Golden Hails Reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act, Including Provision for Wabanaki Tribes

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) hailed the signing of legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act (VAWA) into law this week. The bipartisan legislation was included in the omnibus Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bill passed last week, and has now been signed by the president.

Of particular importance in Maine, the legislation includes language to extend special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction (SDVCJ) to tribes in Maine. The reauthorization also contains provisions that would expand protections and services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, provide more resources and training programs for law enforcement, and more.

"Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act is years overdue, and I'm glad that we could get it done in a bipartisan way. In addition to helping us fight domestic violence and abuse across the country, this reauthorization will have a unique impact in Maine. In our state, the bill will fix a longstanding carveout in federal law that limited the authority of tribes in Maine to try domestic violence cases committed against a tribal member on tribal land," said Golden. "Ensuring the Wabanaki tribes in Maine fully have this authority, similar to many other tribes in the U.S., will improve public safety on tribal lands and deliver justice for domestic abuse victims in our state."

In general, Indian tribes do not have jurisdiction over non-Indian defendants for crimes committed on tribal lands against Indians. This enforcement gap has contributed to alarming rates of violence against Native women, and enforcement issues have persisted in Maine. The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 restored SDVCJ to tribes across the rest of the country for domestic violence and other related crimes by all defendants—Indian and non-Indian—if the crime is committed against Indian victims on tribal lands. To participate in SDVCJ, a tribe's court system must meet certain standards.

However, tribes in Maine have not been able to fully exercise SDVCJ due to the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act, which blocks beneficial federal Indian laws from applying in Maine if the federal law would affect the application of state law, unless the federal law is specifically made applicable in Maine.

Among other amendments to the SDVJC law, VAWA 2022 specifically extends SDVCJ to participating tribes in Maine. This is the first time since the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act was enacted more than forty years ago that a federal law that benefits Indian tribes has been made specifically applicable to tribes in Maine.

Congressman Golden has consistently supported restoring SDVCJ to participating tribes in Maine. He spoke out in favor of it in 2019, and voted for VAWA reauthorizations with this provision in 2019 and 2021.

In addition to the legislation's tribal provisions, VAWA 2022 authorizes and updates several other important programs, including grants to support law enforcement and victim services for domestic violence and sexual assault cases; grants to implement programs in rural areas to address these crimes; and housing assistance for victims of domestic violence.

"The Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence joins our member programs in applauding the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and the increases in funding for the Family Violence Prevention & Services Act," said Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence Education and Communications Director Regina Rooney. "Together, VAWA and FVPSA form the foundation for Maine's response to domestic abuse and violence; without them, the services, resources and protections available to survivors and their children would be critically undermined. We are deeply grateful for Congressman Golden's steadfast support for this important work."

"Safe Voices is grateful for Congressman Golden's support and advocacy of the Violence Against Women Act. This legislation expands crucial resources throughout Maine," said Safe Voices Executive Director Elise Johansen. "VAWA and FVPSA funding allows Safe Voices to support survivors of domestic abuse and human sex trafficking with all the resources our friends and neighbors deserve when seeking safety within the communities we call home."

A section-by-section summary of the legislation can be found here.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or abuse, Maine has a free and confidential 24-hour helpline at 1-866-834-HELP (4357). More information on the statewide Domestic Violence Helpline helpline can be found here.

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