Senators Collins, Luján Bipartisan Bill to Protect Native American Children Signed into Law

Washington, D.C.– The President signed into law theNative American Child Protection Act(NACPA), bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). The bill reauthorizes and reforms three programs that ensure tribes have the tools needed to treat, prevent, investigate, and prosecute Native American child abuse and neglect. These programs were originally authorized in 1990 as part of theIndian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Actto fill funding gaps in tribal child welfare services, but the programs were never truly funded and have not been reauthorized by Congress.
“No matter where a child grows up in the United States, they deserve to live in an environment free from abuse. TheNative American Child Protection Actreauthorizes and modernizes programs that aim to assist tribes in their efforts to help victims of child abuse and prevent future abuse,”said Senator Collins.“This bill recognizes the significance of each tribe’s unique cultural values, customs, and traditions, while helping to ensure that children and families receive the support they deserve.”
“I’m proud to see President Biden sign theNative American Child Protection Actinto law,which was passed in Congress with bipartisan support. In this country, all children deserve grow up without fear of being harmed or neglected,”said Senator Luján.“This legislation is an important step in ensuring that tribes have access to the resources needed to provide services that reduce trauma and uncertainty for children.”
To ensure tribes have adequate resources to effectively prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect in their communities, the NACPA:
To this day, these grants are still the only tribal-specific child abuse prevention and treatment programs for Native children. However, Congress has only appropriated $5 million since their original enactment in 1990. Reauthorizing and modernizing these critical programs will help tribes develop and strengthen services to reduce trauma and uncertainty for Native American children.
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