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119-hr-1010119th CongressWALLET

BADGES for Native Communities Act

Sponsored By: Representative Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

In Committee

Summary

Strengthen data sharing and coordination for missing, unidentified, and death investigations affecting American Indian communities. It would create National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NMUS) Tribal facilitators, a Department of Justice grant program, a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) background-check demonstration, GAO studies, and counseling and training for law enforcement serving Tribes.

Show full summary
  • Families and Tribal communities: Better tracking and public reporting for missing persons, unclaimed remains, and unidentified remains through NMUS facilitators and funded regional centers to improve case resolution and notifications.
  • Tribal and BIA law enforcement officers: A 5-year pilot would centralize or adjudicate BIA law enforcement background checks and expand culturally appropriate mental health and counseling resources and training for officers.
  • Federal, state, and local agencies: DOJ must report annually on staffing and capacity for Indian country work and the Comptroller General will study evidence collection and processing; grants require data-sharing agreements and authorize $1.0 million per year for 2026–2030.

*This bill would authorize $1.0 million per year for grants from 2026 through 2030, totaling $5.0 million in authorized grants and increasing federal spending by at least that amount.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Tribal coordinators for missing people

If enacted, the Attorney General would appoint one or more Tribal facilitators for the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. The facilitators would help Tribes report and track missing people and unclaimed or unidentified remains. They would give training and technical help to Tribes, coroners, medical examiners, victim advocates, and justice officials. The Attorney General would have to report to Congress and publish yearly activity information for three years after enactment.

Faster BIA law enforcement background checks

If enacted, the Secretary would run a five-year demonstration to do or decide background checks and security clearances for Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement applicants. The program could make agreements with States, Tribes, or local governments to get records faster. A security clearance granted under the demonstration would count for Office of Personnel Management or other federal agency rules. The Secretary would report to Congress within three years about costs, numbers, processing times, and recommendations.

More wellness and training for Tribal officers

If enacted, HHS and the Attorney General would work with the BIA to make federal training materials and culturally appropriate mental health and wellness programs available to BIA and Tribal law enforcement officers. The agencies would also determine whether those officers are eligible for Federal Occupational Health Law Enforcement Assistance Program services or other federal assistance. The work aims to expand local or regional access to officer wellness and training.

Grants to track missing and murdered cases

If enacted, the Department of Justice would run a grant program to help Tribes, tribal groups, and some States work with Tribes to document and track missing or murdered Indigenous person cases. Grants could fund statewide or regional centers, commissions, data entry into national systems, and rapid notification systems. Congress could provide $1,000,000 a year for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to carry out the program. States that apply for some grants would need to report missing persons to national databases or have a plan and sign data-sharing agreements with Tribes.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

NM • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]

    WA • R

    Sponsored 2/5/2025

  • Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]

    KS • D

    Sponsored 2/5/2025

  • Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 11/4/2025

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 11/4/2025

  • Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 12/12/2025

  • Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/20/2026

  • Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 5/26/2026

  • Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 8/3/2026

  • Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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