Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM)
BADGES for Native Communities Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Subcommittee Hearings Held
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "BADGES for Native Communities Act" aims to improve data reporting and safety for Native communities. It establishes a Tribal facilitator for the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System to coordinate information and provide technical assistance. The bill mandates reports on law enforcement resource needs and the staffing of Department of Justice agencies working in Indian country. It also creates a demonstration program for Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement background checks and a grant program for response coordination. Additionally, it directs the GAO to study evidence collection practices and coordinates mental health and wellness resources for law enforcement officers.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +8
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill provides targeted resources for missing and murdered individuals, training for tribal officials, and improved law enforcement staffing through specialized grants and background checks.
- Scored +6
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill addresses safety and data gaps specifically for Native communities through improved reporting and coordination.
- Scored +5
Does this change how police departments operate?
The bill mandates reports on law enforcement resource needs and establishes a program to expedite personnel background investigations for BIA officers.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Case Tracking: The appointment of a Tribal facilitator will help coordinate the reporting and documentation of missing persons, unclaimed remains, and unidentified remains cases of interest to Indian Tribes (Section 101).
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Technical Assistance and Training: Tribal facilitators will provide training to Indian Tribes, medical examiners, coroners, and Tribal justice officials regarding information gathering and reporting (Section 101).
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Addressing Resource Shortages: The bill requires a report on unmet staffing needs for various personnel, such as criminal investigators and crime victim services staff, at Tribal and Bureau justice agencies (Section 102).
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Expedited Employment Background Checks: A demonstration program will allow the Secretary to conduct or adjudicate personnel background investigations and security clearances for Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement applicants (Section 201).
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Enhanced Coordination through Grants: A new grant program will allow Tribes and relevant organizations to establish centers for documenting and tracking missing persons and sexual violence cases, or to create rapid notification systems (Section 202).
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Mental Health and Wellness Support: The bill coordinates efforts to ensure that culturally appropriate mental health and wellness programs are available to law enforcement officers working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs or an Indian Tribe (Section 204).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Temporary Nature of Background Check Program: The demonstration program for conducting personnel background investigations and security clearance determinations for Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement positions is scheduled to terminate 5 years after it begins (Section 201).
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State Eligibility Restrictions: States seeking grants through the response coordination program must demonstrate that they report missing persons cases to national crime information databases or have a plan to do so (Section 202).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides targeted resources for missing and murdered individuals, training for tribal officials, and improved law enforcement staffing through specialized grants and background checks. Would women be better off under this? — The bill provides grants for documenting and tracking sexual violence cases of interest to Indian Tribes.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill addresses safety and data gaps specifically for Native communities through improved reporting and coordination. Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill mandates reports on law enforcement resource needs and establishes a program to expedite personnel background investigations for BIA officers.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual public reports on the activities of Tribal facilitators and the results of the BIA background check program.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill coordinates the availability of culturally appropriate mental health and wellness programs for law enforcement officers.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill establishes a demonstration program to expedite background checks for BIA law enforcement applicants.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — The bill includes reporting on internet capacity needs for Tribal public safety and emergency communications.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — The bill's focus on infrastructure needs for Tribal justice includes internet capacity needs.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill's focus on law enforcement mental health may have peripheral benefits for veterans serving in these roles, though not directly stated.
- 9/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/26/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/21/2026
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 5/12/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.
- 2/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/12/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/4/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 2/5/2025
- Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, and Oversight and Government 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.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Sanford BishopDemocrat · Georgia
Judy ChuDemocrat · California
Suzan DelBeneDemocrat · Washington
Sharice DavidsDemocrat · Kansas
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Dan NewhouseRepublican · Washington
Mike QuigleyDemocrat · Illinois
Gabe VasquezDemocrat · New Mexico