Bismarck, ND – The U.S. Senate has passed a bill aimed at addressing law enforcement needs in tribal communities, focusing on the recruitment and retention of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) officers and bolstering resources for missing persons cases. The legislation, known as the Bridging Agency Data Gaps and Ensuring Safety for Native Communities Act (BADGES), seeks to provide vital support for public safety in Native American communities.

The bill’s primary objective is to streamline the hiring process for BIA law enforcement officers. Currently, only about half of the BIA’s law enforcement positions are filled, leaving many tribal areas understaffed. Senator John Hoeven, who championed the bill, emphasized that the shortage of officers poses a significant challenge to ensuring public safety on reservations.

“By allowing the BIA to conduct its own background checks, this legislation will make it easier to hire officers and place them in tribal communities, which is a critical step toward filling these positions,” Hoeven said. He added that recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers, particularly in rural and remote areas, is a major challenge, and the bill is designed to address this gap.

In addition to strengthening the law enforcement presence, the BADGES Act aims to improve resources for investigating missing persons cases. According to Hoeven, the legislation will provide tribes and states with greater tools to combat violence, further enhancing the safety and well-being of Native communities.

The passage of the BADGES Act marks another step forward in ongoing efforts to address public safety issues in tribal areas, particularly in North Dakota, where Hoeven has been active in advocating for more resources and support for Native American communities. The bill is expected to have a significant impact on law enforcement capabilities, helping to address long-standing challenges and ensure safer environments for tribal members.