TRACE Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2150
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-14: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T08:08:53Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The TRACE Act (Tracking and Reporting Absent Community-Members Everywhere Act) aims to improve the tracking and reporting of missing persons and unidentified human remains associated with federal lands. It enhances the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)—a national database managed by the Department of Justice—to better identify cases involving federal properties, enabling more targeted investigations and resource allocation.
Key Provisions
- Addition of Data Field in NamUs (Section 2): The Attorney General, through the Director of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), must add a specific data field to NamUs. This field will record:
- For missing persons: Whether their last known location was confirmed or suspected to be on federal land, including details about the specific federal unit (e.g., national park or forest).
- For unidentified remains: Whether the remains were found on federal land, including details about the specific federal unit.
- Annual Reporting Requirement (Section 3): Starting in the second calendar year after enactment (and every January 15 thereafter), the Attorney General (via the NIJ Director) must submit a report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. The report covers the prior year's NamUs cases involving federal lands, broken down by:
- Missing persons cases (confirmed or suspected on federal land).
- Unidentified remains found on federal land.
- Data disaggregated by the federal agency managing the land (e.g., Department of the Interior or Agriculture).
- Definition of Federal Land (Section 4): Federal land includes U.S.-owned properties under the jurisdiction of:
- The Secretary of Agriculture (e.g., national forests).
- The Secretary of the Interior (e.g., national parks), excluding lands held in trust for Native American tribes.
- The Secretary of Defense, but only for land and water projects managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new mandatory data field in the existing NamUs database, which previously lacked specific tracking for federal land involvement. It also establishes a recurring annual reporting obligation to Congress, providing aggregated statistics that were not previously required. These changes build on the NamUs framework established under the Justice for All Act of 2004 and subsequent laws, without altering core database operations.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Federal land management agencies (e.g., National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Army Corps of Engineers) will benefit from better data on incidents, potentially improving safety protocols, search operations, and inter-agency coordination. The Department of Justice (via NIJ) will face additional administrative duties for data entry and reporting, but this could lead to more efficient use of resources for missing persons cases.
- On Citizens: Families of missing persons or those dealing with unidentified remains may gain faster resolutions through improved tracking, especially in remote federal areas where cases often occur. It could enhance public awareness and trust in federal responses to disappearances on public lands.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. federal lands and does not address cross-border issues.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Department of Justice (Attorney General and NIJ), Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Defense (limited to Army Corps projects).
- Law Enforcement and Search Organizations: Local, state, and federal entities using NamUs, including FBI and park rangers, who will access enhanced data for investigations.
- Families and Communities: Relatives of missing or unidentified individuals, particularly those whose cases involve federal lands like national parks or forests.
- Congressional Committees: House and Senate Judiciary Committees, which will receive annual reports to inform oversight and potential future legislation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The bill strengthens data privacy and accuracy in NamUs by standardizing federal land reporting, aligning with existing federal laws on missing persons (e.g., 34 U.S.C. § 41308). It excludes tribal trust lands to respect sovereignty under federal Indian law, avoiding jurisdictional conflicts.
- Constitutional Implications: No significant issues; it supports the federal government's role in interstate commerce and public safety (under the Commerce Clause) without infringing on individual rights, as it deals with voluntary database entries.
- Political Implications: Introduced with bipartisan support (cosponsors from both parties), it highlights a non-partisan focus on public safety. The annual reports could spur further legislation on land management or emergency response, potentially influencing budget allocations for federal agencies.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (13)
Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Kiley, Kevin [R-CA-3], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-14: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-03-14: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Tracking and Reporting Absent Community-Members Everywhere Act — issued 2025-03-14 — PDF (3 pages)