Carla Walker Act
Sponsored By: Senator Cornyn, John [R-TX]
In Committee
Summary
Creates a grant program for forensic genetic genealogy that would fund whole‑genome DNA sequencing and genealogical database searches to generate investigative leads and identify unidentified human remains. It would also fund equipment, set accreditation expectations for vendors, and require reporting and oversight for grant recipients.
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- Families and victims: Would fund DNA analyses when the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) fails to produce leads, including sequencing that assesses at least 100,000 genetic markers to help identify remains or suspects.
- Law enforcement and prosecutors: States, tribal and local law enforcement, prosecutor offices, medical examiners, and coroners would be eligible for competitive grants to perform or outsource forensic genealogical analyses.
- Forensic laboratories and vendors: Publicly funded accredited labs could receive equipment grants; nongovernmental labs may be used only if they legally commit to seek accreditation within 2 years.
- Accountability and limits: Recipients must follow DOJ interim policy, keep records, provide annual reports on cases tested, identifications, outsourcing, equipment used, and time to results, and analysis funds are limited to genealogical analysis rather than staffing or general expenses.
*Would authorize $5.0 million per year for DNA analysis grants and $5.0 million per year for equipment grants for fiscal years 2025–2029, totaling $10.0 million annually in authorized spending and permitting up to 10 percent for administration.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Attorney General report to Congress
If enacted, the Attorney General would have to submit a report to Congress within two years after enactment. The report would be prepared with the NIJ Forensic Laboratory Needs Working Group and would describe awards and practices, technologies and best practices for public labs, and recommendations on funding needs and any needed regulations for forensic genetic genealogy.
Grantee reporting and case data rules
If enacted, any entity that gets a grant would have to send a report to the Attorney General within one year of the award. The report would list funding amounts by year and, for each case tested, the type of testing, equipment used, any outside lab names, results (identifications, arrests, or non‑identifications), and time to identification. Grantees would also report how many cases produced a searchable profile in public genealogy databases and the average days from submission to result.
Grants for forensic genealogy testing
If enacted, this bill would let the Attorney General award two kinds of grants to public forensic providers. One grant stream would pay for forensic investigative genetic genealogy analyses after CODIS searches fail. Another stream would pay for equipment, supplies, reagents, consumables, and validation testing to deploy the same high-resolution DNA techniques. Each stream is authorized $5 million per year for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 ($5M for analyses and $5M for equipment). Analysis grants could not be used for staffing, training, travel, or equipment, and all grant activity would have to follow the DOJ Interim Policy and recordkeeping rules.
Attorney General rule authority and definitions
If enacted, the bill would let the Attorney General issue rules, guidelines, and procedures to run the grant program, including how to submit and review applications. The bill would also define key terms like "forensic analysis" and "forensic laboratory" for the program. These powers would give clarity and enforcement tools but could also impose new application, recordkeeping, and compliance duties on labs and grantees.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cornyn, John [R-TX]
TX • R
Cosponsors
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 5/22/2025
Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov