CARLA WALKER ACT

On 2026-06-10, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) delivered a floor speech titled "CARLA WALKER ACT" in the Senate.

CARLA WALKER ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 98 (Wednesday, June 10, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 10, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S2724-S2727] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CARLA WALKER ACT The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 1890) to establish a grant program for certain State and local forensic activities, and for other purposes, which had been reported from the Committee on the Judiciary with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Carla Walker Act''. [[Page S2725]] SEC. 2. GRANTS TO IMPROVE FORENSIC ACTIVITIES. Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``PART PP--GRANTS TO IMPROVE FORENSIC ACTIVITIES ``SEC. 3061. DEFINITIONS. ``In this part: ``(1) Accredited forensic laboratory.--The term `accredited forensic laboratory' means a forensic laboratory that-- ``(A) is accredited by an accrediting body that is a signatory to an internationally recognized arrangement and that offers accreditation to forensic science conformity assessment bodies using an accreditation standard that is recognized by that internationally recognized arrangement; or ``(B) attests, in a legally binding and enforceable manner, to prepare and apply for an accreditation described in subparagraph (A) not later than 2 years after date on which the forensic laboratory-- ``(i) first receives a grant under this part; or ``(ii) first receives a request for analysis from an eligible entity receiving a grant under this part. ``(2) FGG dna analysis and searching.--The term `FGG DNA analysis and searching' means-- ``(A) forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis of a forensic or reference sample of biological material by an accredited forensic laboratory to develop a forensic genetic genealogy profile; and ``(B) the subsequent search of that genetic genealogy profile in a genetic genealogy service. ``(3) Forensic analysis.--The term `forensic analysis' means an expert examination, interpretation, or test-- ``(A) requested by a law enforcement agency, a coroner or medical examiner's office, a prosecutor, a criminal suspect or defendant, or a court; and ``(B) performed on physical or biological evidence for-- ``(i) investigative purposes, including to determine the identity of unidentified human remains; or ``(ii) prosecutorial, defense, or court-ordered judicial purposes. ``(4) Forensic genetic genealogy profile.--The term `forensic genetic genealogy profile' means a single nucleotide polymorphisms-based genetic profile generated from a forensic or reference sample by an accredited forensic laboratory for the purpose of conducting FGG DNA analysis and searching. ``(5) Forensic laboratory.--The term `forensic laboratory' means a facility, entity, or site that-- ``(A) offers or performs forensic analysis; and ``(B) follows appropriate evidentiary, documentation, and quality assurance requirements for use in judicial proceedings. ``(6) Genetic genealogy service.--The term `genetic genealogy service' means a repository of genetic data containing genetic profiles submitted by individuals that permits search by a law enforcement agency for forensic genetic genealogy purposes. ``(7) Interim policy.--The term `Interim Policy' means the `Interim Policy on Forensic Genetic Genealogical DNA Analysis and Searching' of the Department of Justice dated November 1, 2019, or any successor policy. ``(8) Law enforcement agency.--The term `law enforcement agency' means an agency of the United States, a State, a political subdivision of a State, or an Indian Tribe authorized by law or by a government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of criminal law. ``SEC. 3062. DNA ANALYSIS GRANTS. ``(a) Eligible Entity Defined.--In this section, the term `eligible entity' means-- ``(1) a State; ``(2) a Tribal, county, or local law enforcement agency; ``(3) a publicly funded accredited forensic laboratory; ``(4) a State, Tribal, county, or local prosecutor's office with a forensic laboratory capability; ``(5) a medical examiner's office; and ``(6) a coroner's office. ``(b) Authorization of Grants.--The Attorney General may award a competitive grant to an eligible entity for the purpose of using any technology used in a forensic laboratory-- ``(1) to conduct whole genome sequencing technology to assess not less than 100,000 genetic markers; and ``(2) that is compatible with genealogical databases. ``(c) Applications.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Attorney General an application at such time and in such form as the Attorney General may require. ``(d) Use of Grant.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use funds from the grant for any of the following purposes: ``(1) To carry out DNA analyses of physical evidence collected under applicable legal authority using the technology described in subsection (b) if the submission of such physical evidence to the Combined DNA Index System has failed to produce an investigative lead. ``(2) To carry out DNA analyses of unidentified human remains using the technology described in subsection (b) if submission of such samples to the Combined DNA Index System has failed to produce an investigative lead. ``(3) To outsource an activity described in paragraph (1) or (2) for the use of technology described in subsection (b) and searching to-- ``(A) an accredited publicly funded forensic laboratory; ``(B) a medical examiner or coroner's office; ``(C) a State, Tribal, county, or local prosecutor's office with a forensic laboratory capability; or ``(D) a nongovernmental accredited forensic laboratory. ``(e) Requirements and Limitations With Respect to Genetic Genealogy.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section-- ``(1) with respect to a forensic profile derived from a candidate forensic sample for which a sufficient quantity of DNA exists and which meets the eligibility requirements of the Combined DNA Index System, before attempting to use FGG DNA analysis and searching with respect to the forensic profile-- ``(A) shall upload the forensic profile to the Combined DNA Index System; and ``(B) may only proceed with FGG DNA analysis and searching if a search of the uploaded forensic profile in the Combined DNA Index System fails to produce a probative and confirmed DNA match; ``(2) with respect to an eligible entity that is a law enforcement agency, may not arrest a suspect based solely on a genetic association generated by a genetic genealogy service; ``(3) with respect to an eligible entity that is a law enforcement agency or an entity conducting genetic genealogical research on behalf of a law enforcement agency or to inform a criminal investigation, shall-- ``(A) identify as a law enforcement agency to any genetic genealogy service; and ``(B) enter and search forensic genetic genealogy profiles only in a genetic genealogy service that provides explicit notice to users of the genetic genealogy service and the public that law enforcement may use the genetic genealogy service to investigate crimes or identify unidentified human remains; ``(4) shall seek informed consent from third parties before collecting reference samples directly from an individual that will be used for FGG DNA analysis and searching, unless case- specific circumstances provide reasonable grounds to believe that this requirement would compromise the integrity of an investigation; ``(5) shall treat all forensic genetic genealogy profiles and genetic genealogy service account information and data as confidential government information consistent with any applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; ``(6) shall use biological samples and forensic genetic genealogy profiles only for law enforcement identification purposes; ``(7) shall take all reasonable and necessary steps and precautions to ensure that others who have authorized access to biological samples and forensic genetic genealogy profiles follow the same limitation of use of those samples required under paragraph (6); ``(8) whenever possible, shall use only genetic genealogy services that configure service site user settings that control access to forensic genetic genealogy profile data and associated account information in a manner that will prevent that data and information from being viewed by other service users; ``(9) shall conduct covert collection of a DNA sample for the purpose of performing FGG DNA analysis and searching in accordance with applicable State and Federal law; and ``(10) may not use a biological sample or a forensic genetic genealogy profile to determine the genetic predisposition for disease or any other medical condition or psychological trait of the donor of the sample or profile. ``(f) Regulations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Attorney General shall promulgate regulations to promote the reasoned exercise of investigative, scientific, and prosecutorial discretion in cases that involve forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis and searching. Such regulations shall incorporate the requirements and limitations set forth under subsection (e). ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.-- ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. ``(2) Limitations on use.-- ``(A) In general.--Amounts appropriated to carry out this section-- ``(i) subject to subparagraph (B), shall only be made available to carry out forensic genetic genealogical analysis; and ``(ii) shall not be made available for staffing, training, travel, or equipment. ``(B) Administrative costs.--The Attorney General m

Referenced legislation: S736, S736, S825, S1890, S3041, S4394