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H.R. 5981: DNA Expansion and Improvement Act of 2008

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H.R. 5981: DNA Expansion and Improvement Act of 2008

110th Congress · introduced 2008-05-06 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2008-05-06 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Weiner, Anthony D. [D-NY-9] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

DNA Expansion and Improvement Act of 2008

Plain summary

DNA Expansion and Improvement Act of 2008 - Directs the Attorney General to make grants to states and local governments to purchase or improve forensic DNA technology. Amends the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 to: (1) require grants under the DNA identification program to pay the salaries of employees of DNA criminal laboratories; (2) require grant applications under such program to provide assurances that states and local governments will implement a process for the collection of DNA samples from convicted felons in their prisons; (3) increase and extend through FY2014 the authorization of appropriations for the DNA identification program; and (4) require the Attorney General to give priority to grant applications that will use funds for crime laboratories with demonstrated training and personnel needs. Amends the Justice For All Act of 2004 to extend through FY2014 grants for: (1) DNA training and education for law enforcement and correctional personnel, forensic science professionals, and court officers; (2) sexual assault DNA identification; (3) research and development for DNA forensic technology; (4) the Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Grant Program; and (5) DNA identification of missing persons and unidentified human remains.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

DNA Expansion and Improvement Act of 2008

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Weiner, Anthony D. [D-NY-9] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong110-hr5981 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110