To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish and maintain a database that contains up-to-date contact information for the next of kin of members of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretaries of the military departments.

12/30/2022, 11:18 AM

Summary of Bill HR 5201

Bill 117 HR 5201, also known as the Next of Kin Database Act, aims to direct the Secretary of Defense to create and manage a database that holds current contact information for the next of kin of all members of the Armed Forces who fall under the jurisdiction of the Secretaries of the military departments.

The purpose of this database is to ensure that the Department of Defense has accurate and up-to-date contact information for the next of kin of service members in case of emergencies or other critical situations. By having this information readily available, the military can quickly and efficiently communicate with family members in times of need.

The bill emphasizes the importance of maintaining the privacy and security of the information stored in the database, ensuring that it is only accessible to authorized personnel and used solely for official military purposes. Overall, the Next of Kin Database Act seeks to improve communication and support for the families of service members by establishing a centralized and reliable system for storing their contact information within the Department of Defense.

Congressional Summary of HR 5201

This bill requires the Department of Defense to establish and maintain a database that contains current contact information for the next of kin of members of the Armed Forces. A commander of the service member's unit in a grade higher than O-5 must be authorized to access the contact information, regardless of whether the member served under the commander. Individuals named in the database are authorized to elect whether or not they want to be contacted by an officer.

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Current Status of Bill HR 5201

Bill HR 5201 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since September 10, 2021. Bill HR 5201 was introduced during Congress 117 and was introduced to the House on September 10, 2021. Bill HR 5201's most recent activity was Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. as of September 10, 2021

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 5201

Total Number of Sponsors

Democrat Sponsors

Republican Sponsors

Unaffiliated Sponsors

Total Number of Cosponsors

Democrat Cosponsors

Republican Cosponsors

Unaffiliated Cosponsors

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 5201

Primary Policy Focus

Armed Forces and National Security

Potential Impact Areas

- Administrative law and regulatory procedures

- Department of Defense

- Government information and archives

- Military command and structure

- Military personnel and dependents

- Personnel records

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 5201

To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish and maintain a database that contains up-to-date contact information for the next of kin of members of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretaries of the military departments.