Cold Case Modernization Act

HR 6688, the Cold Case Modernization Act, allows states and local governments to use federal grants for identifying unidentified human remains without first determining if the death was a homicide. It amends existing laws (specifically the Child Abuse Prevention Act and Department of Justice grants) to remove the requirement that a death must be classified as a homicide to qualify for funding. This change directly affects states and local agencies receiving DOJ forensic grants, enabling them to apply these funds toward unidentified remains cases regardless of the cause of death determination. The bill focuses on expanding access to forensic DNA analysis for identification purposes, streamlining efforts to resolve cold cases involving unidentified remains.