119-SRES-726 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

The Senate adopted a bipartisan resolution naming May 5, 2026 the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and urging a new federal study on the crisis. (democrats.senate.gov)

What It Does

This simple resolution expresses the Senate’s support for marking May 5, 2026 as a national awareness day, honors victims and families, and encourages public commemoration. It also recommends that the National Institute of Justice commission an updated study—since the last major federal statistics were published a decade ago—to better track the scope of the problem. The measure highlights recent federal efforts, including Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act (both enacted in 2020), and notes Interior’s creation of a dedicated Missing and Murdered Unit in 2021. (daines.senate.gov)

Who’s For It

• Bipartisan Senate sponsors and cosponsors, led by Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), who frame the day as a way to honor victims (including Montanan Hanna Harris) and keep tribal safety on the national agenda. (daines.senate.gov)
• Advocacy groups regularly marking May 5, such as the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center and the National Congress of American Indians, which use the day to mobilize events and call for continued action. (niwrc.org)

Who’s Against It

• No formal Senate opposition was recorded; the resolution was adopted on May 12, 2026. (democrats.senate.gov)
• Some advocates caution that awareness days are symbolic and must be paired with stronger data, resources, and accountability—hence calls for federal agencies to do more. (ncai.org)

What’s Next

Because this is a simple Senate resolution, it does not go to the House or the President and does not create binding law; adoption in the Senate completes the measure. The recommendation for a new NIJ study is nonbinding and would require agency follow‑through. (senate.gov)