DNA evidence is a powerful tool for identifying the guilty and exonerating the innocent. As more offender DNA samples are collected and law enforcement becomes better trained and equipped to collect DNA samples at crime scenes, the backlog of samples awaiting testing throughout the criminal justice system has increased to more than 542,000 unsolved cases. In response, the President has proposed $1 billion in funding over 5 years through the DNA Initiative, Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology, to reduce the DNA testing backlog, build crime lab capacity, stimulate research and development, support training, protect the innocent, and identify missing persons.