[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S10357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HOLD UP OF FINAL PASSAGE OF THE MISSING, EXPLOITED AND RUNAWAY CHILDREN 
                             PROTECTION ACT

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, as I stand here today, we are hours away 
from beginning a month long recess and we have yet to reauthorize a 
critically important piece of legislation that protects our nation's 
youth. It has been over two months since both the House and Senate have 
passed S. 249, The Missing, Exploited and Runaway Children Protection 
Act, and we have still not voted on final passage.
  There is no good excuse for why the Senate has not passed and sent to 
the President this noncontroversial piece of legislation. I had some 
minor concerns with the House amended version of S. 249, but after 
receiving some clarification and assurances on these concerns, I 
decided that these House add-on could be dealt with at later time and 
should not keep this important piece of legislation from passing. I 
have cleared the differences on our side of the aisle, but I am afraid 
I cannot say the same for my colleagues on the other side who continue 
to hold up final passage of this bill.
  The Missing, Exploited, and Runaway Children Protection Act of 1999 
reauthorizes programs under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and 
authorizes funding for the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children. Both programs are critical to out nation's youth and to our 
nation's well-being.
  In addition to providing shelter for children in need, the Runaway 
and Homeless Youth Act ensures that these children and their families 
have access to important services, such as individual, family or group 
counseling, alcohol and drug counseling and a myriad of other resources 
to help these young people and their families get back on track. As the 
National Network for Youth as stressed, the Act's programs ``provide 
critical assistance to youth in high-risk situations all over the 
country.''
  The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provide 
extremely worthwhile and effective assistance to children and families 
facing crises across the U.S. and around the world. In 1998, the 
National Center helped law enforcement officers locate over 5,000 
missing children. The National Center serves a critical role as a 
clearinghouse of resources and information for both family members and 
law enforcement officers. They have developed a network of hotels and 
restaurants which provides free services to parents in search of their 
children and have also developed extensive training programs.
  S. 249 should be passed today. There is absolutely no reason to stall 
on this legislation, but as we get down to the wire to begin August 
recess, it looks like we will once again face another delay. We will 
return to our states and to our constituents who run these crucial 
programs and we will be unable to tell them that we have protected the 
programs that allow them to ensure children and families access to 
their services by reauthorizing the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. I 
am frustrated once again at the inaction of the Republican majority on 
this matter and believe that The Missing Exploited, and Runaway 
Children Protection Act should be passed immediately.

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