The Senate has passed the TRACE Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at improving how missing persons cases on federal lands and territorial waters are recorded. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) expressed support for the legislation, which will require the U.S. Department of Justice to add a new category to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons Systems (NamUs) database. This addition will allow both law enforcement and the public to specify if a person went missing or was identified on federal land or territorial waters, including detailed location information.
The bill also mandates that the Department of Justice submit an annual report to Congress detailing cases from the previous year involving individuals who went missing or were suspected of going missing on public lands or territorial waters. The aim is to make it easier for families and friends of missing persons to access relevant information in NamUs while helping law enforcement improve national records.
Senator Tillis stated, “Every year, people go missing on public lands without being recorded in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. This oversight is impeding law enforcement from keeping track of those who go missing to help search and rescue efforts. I applaud the Senate for passing this bipartisan, bicameral legislation so these cases can be added to the database and potentially save hundreds of lives in the future, and I urge my colleagues in the House to swiftly pass this critical legislation to ensure no missing person falls through the cracks.”
Senator Padilla added, “For too long, law enforcement officials have faced unnecessary barriers in tracking down people who go missing on federal lands. The Senate’s passage of the TRACE Act brings us one step closer to saving lives and bringing peace of mind to affected families. I’m committed to working with my colleagues across the aisle to make sure this bill is signed into law.”
Data from NamUs indicates that over 600,000 people are reported missing each year in the United States; most are found but tens of thousands remain unaccounted for annually. Federal land covers about 640 million acres nationwide—including national parks, forests, and Bureau of Land Management areas—where isolated terrain can complicate searches for those who disappear.
It is estimated that at least 1,600 people have gone missing on public lands—a figure likely underreported due to challenges in tracking such incidents. There currently is no dedicated system for reporting these specific cases.
NamUs serves as a central resource used by law enforcement agencies, families, medical examiners, coroners, and members of the public for reporting unidentified remains or persons who are missing.
The TRACE Act has received endorsements from several organizations including Public Lands Solution, Jewish Women’s Institute, Major County Sheriffs Association, Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA), NDAA, Raven, National Association to End Sexual Violence, and Outdoor Industry Association.
Senator Thom Tillis previously won general elections against Cal Cunningham in 2020 with 48.7% of votes compared to Cunningham’s 46.9%, as well as against Kay Hagan in 2014 with 48.8% versus Hagan’s 47.3%.
The full text of the bill can be accessed online.
