Congressional Hearings Sought on Abuse of Native Women - NYTimes.com

Congressional Hearings Sought on Abuse of Native Women - NYTimes.com: House Democrats on the Natural Resources Committee have called on the committee’s Republican leadership to hold oversight hearings based on reporting in The New York Times in May that found the rate of sexual assault of Native American women is more than twice the national average and even greater in rural Alaskan villages. In a letter, Representatives Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts and Dan Boren of Oklahoma said that they were “extremely concerned that accountability for violent crimes in Indian Country may be decreasing as Native women continue to be victims of sexual assault at alarming rates.” They called on Representative Doc Hastings, Republican of Washington, and chairman of the committee, to “bring this issue to the national spotlight” by convening oversight hearings. Spencer Pederson, a spokesman for the committee, said that Mr. Hastings was reviewing the request. “He certainly shares the goals of ensuring safety on reservations and tribal lands,” Mr. Pederson said.