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H.R. 4289 116th Congress House

BADGES for Native Communities Act

Official title: To require Federal law enforcement agencies to report on cases of missing or murdered Indians, and for other purposes.

Introduced: October 11, 2019 See on congress.gov
Native Americans Congressional oversightCrimes against childrenCrimes against womenCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Criminal justice information and recordsDepartment of JusticeDepartment of the InteriorDrug Enforcement Administration (DEA)Employee hiringEvidence and witnessesFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)Federal-Indian relationsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth promotion and preventive careIntergovernmental relationsLaw enforcement administration and fundingLaw enforcement officersMental healthMinority healthMissing personsPersonnel recordsState and local government operationsViolent crimeWorker safety and health
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 25, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Sep 17, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.
Sep 12, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Sep 11, 2019
Introduced in House
Sep 11, 2019
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, and Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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 Latest action September 25, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Bridging Agency Data Gaps and Ensuring Safety for Native Communities Act or the BADGES for Native Communities Act

This bill modifies policies and procedures related to information sharing, reporting and investigation of missing, unidentified, and murdered Native Americans. Among other elements, the bill requires the Department of Justice to do the following:

  • share information with the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) on missing persons and unidentified remains,
  • ensure technical assistance and training are provided to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and tribal law enforcement agencies to utilize the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and other national databases,
  • establish the Tribal Access Program to enhance the ability of tribal governments to access and enter information into federal criminal information databases,
  • establish a grant program for specified entities to implement changes to enhance response to missing person and murder cases of interest to tribes, and
  • work with the Indian Health Service and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to ensure resources for mental health wellness programs are available to tribal and BIA law enforcement officers experiencing occupational stress.

The bill expands access to (1) the national crime information database for NamUs, and (2) the NCIC for each tribal justice official.

Finally, the bill requires the Department of the Interior to establish a five-year demonstration program for the purpose of conducting or adjudicating personnel background investigations for applicants for law enforcement positions in the BIA.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • S 2920 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019
  • S 1853 BADGES for Native Communities Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 7
 Cosponsors 14
All 14 Democratic 7 Republican 4
R
Bacon, Don
Nebraska · Oct 21, 2019
 R
Fitzpatrick, Brian K.
Pennsylvania · Oct 11, 2019
Gianforte, Greg
· Oct 11, 2019
 D
Keating, William R.
Massachusetts · Oct 11, 2019
 D
Luján, Ben Ray
New Mexico · Oct 11, 2019
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Oct 11, 2019
 R
Cole, Tom
Oklahoma · Sep 11, 2019
Cook, Paul
· Sep 11, 2019
 D
Davids, Sharice
Kansas · Sep 11, 2019
 D
Gallego, Ruben
Arizona · Sep 11, 2019
 D
Moore, Gwen
Wisconsin · Sep 11, 2019
 R
Newhouse, Dan
Washington · Sep 11, 2019
O'Halleran, Tom
· Sep 11, 2019
 D
Torres, Norma J.
California · Sep 11, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4289: BADGES for Native Communities Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4289/
MLA
"H.R. 4289: BADGES for Native Communities Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4289/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4289, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4289/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4289: BADGES for Native Communities Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4289/)
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