Legis Daily

Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2019

USA116th CongressS-2174| Senate 
| Updated: 12/31/2020
John Cornyn

John Cornyn

Republican Senator

Texas

Cosponsors (3)
Tom Udall (Democratic)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
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.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
5 versions available

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Timeline
Jul 18, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Jul 18, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 16, 2020
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S6714-6715)
Nov 16, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S6714-6715)
Nov 16, 2020
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6714-6715)
Nov 16, 2020
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Nov 17, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Nov 17, 2020
Received in the House.
Nov 17, 2020
Held at the desk.
Nov 18, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-8772
Introduced in House
Dec 16, 2020
Ms. Scanlon moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Dec 16, 2020
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7217-7219)
Dec 16, 2020
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2174.
Dec 16, 2020
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)
Dec 16, 2020
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7217-7218)
Dec 16, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 16, 2020
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Dec 17, 2020
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.
Dec 18, 2020
Senate agreed to the House amendments to S. 2174 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7828)
Dec 18, 2020
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendments to S. 2174 by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 20, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 21, 2020
Presented to President.
Dec 31, 2020
Signed by President.
Dec 31, 2020
Became Public Law No: 116-277.
  • July 18, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 18, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • November 16, 2020
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S6714-6715)


  • November 16, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S6714-6715)


  • November 16, 2020
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6714-6715)


  • November 16, 2020
    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • November 17, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • November 17, 2020
    Received in the House.


  • November 17, 2020
    Held at the desk.


  • November 18, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-8772
    Introduced in House


  • December 16, 2020
    Ms. Scanlon moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • December 16, 2020
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7217-7219)


  • December 16, 2020
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2174.


  • December 16, 2020
    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)


  • December 16, 2020
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7217-7218)


  • December 16, 2020
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 16, 2020
    The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.


  • December 17, 2020
    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.


  • December 18, 2020
    Senate agreed to the House amendments to S. 2174 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7828)


  • December 18, 2020
    Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendments to S. 2174 by Unanimous Consent.


  • December 20, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 21, 2020
    Presented to President.


  • December 31, 2020
    Signed by President.


  • December 31, 2020
    Became Public Law No: 116-277.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 116-8772: Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2020
Border security and unlawful immigrationCongressional oversightCrime victimsCriminal justice information and recordsCriminal procedure and sentencingEmergency communications systemsEvidence and witnessesFederal-Indian relationsGeneticsGovernment studies and investigationsHealth information and medical recordsIntergovernmental relationsLaw enforcement administration and fundingLaw enforcement officersMissing personsRight of privacyState and local government operations

Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2019

USA116th CongressS-2174| Senate 
| Updated: 12/31/2020
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.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
5 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 18, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Jul 18, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 16, 2020
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S6714-6715)
Nov 16, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S6714-6715)
Nov 16, 2020
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6714-6715)
Nov 16, 2020
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Nov 17, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Nov 17, 2020
Received in the House.
Nov 17, 2020
Held at the desk.
Nov 18, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-8772
Introduced in House
Dec 16, 2020
Ms. Scanlon moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Dec 16, 2020
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7217-7219)
Dec 16, 2020
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2174.
Dec 16, 2020
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)
Dec 16, 2020
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7217-7218)
Dec 16, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 16, 2020
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Dec 17, 2020
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.
Dec 18, 2020
Senate agreed to the House amendments to S. 2174 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7828)
Dec 18, 2020
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendments to S. 2174 by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 20, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 21, 2020
Presented to President.
Dec 31, 2020
Signed by President.
Dec 31, 2020
Became Public Law No: 116-277.
  • July 18, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 18, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • November 16, 2020
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S6714-6715)


  • November 16, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S6714-6715)


  • November 16, 2020
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6714-6715)


  • November 16, 2020
    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • November 17, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • November 17, 2020
    Received in the House.


  • November 17, 2020
    Held at the desk.


  • November 18, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-8772
    Introduced in House


  • December 16, 2020
    Ms. Scanlon moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • December 16, 2020
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7217-7219)


  • December 16, 2020
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2174.


  • December 16, 2020
    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)


  • December 16, 2020
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7217-7218)


  • December 16, 2020
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 16, 2020
    The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.


  • December 17, 2020
    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.


  • December 18, 2020
    Senate agreed to the House amendments to S. 2174 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7828)


  • December 18, 2020
    Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendments to S. 2174 by Unanimous Consent.


  • December 20, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 21, 2020
    Presented to President.


  • December 31, 2020
    Signed by President.


  • December 31, 2020
    Became Public Law No: 116-277.
John Cornyn

John Cornyn

Republican Senator

Texas

Cosponsors (3)
Tom Udall (Democratic)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 116-8772: Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2020
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Border security and unlawful immigrationCongressional oversightCrime victimsCriminal justice information and recordsCriminal procedure and sentencingEmergency communications systemsEvidence and witnessesFederal-Indian relationsGeneticsGovernment studies and investigationsHealth information and medical recordsIntergovernmental relationsLaw enforcement administration and fundingLaw enforcement officersMissing personsRight of privacyState and local government operations