BADGES for Native Communities Act
Sponsored By: Representative Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]
In Committee
Summary
This bill sets up new roles, reports, studies, and small grants to improve missing and murdered Indigenous peoples' case response and strengthen Tribal law enforcement capacity. It focuses on closing data gaps, boosting coordination between Federal and Tribal partners, and speeding background checks and evidence handling.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Faster BIA clearances and officer wellness
If enacted, the Secretary would run a five-year demonstration to conduct or decide background checks and security clearances for Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement applicants. The Secretary could sign MOUs with States, Tribes, or Tribal organizations to speed information sharing. Background investigations done under the program that lead to a clearance would count as meeting Office of Personnel Management or other Federal agency requirements. The Secretary must report to Congress within three years on costs, counts, processing times, and whether to reauthorize. The bill also would have HHS and the Attorney General work with BIA to make culturally appropriate mental health, wellness programs, and training available to BIA and Tribal officers and to check eligibility for Federal Occupational Health assistance programs.
Grants to help tribes track cases
If enacted, the Attorney General would run a grant program in the Office of Justice Programs to help Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and qualified State/Tribal consortia document and track missing persons, sexual violence, and death investigations of interest to Tribes. Grants would fund entering data into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System and the NCIC Missing Persons File, setting up statewide or regional tracking centers and commissions, and building rapid-notification or communication systems. States could get grants only if they report missing persons to national databases or have an approved plan and MOUs with Tribes. The program is authorized $1,000,000 per year for each fiscal year 2026 through 2030.
More staffing data for Indian country
If enacted, the Attorney General would have to submit an annual DOJ-wide report listing staff counts, percent of time spent in Indian country, five-year turnover, average DOJ experience, vacant positions, and the skills needed to meet public safety goals. The bill defines which DOJ agencies are covered (FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals, ATF, and U.S. Attorneys' Offices). The Comptroller General would also review unmet DOJ staffing and start that review within 18 months after the first DOJ report, then send findings and measurement proposals to Congress. The Office of Justice Services' report must include a detailed public list of unmet needs for staffing, corrections facilities, police and court infrastructure (including evidence storage/processing), and emergency communications and internet capacity.
Study of evidence handling in Indian country
If enacted, the Comptroller General would study evidence collection, handling, response times, and forensic processing by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services and the FBI in crimes involving Indians or in Indian country. The study must identify barriers, ask law enforcement and U.S. Attorneys whether lack of evidence leads to declinations, and describe problems faced by Tribal, State, and local agencies. The GAO report would be due to Congress within 18 months after enactment.
Tribal facilitators and case rules
If enacted, the Attorney General would appoint Tribal facilitators to help Tribes report and coordinate missing persons, unclaimed human remains, and unidentified remains cases of interest to Indian Tribes. The facilitators would provide training and technical help, coordinate with Federal and State offices, and conduct outreach to improve case resolution. The bill would also add clear definitions for which cases are "of interest to Indian Tribes" (missing persons, death investigations, unclaimed and unidentified remains, and 'Village' for Alaska). For three years after enactment, the Attorney General must submit yearly reports to Congress and publish annual activity information online.
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
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 12/12/2025
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov