BADGES for Native Communities Act

Download PDF
Bill ID: 119/hr/1010
Last Updated: May 26, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

ID: L000273

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Subcommittee Hearings Held

May 20, 2026

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another bill, another exercise in futility. The BADGES for Native Communities Act, how quaint. Let's dissect this mess and see what we can find.

**Main Purpose & Objectives**

The stated purpose of this bill is to require Federal law enforcement agencies to report on cases of missing or murdered Indians, because apparently, the current system isn't working. How novel. The real objective here is to create a new bureaucratic apparatus that will inevitably become a money pit and a haven for incompetence.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law**

The bill establishes a National Missing and Unidentified Persons System Tribal facilitator, because we clearly need more middlemen in the system. It also requires Federal law enforcement agencies to report on Indian country law enforcement personnel resources and needs, which will undoubtedly lead to a plethora of useless data and meaningless statistics.

Additionally, the bill creates a demonstration program for Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement employment background checks, because who doesn't love a good pilot project? And, of course, it establishes a grant program for missing or murdered response coordination, because throwing money at a problem always solves it.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders**

The usual suspects: Native American communities, Federal law enforcement agencies, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. But let's be real, the only ones who will truly benefit from this bill are the bureaucrats and contractors who will feed off the taxpayer-funded trough.

**Potential Impact & Implications**

This bill is a classic case of "legislative theater." It's designed to make politicians look good while doing nothing meaningful to address the actual problems. The real impact will be more red tape, more waste, and more opportunities for corruption.

In short, this bill is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. It's a shallow attempt to address systemic issues with Native American communities without actually addressing the root causes of those problems. But hey, at least it sounds good in a press release.

Diagnosis: This bill suffers from a severe case of " Politician-itis," a disease characterized by an inability to think critically and a tendency to prioritize appearances over actual results. Treatment involves a healthy dose of skepticism, a strong stomach for bureaucratic nonsense, and a willingness to call out the emperor's new clothes.

Related Topics

State & Local Government Affairs
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$100,700
23 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$100,700
Committees
$0
Individuals
$0

No PAC contributions found

1
CHEROKEE NATION
2 transactions
$6,600
2
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
2 transactions
$6,600
3
PECHANGA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS
2 transactions
$6,600
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
2 transactions
$6,600
5
JICARILLA APACHE NATION
2 transactions
$6,600
6
PUEBLO OF SANDIA
2 transactions
$6,600
7
TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA OF ND
2 transactions
$6,600
8
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
1 transaction
$5,000
9
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
1 transaction
$3,300
10
MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT TRIBAL NATION
1 transaction
$3,300
11
OHKAY OWINGEH
1 transaction
$3,300
12
PUEBLO OF SANTO DOMINGO
1 transaction
$3,300
13
SHINGLE SPRINGS BAND MIWOK INDIANS
1 transaction
$3,300
14
SNOQUAIMIE TRIBE
1 transaction
$3,300
15
CATAWBA INDIAN NATION
1 transaction
$3,300
16
MUCKLESHOOT TRIBE INDIAN TRIBE
1 transaction
$3,300
17
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
1 transaction
$3,300
18
THE TULALIP TRIBES OF WASHINGTON
1 transaction
$3,300
19
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
1 transaction
$3,300
20
PASCUA YAQUI TRIBE
1 transaction
$3,300
21
PUEBLO OF SANTA ANA
1 transaction
$3,300
22
PUEBLO OF TAOS
1 transaction
$3,300
23
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
1 transaction
$3,300

No committee contributions found

No individual contributions found

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 7 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]

ID: N000189

Top Contributors

10

1
THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE COLVILLE RESERVATION
Organization NESPELEM, WA
$5,000
Sep 27, 2024
2
THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE COLVILLE RESERVATION
Organization NESPELEM, WA
$3,300
Oct 6, 2023
3
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
Organization TACOMA, WA
$3,300
Jun 14, 2024
4
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Oct 29, 2024
5
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
Organization TACOMA, WA
$2,900
Aug 11, 2023
6
SWINOMISH INDIAN TRIBAL COMMUNITY
Organization LA CONNER, WA
$2,000
Oct 22, 2024
7
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE CHEHALIS RESERVATION
Organization OAKVILLE, WA
$2,000
Oct 1, 2024
8
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization SANTA YNEZ, CA
$1,000
Aug 30, 2023
9
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
Organization TACOMA, WA
$400
Jun 14, 2024
10
FAISON, JAY W. MR.
CLEAN PATH ACTION FUND FOR CONSERVATIV CEO
Individual CHARLOTTE, NC
$11,600
Jul 24, 2023

Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]

ID: D000629

Top Contributors

10

1
HO-CHUNK NATION
Organization BLACK RIVER FALLS, WI
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
2
LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE
Organization CASS LAKE, MN
$3,300
Nov 4, 2024
3
MATCH-E-BE-NASH-SHE-WISH BAND OF POTTAWATOMI INDIANS
Organization SHELBYVILLE, MI
$3,300
Oct 23, 2024
4
PASCUA YAQUI TRIBE
Organization TUCSON, AZ
$3,300
Nov 1, 2024
5
PRAIRIE ISLAND TRIBAL COUNCIL
Organization WELCH, MN
$3,300
Oct 23, 2024
6
REDDING RANCHERIA
Organization REDDING, CA
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
7
THE UTE INDIAN TRIBE
Organization FORT DUCHESNE, UT
$3,300
Nov 15, 2024
8
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Dec 29, 2023
9
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Dec 29, 2023
10
HO CHUNK NATION
Organization BLACK RIVER FALLS, WI
$3,300
Dec 8, 2023

Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]

ID: B000490

Top Contributors

10

1
TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LOUISIANA
Organization MANSURA, LA
$3,300
Dec 30, 2023
2
TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LOUISIANA
Organization MANSURA, LA
$2,500
Oct 30, 2024
3
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
Organization OKMULGEE, OK
$1,000
Oct 28, 2024
4
DAVIS, HENRY BART III
SELF-EMPLOYED FARMER
Individual DOERUN, GA
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
5
DAVIS, HENRY BART JR
SELF-EMPLOYED FARMER
Individual DOERUN, GA
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
6
DAVIS, JEDD ADAM
SELF-EMPLOYED FARMER
Individual DOERUN, GA
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
7
DAVIS, PAULA
SELF EMPLOYED FARMER
Individual DOERUN, GA
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
8
REDDING, ROBERT L. JR
THE REDDING FIRM PRESIDENT
Individual WASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
9
VECCHIARELLI, DANIEL A
LEPRINO FOODS VICE CHAIRMAN
Individual DENVER, CO
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024
10
BARNES, ROY E.
THE BARNES LAW GROUP LLC ATTORNEY
Individual MARIETTA, GA
$3,300
Oct 25, 2024

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

ID: N000147

Top Contributors

0

No contribution data available

Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]

ID: D000617

Top Contributors

10

1
JAMESTOWN S'KLALLAM TRIBE
Organization SEQUIM, WA
$6,600
Mar 31, 2023
2
LUMMI INDIAN NATION
Organization BELLINGHAM, WA
$5,000
Jul 17, 2024
3
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
Organization TACOMA, WA
$3,700
Jun 28, 2024
4
SNOQUALMIE TRIBE
Organization SNOQUALMIE, WA
$3,300
Nov 2, 2023
5
JAMESTOWN S'KLALLAM TRIBE
Organization SEQUIM, WA
$3,300
Mar 31, 2023
6
MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE
Organization AUBURN, WA
$3,300
Jun 1, 2023
7
THE TULALIP TRIBES OF WASHINGTON
Organization TULALIP, WA
$3,300
Jun 30, 2023
8
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
Organization TACOMA, WA
$3,300
Jun 28, 2024
9
THE TULALIP TRIBES OF WASHINGTON
Organization TULALIP, WA
$3,300
Jun 20, 2024
10
MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE
Organization AUBURN, WA
$3,300
Aug 13, 2024

Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]

ID: Q000023

Top Contributors

10

1
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization LAKESIDE, CA
$1,500
Jun 28, 2024
2
DIAZ, REMEDIOS
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual MIAMI, FL
$3,500
Jun 1, 2024
3
MURPHY, KATHRYN
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual BARRINGTON, IL
$3,300
Oct 20, 2024
4
TREASURE, MATTHEW
AC HUMPHREY LLC SELF EMPLOYED
Individual CHICAGO, IL
$3,300
Nov 8, 2024
5
CLIFFORD, ROBERT A.
CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES ATTORNEY
Individual CHICAGO, IL
$3,300
Oct 26, 2023
6
CONWAY, KEVIN J
COONEY & CONWAY ATTORNEY
Individual RIVER FOREST, IL
$3,300
Nov 6, 2023
7
COONEY, ROBERT J JR.
COONEY AND CONWAY ATTORNEY
Individual RIVER FOREST, IL
$3,300
Oct 26, 2023
8
KEEFE JR., THOMAS
KEEFE KEEFE & UNSELL P.C. ATTORNEY
Individual SWANSEA, IL
$3,300
Oct 26, 2023
9
POWER, JOSEPH A JR.
POWER ROGERS ATTORNEY
Individual CHICAGO, IL
$3,300
Oct 26, 2023
10
ROGERS JR., LARRY
POWER ROGERS LLP ATTORNEY
Individual CHICAGO, IL
$3,300
Oct 26, 2023

Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]

ID: V000136

Top Contributors

10

1
EVERY STATE BLUE
CONDUIT TOTAL LISTED IN AGG. FIELD
PAC WASHINGTON, DC
$0
Nov 4, 2024
2
EVERY STATE BLUE
CONDUIT TOTAL LISTED IN AGG. FIELD
PAC WASHINGTON, DC
$0
Nov 4, 2024
3
MESCALERO APACHE TRIBE
Organization MESCALERO, NM
$3,300
Oct 29, 2024
4
SAN MIGUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization LOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
Jun 27, 2023
5
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
Organization ROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Sep 27, 2023
6
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
Organization ROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Sep 27, 2023
7
PECHANGA BAND OF INDIANS
Organization TEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Dec 4, 2023
8
PUEBLO OF ISLETA
Organization ISLETA, NM
$3,300
Mar 8, 2024
9
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization SANTA YNEZ, CA
$3,300
Sep 17, 2024
10
PUEBLO OF LAGUNA
Organization LAGUNA, NM
$3,300
Sep 27, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 37 nodes and 42 connections

Total contributions: $144,300

Top Donors - Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

Showing top 23 donors by contribution amount

23 Orgs

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 1 helped.

  • Section 201 establishes a demonstration program for background checks on law enforcement personnel in the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which could improve the effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement agencies.

Related Bills