U.S. Rep. Harry Teague (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
The U.S. House has overwhelmingly approved legislation sponsored by 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” passed on a vote of 357-32.
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 New Mexico law and federal legislation are 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’s legislation, which now heads to the Senate for consideration, would encourage other states to start collecting DNA by funding 10 percent of the cost of taking DNA samples.
“While today was a bittersweet moment, it is such an important milestone in the fight to use DNA evidence to take predators off our streets,” Katie’s mother Jayann said in a news release from Teague’s office. “We’re very proud of this measure and how it will help save lives across all 50 states. We are so grateful to Congressman Teague for his courageous leadership on this bill.”
Before the House vote, Teague spoke in support of the bill. Watch him here: