Carla Walker Act (S. 1890)

Summary

Establishes grant programs to help state and local agencies use forensic genetic genealogy to solve cold cases and identify unknown human remains.

What problem does this solve?

Some violent crimes and unidentified remains cases cannot be solved using traditional DNA databases. This bill provides funding for law enforcement to use newer, more advanced genetic genealogy techniques to generate new leads.

What does this bill do?

Establishes DNA analysis grants

Creates a competitive grant program for states, local law enforcement, prosecutors, and medical examiners to use advanced DNA technology when the standard CODIS database fails to provide leads.

Creates grants for forensic equipment

Authorizes a separate grant program for accredited public labs, medical examiners, and coroners to purchase equipment and supplies needed for forensic genetic genealogy.

Authorizes funding

Approves $5 million per year for each of the two grant programs for fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

Requires compliance with DOJ policy

Mandates that all grant-funded activities must follow the Department of Justice's official policy on forensic genealogical DNA analysis and searching.

Mandates reporting on grant use

Requires any agency receiving a grant to submit a detailed report to the Attorney General on how the funds were used, the number of cases tested, and the results of the testing.

Requires Attorney General to report to Congress

Directs the Attorney General to submit a report to Congress within two years on the grant program's results and provide recommendations for implementing the technology in public labs.

Who does this affect?

State, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies
Prosecutors and medical examiners
Families of victims of unsolved crimes

What is the real world impact?

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Helps solve cold cases

Provides law enforcement with funding for powerful new DNA technology that can identify suspects or victims in cases that have gone unsolved for years, bringing closure to families.

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Raises genetic privacy concerns

Using public genealogy databases for criminal investigations could raise privacy issues. People who submit DNA for personal ancestry research may not realize their genetic information, or that of their relatives, could be used by law enforcement.

When does this start?

This bill outlines several deadlines and authorizes grant funding for specific years.

Attorney General report to Congress

The Attorney General must submit a report to Congress on the program's effectiveness no later than two years after the bill becomes law.

Grant recipient reporting

Entities that receive a grant must report to the Attorney General on their activities no later than one year after receiving the funds.

Grant funding period

Authorizes appropriations of $5 million for each grant program for each fiscal year from 2025 through 2029.