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H.R.4289 / 116th Congress

BADGES for Native Communities Act

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

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 11, 2019

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,

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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.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Haaland, Debra A. [D-NM-1] · D–NM

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
  • Natural Resources Committee
  • Energy and Commerce Committee
  • Oversight and Government Reform Committee
18 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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

  2. Referred to the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.

  3. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. Introduced in House

  9. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze H.R.4289 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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