[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 8, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H64-H65]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INVITING MEMBERS TO JOIN CAUCUS ON MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN

  (Mr. LAMPSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, we are all too familiar with the names 
Elizabeth Smart and Danielle Van Damm.

[[Page H65]]

As founder of the Congressional Caucus on Missing and Exploited 
Children, I invite all of our colleagues to join our caucus and help 
protect America's children.
  During the 105th Congress, a family in the Ninth Congressional 
District of Texas experienced an unthinkable tragedy. Laura Kate 
Smither, a 12-year-old, was abducted and brutally murdered. In Laura's 
name, the Congressional Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children was 
founded. What Laura's dreadful tragedy has taught us is that we must do 
more to protect our children.
  As a society, our efforts to prevent crimes against children have not 
kept pace with the increasing vulnerability of our young citizens. 
Please join this very important caucus, if you have not already, and 
all of our new Members, please do so quickly. You have a letter coming 
to you today or tomorrow. Our children, our grandchildren, our nieces 
and nephews are counting on you to give them a voice in Washington.

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