Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act

# Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act Summary **What the Bill Does** This bill would reauthorize and continue a federal program that helps investigate and prosecute unsolved civil rights crimes from decades past—particularly murders and violent crimes related to racial violence. The program works to collect, preserve, and share records and evidence from law enforcement agencies, archives, and other government sources to help solve these historical cases. **Who It Affects** The bill primarily affects families of victims from civil rights-era crimes, law enforcement agencies at federal and state levels, and communities seeking closure and justice for historical racial violence. It also involves government archives and record-keeping institutions that maintain historical documents. **Key Provisions and Current Status** While specific reauthorization details aren't detailed in the basic bill information, such measures typically extend funding and authority for the existing program and may update procedures for accessing records.

The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it hasn't advanced to a full vote yet. This type of legislation has enjoyed bipartisan support in the past, as it focuses on resolving decades-old criminal cases rather than creating new policy.