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Public Law116th CongressCrime and Law Enforcement
S. 2174Became Law

Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2019

This bill became law

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What it doesSummary public law (Dec 31, 2020)

Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2019

This bill revises the authority for state grants to improve the reporting of unidentified and missing persons.

The bill authorizes grants to be used for additional activities. In particular, grants may be used to improve the transportation, processing, and identification of missing persons and unidentified remains, including with respect to migrants. Further, the bill expands eligible entities to include local governments, medical examiners' offices, certain accredited and publicly funded laboratories, and certain nonprofit organizations.

In addition, the bill expands the allowable uses of grant funds to include costs related to transportation, hiring, and procuring forensic equipment.

The bill requires any DNA reference sample that is received from a suspected biological family member and uploaded into the Combined DNA Index System to be used only for identifying missing persons and unidentified remains.

Next, the bill requires the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to purchase, deploy, and maintain no more than 170 rescue beacons along the southern border to mitigate migrant deaths.

The bill also requires the CBP, the Department of Justice, and the Government Accountability Office to submit specified reports to Congress.

What just happenedDec 31, 2020

Became Public Law No: 116-277.

Who’s behind it

Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX](R-TX)Sponsor
3 cosponsors2 D1 R
Read on Congress.gov
3cosponsors1committees27actions1amendments1related bills17subjects
  1. Dec 31, 2020President

    Became Public Law No: 116-277.

  2. Dec 31, 2020BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 116-277.

  3. Dec 31, 2020President

    Signed by President.

  4. Dec 31, 2020BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. Dec 21, 2020Floor

    Presented to President.

  6. Dec 21, 2020President28000

    Presented to President.

  7. Dec 20, 2020Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  8. Dec 18, 2020ResolvingDifferences

    Senate agreed to the House amendments to S. 2174 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7828)

  9. Dec 18, 2020NotUsed20500

    Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendments to S. 2174 by Unanimous Consent.

  10. Dec 17, 2020Floor

    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.

  11. Dec 16, 2020FloorH38800

    The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

  12. Dec 16, 2020FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  13. Dec 16, 2020FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7217-7218)

  14. Dec 16, 2020Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7217-7218)

  15. Dec 16, 2020FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2174.

  16. Dec 16, 2020FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7217-7219)

  17. Dec 16, 2020FloorH30300

    Ms. Scanlon moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  18. Nov 17, 2020FloorH15000

    Held at the desk.

  19. Nov 17, 2020FloorH14000

    Received in the House.

  20. Nov 17, 2020Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  21. Nov 16, 2020Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S6714-6715)

  22. Nov 16, 2020Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S6714-6715)

  23. Nov 16, 2020Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6714-6715)

  24. Nov 16, 2020Discharge

    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Judiciary Committee
  25. Nov 16, 2020Committee14500

    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Judiciary Committee
  26. Jul 18, 2019IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  27. Jul 18, 2019IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Public LawDec 31, 202049

Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2019

This bill revises the authority for state grants to improve the reporting of unidentified and missing persons.

The bill authorizes grants to be used for additional activities. In particular, grants may be used to improve the transportation, processing, and identification of missing persons and unidentified remains, including with respect to migrants. Further, the bill expands eligible entities to include local governments, medical examiners' offices, certain accredited and publicly funded laboratories, and certain nonprofit organizations.

In addition, the bill expands the allowable uses of grant funds to include costs related to transportation, hiring, and procuring forensic equipment.

The bill requires any DNA reference sample that is received from a suspected biological family member and uploaded into the Combined DNA Index System to be used only for identifying missing persons and unidentified remains.

Next, the bill requires the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to purchase, deploy, and maintain no more than 170 rescue beacons along the southern border to mitigate migrant deaths.

The bill also requires the CBP, the Department of Justice, and the Government Accountability Office to submit specified reports to Congress.

Introduced in SenateJul 18, 2019

Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2019

This bill revises the authority for state grants to improve the reporting of unidentified and missing persons.

Specifically, the bill

  • authorizes grants to be used for additional activities (e.g., transportation of missing persons and unidentified remains), including with respect to migrants;
  • expands eligible entities; and
  • gives priority to eligible entities in states along the southern border.

The bill also requires the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to deploy rescue beacons along the southern border to mitigate migrant deaths.

Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2019 — Informed