Forensic Science: Grants for Genetic Genealogy DNA Testing
The Carla Walker Act has been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and is now waiting for a vote by the full Senate. It is currently listed on the Senate calendar for future consideration. Although the bill has moved through the committee process, it is not currently scheduled for a floor vote.
No action since June 2026
This bill passed the Senate and addresses the popular issue of solving cold cases with new technology. It includes privacy protections that help it gain support from both parties.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
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Held at the desk.
Received in the House.
The House has received the Senate-passed bill and will decide whether to take it up.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S2724-2727; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2724-2726)
The Senate voted to approve this bill. If the House already passed it, it goes to the President.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
The Senate voted to approve this bill. If the House already passed it, it goes to the President.
The Carla Walker Act passed unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 15, 2026. The legislation expands law enforcement's tools for solving cold cases using forensic genealogy, providing federal grants for advanced DNA testing while ensuring strict privacy protections.
Sen. Ashley Moody expressed support for the Carla Walker Act, one of six bills advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The act stipulates federal grants for forensic DNA analysis to address cold cases, part of a broader bipartisan effort to strengthen officer safety and investigative tools.
Senator John Cornyn is proposing the Carla Walker Act to provide federal grants to law enforcement for genetic DNA testing. The technology, used by labs like Othram, can find suspects by matching DNA against genealogical databases, a tool many local agencies currently cannot afford.
No votes recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Carla Walker Act
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