To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish and maintain a database that contains up-to-date contact information for the next of kin of members of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretaries of the military departments.

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 10, 2021

This bill requires the Department of Defense to establish and maintain a database that contains current contact information for the next of kin of members of the Armed Forces. A commander of the service member's unit in a grade higher than O-5 must be authorized to access the contact information, regardless of whether the member served under the commander. Individuals named in the database are authorized to elect whether or not they want to be contacted by an officer.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2] · R–NE

Committees

Armed Services Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Sep 10, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Sep 10, 2021
Introduced in House
Sep 10, 2021
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Sep 10, 2021 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 4350 · National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022

Source last updated: Jun 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.5201 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5201, 117th Congress: To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish and maintain a database that contains up-to-date contact information for the next of kin of members of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretaries of the military departments.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5201

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2021-09-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr5201/BILLS-117hr5201ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.5201 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.5201 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5201, 117th Congress: To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish and maintain a database that contains up-to-date contact information for the next of kin of members of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretaries of the military departments.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5201

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2021-09-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr5201/BILLS-117hr5201ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5201 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.5201 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5201, 117th Congress: To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish and maintain a database that contains up-to-date contact information for the next of kin of members of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretaries of the military departments.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5201

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2021-09-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr5201/BILLS-117hr5201ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5201 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.5201 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5201, 117th Congress: To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish and maintain a database that contains up-to-date contact information for the next of kin of members of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretaries of the military departments.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5201

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2021-09-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr5201/BILLS-117hr5201ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5201 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.