Harry Teague
The U.S. House is expected to vote today on legislation from Rep. Harry Teague, D-N.M., that would encourage states to collect DNA from people arrested for felony crimes so it can be checked against DNA gathered from unsolved crimes.
“Katie’s Law” will be voted on this evening, Teague spokeswoman Kara Kelber said. Teague will give a floor speech in support of the legislation this afternoon.
Teague announced in February that he was introducing a federal version of New Mexico’s Katie’s Law. In New Mexico, the law requiring DNA collection from people arrested for felony crimes has led to more than 100 successful convictions.
The law is named for Katie Sepich, who was a 22-year-old graduate student at New Mexico State University when she was murdered in Las Cruces in 2003. The crime wasn’t solved until after the state enacted the law mandating that those arrested for felonies have their DNA entered into a state system so it can be checked against DNA from other unsolved crimes.
More than 20 states, and the federal government, already have laws that allow their law enforcement agencies to collect DNA from those arrested for felonies. Teague said in February that a federal law that pushes other states to do the same “could save countless lives.”
Teague’s legislation would encourage other states to start collecting DNA by funding 10 percent of the cost of taking DNA samples.
In a news release, Teague said today’s vote “is an important one that will go a long way in protecting our communities.”
“With Katie’s Law, we have the power through advanced DNA collection to prevent the type of tragedies and pain that the Sepich family endured,” he said. “It is time to make DNA technology available to all law enforcement across the country. I look forward to a national Katie’s Law passing the House.”