Sen. Daniel Akaka said a bill that passed narrowly in the House Thursday night gives perpetrators “a free pass to abuse Native women in their own communities.”

Akaka issued a statement after the House version of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act passed 222 – 205. 

“I am extremely disappointed that the House of Representatives failed to stand with the Senate to combat violence against Native women…” Akaka said. “The House bill continues to leave Native women vulnerable, while non-Native abusers escape any responsibility for their crimes.” 

Akaka had introduced a version of the bill last fall that aimed at strengthening protections for native women. It would have restored the authority of tribes to prosecute non-Native abusers, for example. 

Whereas lcal police respond to crimes in most U.S. communities, the response to crimes in tribal communities is handled by a combination of tribal, state and federal authorities — depending on the crime and whether the perpetrator is Native American. 

Troubling statistics from the American Psychological Association: “One in three Native American women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime, and 40 percent will be victims of domestic violence — rates more than double the national average.”