[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 123 (Thursday, October 5, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H8816]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           ASKING MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE AMBER ALERT PROGRAM

  (Mr. LAMPSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. 
Wilson) introduced a resolution that recognizes the importance of a 
community initiative, a successful and effective way to combat child 
abduction called the Amber Alert Plan.
  The Amber Alert is named after Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old girl who 
was tragically abducted and murdered in Arlington, Texas, in 1996. The 
tragedy of Amber's case was felt throughout north Texas, and it led to 
a search for new and innovative community responses to help law 
enforcement officials find missing children.
  The Amber Alert is a partnership between broadcasters and law 
enforcement agencies. When law enforcement determines a child is 
missing, they activate the Amber Alert, by notifying area-participating 
radio stations. The stations agree to interrupt their programming and 
broadcast an emergency report, much like an emergency broadcast system. 
Their report gives details, like the description of a child or any cars 
involved. TV stations would broadcast Amber Alert crawlers across the 
front of their screen, which would resemble severe weather warnings.
  I unveiled the Amber Alert in my district. Please join me and the 
gentlewoman from New Mexico in our efforts to recover missing children 
and curb abductions as a cosponsor of the bill. The health and safety 
of our children is in Members' hands.

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