[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 22, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E881-E882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN'S DAY

                                 ______


                            HON. JIM RAMSTAD

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 22,1996

  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Missing 
Children's Day May 25, and ask that my colleagues and the entire Nation 
remember the 1 million children reported missing in the United States.
  Every State in our Nation has experienced the tragedy of a child 
heartlessly taken from family, friends, and the community at the hands 
of a kidnapper. In my home State of Minnesota, the community of St. 
Joseph continues to struggle and tries to understand the abduction of 
Jacob Wetterling, a healthy, happy child who this year would have 
graduated with the rest of his classmates at Apollo High School in St. 
Cloud.
  Jacob Wetterling was abducted in 1989. Since his tragic 
disappearance, Jacob's family and friends have reminded us that life 
can be dramatically changed in a matter of moments. They remind us that 
even the seemingly most peaceful town can face tragedy of massive 
proportions. They remind us that every community in every State has a 
responsibility to offer safety and protection to its children.
  Jacob's family and friends have shown their commitment to Jacob and 
other children by establishing the Jacob Wetterling Foundation. The 
foundation works tirelessly to promote child safety, support families, 
and search for missing children.
  The Jacob Wetterling Foundation played an essential role in my 
efforts to enact Federal legislation to address the horrendous epidemic 
of sexual crimes against children.
  Fully two-thirds of the nonfamily child abduction cases reported to 
police involve sexual assault. The National Center for Missing and 
Exploited Children reports that 74 percent of imprisoned child sex 
offenders had one or more prior convictions for a sexual offense 
against a child. Another study found that those who prey on young boys 
commit an average of 281 acts of molestation.
  According to the Department of Justice, over 100,000 children are 
targets of attempted abductions each year. Thankfully, most attempts 
are unsuccessful, but thousands like Jacob tragically disappear.
  That's why the Wetterling Foundation and Jacob's parents, Patty and 
Jerry Wetterling, worked tirelessly to help me pass the 1994 Jacob 
Wetterling Crimes Against Children Registration Act.
  The Wetterling Act provides for the registration of convicted child 
sex offenders and violent sexual predators. This national requirement 
was needed because of the propensity

[[Page E882]]

of these offenders to repeat their heinous crimes again and again after 
their release from prison. Some States--like my home State of 
Minnesota--already provided for sex offender registration, but many 
offenders simply moved to another State and avoided detection and 
registration.
  The children of America and their families needed the Wetterling Act 
to protect them from those who prey on children. Every major law 
enforcement organization asked for it as a resource for investigating 
child abduction and molestation cases.
  Until recently, law enforcement was simply allowed to notify the 
community when dangerous child sexual offenders were released and 
living in the community. Congress recently passed Megan's law, which 
will require community notification. This is good news for America's 
children and families.
  Mr. Speaker, May 25 is National Missing Children's Day. Jacob's 
family and friends, the people of St. Joseph and all Minnesotans will 
remember Jacob Wetterling and other children who have been abducted. 
The Wetterling Foundation has asked Minnesotan to leave their front 
porch lights glowing for National Missing Children's Day. These porch 
lights represent hope that Jacob and the other missing children will be 
found and returned home safely. They also represent a brighter future 
where children can be free from worry and fear because they are part of 
a community that makes child safety and protection the single most 
important priority.
  I invite the citizens of every State in the Nation to join my fellow 
Minnesotans in leaving on their porch lights. Leave your lights on for 
Jacob Wetterling and the million other children who are still missing. 
Let them know we love them and will never stop looking for them.

                          ____________________