To the editor:

The Tribal Law and Order Act is bipartisan legislation that was introduced by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D. The act passed the Senate on June 23 as part of H.R. 725, the Indian Arts and Crafts Amendment Act of 2010. The Tribal Law and Order Act addresses disturbing rates of sexual violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and the failure to protect indigenous women from sexual violence in the United States.

The Indian Arts and Crafts Amendment Act of 2010 has been passed by both houses of Congress and was signed by the president on July 29. The Senate bill, S-151, was sponsored by John McCain, R-Ariz. The House bill, HR 725, was sponsored by Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Ariz. HR 725 included the majority of the provisions in the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2009 which tackles the complex jurisdictional maze that allows violent crime against indigenous women, and, in particular, sexual assault and violence against Native American and Alaska Native women, to go unpunished and unabated.

Medical Whistleblower, an online network that gathers and disseminates information and provides advocacy in support of medical whistleblowers, wishes to thank the members of Congress who helped pass this historic legislation and recognized the human rights importance of providing proper law enforcement investigation, protection and prosecution to crimes that occur to Native American people.