two top officials to weigh in on crucial legislation in a Wednesday hearing ― except neither came prepared to say anything definitive about any of the bills on the agenda.
Tracy Toulou, the director of the Office of Tribal Justice at the Department of Justice, and Charles Addington, the deputy bureau director of the Office of Justice Services at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, were invited four weeks ago to testify in the Indian Affairs Committee hearing. They had one job ― one job! ― to discuss the merits of the five bills on the agenda, all of which relate to violence against Native women or children.
Not only did Toulou and Addington fail to provide written testimony to the committee in time for the hearing ― a violation of committee rules ― but they couldnt say what the administrations position was on any of the bills because there isnt a position.
These are very complicated bills. There are a lot of moving pieces, Toulou said in his opening remarks. Were going to work more effectively to get it through our process in the future..........................
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Sen. Tom Udall (N.M.), the ranking Democrat on the committee, expressed his utter frustration with both departments. He cited a passage in Toulous written testimony stating that department leadership at the highest levels have expressed a renewed commitment to improving public safety on tribal lands.
Where is the evidence of that renewed commitment here today? And if the department truly stands ready to do its part ― thats their quote ― on addressing the ... crisis, why is it not prepared for this hearing? asked Udall, referring to Toulous testimony.
To be clear, the administrations part is to provide views on this legislation in a timely fashion, he continued. Both departments have failed in that duty here today. It is only fair to question the sincerity of claims to a renewed commitment.............................................