Heitkamp Statement on Senate Passage of Bill to Give Native Veterans Recognition they Deserve

Press Release

U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, today announced the unanimous Senate passage of a bill, that she cosponsored, which will enable construction to begin on a new memorial to honor Native American veterans.

The memorial will be located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on the grounds of the National Museum of the American Indian. Due to space and funding restrictions, construction on the memorial has been stalled for nearly two decades.

"Our Native American soldiers have selflessly and bravely fought for our country long before they were able to enjoy the protections of being citizens," Heitkamp said. "Per capita, they serve at a rate four times higher than any other ethnicity or race. It's long overdue that we give our Native veterans a memorial recognizing their commitment and sacrifice and I'll continue to fight to make sure Native veterans get the recognition they deserve."

The Native American Veterans' Memorial Amendments Act would dissolve barriers that have prevented construction from beginning on the Native Veterans' Memorial. Previously, the Memorial was authorized to be built inside the museum, and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) was the sole organization able to raise funds for the project. Under the new legislation, the Memorial can be built on the grounds outside the National Museum of American Indian (NMAI), which provides adequate spacing, and NMAI is able to work with NCAI to fundraise for the project and select the design of the Memorial.

Tribal leaders and veterans from Standing Rock Sioux Nation, Spirit Lake Nation, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Turtle Mountain, and Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation support the legislation and the construction of the Native Veterans' Memorial. The Native American Veterans' Memorial Amendments Act passed the House of Representatives in December with bipartisan support.

Since working as Attorney General in the 1990s, Heitkamp has fought for Native families. Heitkamp's first bill in the Senate would create a Commission on Native Children to address the challenges Native children face and provide recommendations to address those challenges. The rightful recognition of Native veterans is another important aspect of Heitkamp's pledge. She is also committed to making sure the U.S. government lives up to its trust and treaty responsibility to help protect Native families.

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