[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 67 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E963-E964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       JENNIFER'S LAW ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 22, 1998

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the brave efforts 
and profound hope of my constituents JoAnn and Carl Rock in the search 
of their missing son, Robert, and to urge support for the Jennifer's 
Law Act of 1997. H.R. 2850, which was introduced by my distinguished 
colleagues, Congressman Jay Johnson, Congressman Nick Lampson, and 
myself.
  I urge my colleagues to help all parents who may be seeking to locate 
a missing daughter or son. Jennifer's Law is necessary to bring relief 
to families that face endless nights of not knowing where a loved one 
may be and what has happened to them. This legislation is a simple way 
of closing a terrible loophole with painful and needless consequences.
  Mr. Speaker, Jennifer's Law will bring peace and relief to thousands 
of American families whose sons and daughters have disappeared and 
remain missing. Each year, thousands of unidentified bodies are buried 
in the United States. While law enforcement officials are required to 
report unidentified bodies, they are not required to use the already 
established national repository for information that may have criminal 
investigation importance, the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) 
of the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
  In New York City alone, Mr. Speaker, over 4,000 unidentified persons 
are buried each year in mass graves in Potter's Field without NCIC 
references. The circumstances of this oversight are stark and real; 
thousands of unidentified bodies may be identified and long-awaited 
closure brought to their families across the United States through the 
usage of the NCIC.
  Many of these unidentified persons who are found dead or murdered 
were only children when they disappeared from their families. Those 
children may be alive or dead anywhere in this country. Federal 
legislation must be enacted swiftly in order to address the nature of 
this terrible situation.
  Mr. Speaker, in my home state of California, for instance, law 
enforcement officials are required to report unidentified bodies to the 
NCIC, but that is not enough for parents like Carl and JoAnn Rock 
because their son could be alive or dead in another state, even as far 
away as New York City's Potter's Field. Their tragic story demonstrates 
the need for comprehensive action, not a piece-meal solution.
  Last fall, JoAnn Rock and other families who have also lost their 
children came to ask the help of their Representatives as part of a 
group called Finding Our Children Under Stress (FOCUS). Mr. Speaker, I 
do not believe that they made their trip in vain.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support Jennifer's Law. It costs 
nothing but it gives in return the priceless gift of human compassion. 
This bill is a clear, obvious way to remedy a confusing and terrifying 
situation.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to share with my colleagues the experience of the 
Rock family in their own words. It is my hope that this story will 
inspire each of you to act upon their behalf and the behalf of 
thousands of families still searching for their missing loved ones.

       I cannot begin to put into words my feelings, profound 
     sadness and sense of loss as a result of the disappearance of 
     our son, Robert. Bob was our son, our daughter Kristin's 
     brother, a grandson, nephew, cousin and friend. All the 
     people who know and love Rob have had their lives changed 
     forever. Almost three years have passed with not a single 
     piece of information about Rob's whereabouts. As a Magna Cum 
     Laude graduate of

[[Page E964]]

     NYU he had wonderful plans and a promising future. Stricken 
     with schizophrenia in 1995, his life literally fell apart. A 
     bout of hospitalizations, medications and depression left him 
     and his family confused and anguished.
       On May 3, 1995 Rob left his home to get lunch downtown. He 
     has never been seen or heard from since. We live in a 
     suspended state, fearing the worst, dealing with false leads 
     and dashed hopes, facing each day asking ``where is our 
     son?''
       When we reported to the Millbrae Police Department that Rob 
     was missing, they were wonderful. Without hesitation they 
     entered him into the NCIC (National Crime Information Center) 
     system. Chief Parker has seen that the investigation goes on 
     with special thanks to Officers Michael Grogin and Robb Lowe. 
     ``3 Children'' of San Bruno, CA and Child Quest Int'l of San 
     Jose were two agencies that reached out to help with a 
     missing adult. There is no doubt that because of Rob's 
     disappearance our level of awareness of the horrifying number 
     of children and adults who are missing each year has changed 
     dramatically. A child is reported missing every 40 seconds in 
     this country. We don't even have statistics on missing 
     adults.
       Rob was 26 and an at-risk adult because of being afflicted 
     with schizophrenia. He is so bright and talented but this 
     disease has robbed him of his ability to deal rationally with 
     the world. He feels himself to be responsible for every 
     ``evil'' thing that happens on earth. Can you imagine having 
     to face each day knowing you caused the Oklahoma bombing, the 
     earthquake in Osaka, the war in Bosnia.
       In his delusional state, Rob thinks his family is dead. We 
     are very much alive and want to find our son. We found 
     support and assistance immediately from other families of 
     missing loved ones, and endless support from caring friends. 
     Wanting to reach out to others I became involved as a 
     founding member of a group called F.O.C.U.S. (Finding Our 
     Children Under Stress). One of the first activities of our 
     group came about when a horrifying bit of information 
     surfaced related to one's search for a loved one. In this 
     country we have a central repository of information available 
     to law enforcement for listing missing and unidentified 
     persons, the NCIC. Law enforcement must immediately list a 
     missing child under the age of 18 into this system. Our 
     population can easily move from state to state so this is so 
     logical. However, states are not required to list adults nor 
     are they required to report unidentified persons (alive or 
     deceased) found in their jurisdiction, into this system. If 
     our son died without any identification on him, has he been 
     buried in a Potter's Field somewhere in this country, his 
     identity forever lost? Mourning may never end, investigations 
     may continue to go on, families grieve over cases that could 
     be solved. As a result, under the encouragement of 
     Congressman Lanto's office we have proposed federal 
     legislation to rectify this, Jennifer's Law, HR 2850. In 
     content simply--require states to report unidentified persons 
     found in their jurisdiction into the NCIC in a prompt manner. 
     Jennifer's Law would not only ease the suffering of families 
     wanting to hear about missing loved ones, but could help 
     solve other crimes as well. HR 2850 will ensure that no child 
     or adult is buried as Jane or John Doe. It will assure that 
     they keep their identities even into their deaths.

     

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