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H.R. 5795: Forensic Science and Standards Act of 2016

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H.R. 5795: Forensic Science and Standards Act of 2016

114th Congress · introduced 2016-07-14 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2016-07-14 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30] · 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 Research and Technology. 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

Forensic Science and Standards Act of 2016

Plain summary

Forensic Science and Standards Act of 2016 This bill establishes a National Forensic Science Research Initiative to improve, expand, and coordinate federal research in forensic sciences. The bill establishes a National Forensic Science Coordinating Office to coordinate with relevant federal agencies in the development of: (1) a unified federal research strategy; and (2) any necessary programs, policies, and budgets to support implementation of the research strategy. The National Science Foundation (NSF) shall contract with the National Research Council to develop a report: (1) identifying the most critical challenges in forensic science that require further research, and (2) making recommendations for research to address those challenges. The bill states that all external forensic science research grants awarded by federal agencies under this bill shall be subject to a competitive, merit-review process. The NSF shall: award forensic science basic research grants to improve the foundation and practice of forensic science; establish one or more multidisciplinary forensic research centers led by public-private partnerships between universities, industry, state or local entities, and federal agencies; and conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the NSF's full portfolio of forensic science research and education grants every four years. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shall establish: (1) a competitively selected Center of Excellence focusing on measurement sciences, technology, and standards in forensic science; and (2) scientific area committees to identify gaps in and opportunities for standards development in the forensic sciences. NIST and the Department of Justice (DOJ) shall establish a National Commission on Forensic Science to advise the agencies participating in the unified federal research strategy and review recommendations on standards development in forensic science. DOJ shall: encourage the broad adoption of forensic science standards, requiring each DOJ laboratory, and encouraging other federal forensic laboratories, to adopt these standards; promote accreditation and certification based on forensic science standards; and promote recommendations made by the National Commission on Forensic Science.

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

Forensic Science and Standards Act of 2016

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. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Marc A. Veasey (D-TX)

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)
Ballot initiative
A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-hr5795 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114