Today, Senators Thom Tillis and Alex Padilla expressed their approval of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s passage of the TRACE Act. This bipartisan bill aims to enhance the National Missing and Unidentified Persons Systems (NamUs) database by adding a category for cases involving individuals who go missing or are identified on federal land or territorial waters in the United States.
The legislation mandates that the Department of Justice submit an annual report to Congress detailing cases from public lands or territorial waters. The aim is to improve records and assist families and law enforcement agencies in locating missing persons more effectively.
Senator Tillis emphasized the importance of addressing this oversight, stating, “Every year, people go missing on public lands without being recorded in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.” He commended the committee for advancing this legislation, which he believes could save lives.
Senator Padilla highlighted the challenges faced by law enforcement due to a lack of effective tracking systems. “Thousands of people go missing on public lands every year in the United States,” he said. He committed to working with colleagues across party lines to pass this legislation for better data accuracy and accessibility.
The TRACE Act has received endorsements from several organizations including Public Lands Solution, Jewish Women’s Institute, Major County Sheriffs Association, ASCIA, NDAA, Raven, National Association to End Sexual Violence, and Outdoor Industry Association.
