Mosbrucker Measure To Help Native Tribes In Washington

14th District State Rep. Gina Mosbrucker is working on new legislation to help solve cases of missing and murdered Native Americans in Washington State. Over the last five years Mosbrucker has been working with state tribal officials to pass a measure that helped increase state resources for reporting and identifying missing Native American women throughout Washington state. A press release from Mosbrucker says in 2019, the Legislature passed and the governor signed Mosbrucker's House Bill 1713, a landmark measure that established two tribal liaison positions within the Washington State Patrol. The new formula has helped build relationships between governmental organizations and native communities. And now Mosbrucker says it's time for the next chapter so Monday she introduced the long-awaited House Bill 1571.

"The third chapter of this journey is, how do we bring them home? We now know there are many missing and murdered indigenous people. The third piece of this mystery addresses how to bring them home," says Mosbrucker she adds "It would allow tribal members to pray over a deceased indigenous person without compromising the scene before an autopsy is conducted. Law enforcement would work with them to allow the ceremonies to be performed in accordance with tribal tradition. It is important to respect their tribal cultures."
The bill also directs tribes to create a symbol with a phone number for those who need help. The number "could be placed in truck stops, hotels and other places where trafficked people may see it and know help is available."
Mosbrucker said she introduced the legislation late in the 2021 session in order to begin the dialogue and hold a series of listening sessions.

"This bill is meant for the 2022 session. I introduced it now so that we can use the next eight months to work on this legislation with the tribes, families, law enforcement and experts that will help to perfect it."