Bill Overview
Title: TRACE Act
Description: This bill requires the National Institute of Justice to include additional data categories in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), including information about persons who go missing on federal land. It also requires the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Defense to report existing missing persons cases on their federal land to NamUs.
Sponsors: Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
Target Audience
Population: People who could be directly impacted by improved data systems for tracking missing persons
Estimated Size: 3000000
- The TRACE Act focuses on improving the tracking and reporting of missing persons, particularly on federal lands.
- This will impact individuals who go missing, as the broader inclusion of data will increase the potential of them being found.
- Federal agencies like the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Defense manage substantial federal lands where individuals might go missing.
- Enhancements in data systems could help law enforcement agencies across America, thus impacting families and communities connected to missing persons cases.
- Federal lands are extensive in the United States, so the legislation is particularly relevant to people who might venture into these areas, including hikers, tourists, and workers.
Reasoning
- The TRACE Act aims to improve the tracking of missing persons, focusing primarily on cases occurring on federal lands. This is particularly relevant to hikers, tourists, workers, and residents in close proximity to these lands, as well as law enforcement agencies that will have better data to use. With a limited budget, the act is likely to afford infrastructure updates to NamUs and increase awareness among key stakeholders, though its direct impact may be more pronounced in communities near or frequently interacting with federal lands.
- Federal lands cover significant portions of the U.S., meaning a wide range of individuals, such as outdoor enthusiasts and local residents, could be impacted. Additionally, the potential for solved cases could also emotionally and psychologically benefit the families and communities involved.
- The policy might not directly impact urban residents who rarely visit federal lands, and hence, acknowledging the diversity in the commonness and impact scores will provide a broader view of its reach.
Simulated Interviews
Park Ranger (Rocky Mountains, Colorado)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will greatly enhance our capabilities to track and locate missing persons, potentially saving lives.
- The additional data reporting can improve collaboration between different federal agencies and local law enforcement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 6 |
Office Worker (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see how this affects me directly as I don't usually go to these areas.
- It seems more relevant for those who travel to national parks or forests.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Hiking Guide (Yosemite National Park, California)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The enhancement of missing persons data systems is crucial for us who operate in federal parks.
- It gives a better safety net for both guides and tourists.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Engineer (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm happy that there's a policy to track missing people better, especially in remote areas where I like to hike.
- However, I feel it won't impact me directly day-to-day.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Wildlife Researcher (Anchorage, Alaska)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Missing persons cases are a concern in these remote areas, and better tracking can save lives.
- This policy has the potential to make my work environment safer.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Retired (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not sure how this will affect me directly, but it's good for those who live near or visit these lands regularly.
- I've always appreciated improvements in public safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
College Student (San Francisco, California)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's great that there are efforts to improve safety for adventurers like me.
- Knowing there's a plan might ease my family's worries when I go hiking.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
School Teacher (Houston, Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this act provides an educational opportunity for my students to learn about government response to public safety.
- The indirect impact could inspire national change beyond federal lands.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
College Student (Bozeman, Montana)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A tracking system would reassure me when I venture into remote areas.
- I think it reflects positively on government efforts to ensure individual safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Event Planner (Miami, Florida)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sounds like a step in the right direction, but doesn't affect my current work much aside from improving safety perceptions.
- More relevant for regular parkgoers, I reckon.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $8000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 3: $7500000 (Low: $5500000, High: $9500000)
Year 5: $6000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $8000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The main costs are related to technological updates and inter-agency coordination.
- Long-term data system improvements may have efficiency savings not fully accounted for in immediate budget forecasts.
- Impact on families and associated communities through better information access could have significant social value.