Yosemite National Park
Sierra Sun Times file photo
September 20, 2024 - WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate has passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) that would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to add a new category to the existing National Missing and Unidentified Persons Systems (NamUs) database, which would allow the public and law enforcement to mark cases where a person went missing or was identified on federal land, including specific location details.
This new feature allows family and friends of people missing on public lands to more easily enter this information in NamUs, while law enforcement agencies work to improve national records of missing individuals. The Tracking and Reporting Absent Community-Members Everywhere (TRACE) Act also requires DOJ to submit an annual report to Congress detailing the number of cases from the previous year involving individuals who went missing or were suspected of going missing on public lands.
“Thousands of people go missing on public lands in the United States every year, but without an effective system to track them, law enforcement’s ability to help bring them home is that much more limited,” said Senator Padilla. “That’s why I’m glad to see the Senate unanimously pass our bipartisan TRACE Act to provide more accurate and readily accessible data, help equip law enforcement to resolve more cases, and help bring peace of mind to affected families.”
“Every year, thousands of people go missing on public lands without being recorded in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System,” said Senator Tillis. “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 legislation so these cases can be added to the database and potentially save hundreds of lives in the future.”
According to a NamUs report, over 600,000 people go missing in the United States annually. While the majority of these cases are resolved, tens of thousands of people remain missing every year.
There are approximately 640 million acres of federal land which include national parks, national forests, and Bureau of Land Management lands. Estimates suggest that at least 1,600 people have gone missing on public lands, though the number is likely much higher, as isolated or rugged terrain on public lands can make it especially difficult to find or identify people who go missing. Despite this, there is no functional system to report people who have gone missing on public lands. Having accurate data on how many people go missing on our public lands every year is crucial to aid search and rescue efforts and resolve cases.
NamUs is the main system used by law enforcement, families and friends of missing persons, medical examiners, and coroners to report unidentified remains and missing persons, and it is also used by the public.
The TRACE Act is endorsed by the American Rescue Project, Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Conservation Colorado, National District Attorneys Association, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Major City Sheriffs Association, Outdoor Industry Association, Public Land Solutions, Raven, and Trust for Public Land.
Last year, Senator Padilla and Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02) called on DOJ to place dedicated personnel in California as part of their Missing or Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program.
Full text of the bill is available here.
Source: Senator Alex Padilla
