Michael Guest (R-MS)
Strengthening the Medical Examiner and Coroner System Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
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
This legislation, known as the Strengthening the Medical Examiner and Coroner System Act of 2026, aims to address shortages in the forensic pathology workforce. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible graduate medical education programs, medical examiner or coroner offices, and forensic toxicology laboratories. The bill supports forensic pathology fellowships, training for medicolegal death investigators, and education for forensic toxicologists and pharmacologists. It requires the Secretary to consider geographic distribution and rural needs, including communities with high rates of opioid use disorder, when awarding grants. Additionally, the legislation authorizes appropriations of $13,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2028 through 2032 to carry out these programs.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +4
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
Medical school graduates and early-career professionals entering forensic pathology fellowships benefit directly from funded salaries and educational expenses.
- Scored +4
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Section 779(h) requires consideration of the unique needs of rural communities, particularly those with provider shortages and high opioid use disorder rates.
- Scored +4
Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths?
The legislation directs the Secretary to prioritize rural communities and areas with high rates of opioid use disorder when distributing grants.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The legislation authorizes appropriations of $13,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2028 through 2032 to fund grants.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for Forensic Pathology Fellowships: Section 779(e)(1)(A) provides grant funds to pay for salary, fringe benefits, and educational expenses for individuals in forensic pathology fellowships, which helps encourage medical school graduates to enter this field.
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Training for Death Investigators: Section 779(e)(1)(B) funds continuing education and training for medicolegal death investigators to help them obtain and maintain professional certification.
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Enhancing Forensic Toxicology: Section 779(e)(1)(C) assists eligible entities in providing education and training for toxicologists and pharmacologists to gain competency and professional certifications in advanced and emerging methods.
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Tax Relief for Recipients: Section 779(g) ensures that payment amounts and other benefits received by individuals under this section are not taxable to them.
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Focus on Underserved Areas: Section 779(h) requires the Secretary to consider the geographic distribution of funds, the balance between rural and urban areas, and the unique needs of rural communities with shortages or high rates of opioid use disorder.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Based on the text provided, there are no explicitly identified negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
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 people in rural areas be better off under this? — Section 779(h) requires consideration of the unique needs of rural communities, particularly those with provider shortages and high opioid use disorder rates. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Medical school graduates and early-career professionals entering forensic pathology fellowships benefit directly from funded salaries and educational expenses.
- Healthcare
- Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths? — The legislation directs the Secretary to prioritize rural communities and areas with high rates of opioid use disorder when distributing grants. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — By addressing critical shortages in forensic pathology and death investigation services, the bill supports the operational capacity of medical examiner and coroner systems.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill funds forensic pathology fellowships and training positions to address workforce shortages in medical examiner and coroner offices. Does this cut taxes for middle-income families? — Section 779(g) ensures that payments and benefits received by fellowship and training recipients under this act are not taxable. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The legislation authorizes appropriations of $13,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2028 through 2032 to fund grants.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill explicitly considers the unique needs of rural communities and shortages of forensic medicine providers in its grant distribution criteria.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The legislation provides training and educational funding for toxicologists and pharmacologists in advanced and emerging toxicological methods.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — Improving forensic pathology and medicolegal death investigation training directly strengthens the investigative quality of medicolegal death inquiries.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The act establishes a federal grant program administered through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- 10/5/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Emanuel CleaverDemocrat · Missouri