The bill is a joint resolution from the Montana Legislature urging the United States Congress to fully fund public safety and law enforcement agencies, programs, services, and activities within Montana's Indian reservations. It highlights the historical context of Indian nations as sovereign entities and the federal government's trust responsibility to assist these tribes in maintaining public safety and justice. The resolution addresses the pressing issues of drug abuse, violent crime, and the high rates of victimization among Native Americans in Montana, emphasizing the need for adequate funding to address these challenges.
The resolution calls for several actions, including urging the U.S. Department of Justice to collaborate with the Department of the Interior on public safety initiatives and to consult with Indian tribes on the allocation of funds for tribal justice systems. It invites tribal governments to adopt their own resolutions to Congress and requests that Governor Gianforte write a supportive letter to Congress regarding funding for law enforcement and public safety programs. The resolution also outlines a timeline for collecting these communications and forwarding them to Congress, with specific deletions made to streamline the language regarding the scope of the resolutions and the entities involved.