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HR 8069 United States House · 118th Congress

Strengthening the Medical Examiner and Coroner System Act of 2024

This bill provides $13 million annually (2025-2029) to address workforce shortages in medical examiner and coroner systems. It funds grants for forensic pathology fellowships (minimum 40 annually), training for death investigators to obtain certification, and support for toxicology labs to develop expertise. Direct beneficiaries include publicly funded medical examiner/coroner offices, forensic pathology fellowship programs, and toxicology labs seeking accreditation. Funds cover stipends (tax-free) for trainees, certification costs, and lab equipment, with priority for rural areas and communities with high opioid use. The legislation focuses on building capacity through education and certification, not altering death investigation procedures.
Issues: ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $13M annually (2025-2029) for public medical examiner/coroner system funding, directly increasing government spending on essential services.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds forensic pathology fellowships, death investigator training, and toxicology labs - critical components for accurate criminal investigations and court evidence within the criminal justice system.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $13M annually for forensic pathology fellowships, death investigator training, and toxicology labs - directly strengthening healthcare infrastructure within medical examiner systems.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds forensic pathology fellowships and training to address workforce shortages in medical examiner roles, directly supporting employment standards for this sector.85% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2024
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Apr 18, 2024 Last action Apr 26, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Apr 26, 2024
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
lower
Apr 18, 2024
Committee
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
lower
Apr 18, 2024
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Michael Guest
Michael Guest
RRepublican
MS
3
Co
Photo of Emanuel Cleaver
Emanuel Cleaver
DDemocratic
MO
5
Co
Photo of Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Lori Chavez-DeRemer
RRepublican
OR
5