[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 46 (Friday, March 21, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             H.R. 1104, THE CHILD ABDUCTION PREVENTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PETER HOEKSTRA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 20, 2003

  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1104, the Child 
Abduction Prevention Act, which strengthens the punishment and 
consequences of criminals who dare to harm our children. An important 
provision in H.R. 1104 doubles the authorization level for the National 
Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which serves as the 
national resource center and clearinghouse to aid missing and exploited 
children and their families.
  The Center is a private, non-profit organization, mandated by 
Congress, working in cooperation with the Office of Juvenile Justice 
and Delinquency Prevention within the U.S. Department of Justice. It is 
a critical resource for aiding over 18,000 law enforcement agencies 
throughout the nation in their search for missing children.
  According to statistical data from the National Center for Missing 
and Exploited Children, from its inception in 1984 through the end of 
2002, the Center handled 1,718,784 telephone calls through its national 
Hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST; trained 179,685 police and other 
professionals; and distributed 27,834,762 free, issue-based 
publications. The Center has also worked with law enforcement on 87,513 
missing child cases, resulting in the recovery of 71,141 children--an 
incredible success rate of more than 80 percent.
  The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is uniquely 
positioned to access vital information to aid in the search and 
recovery of misisng kids. It is the only child protection non-profit 
organization with access to the FBI's National Crime Information Center 
(NCIC) Missing Person, Wanted Person, and Unidentified Person Files; 
the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS); and the 
Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS). Additionally, it is the only 
organization operating a 24-hour, toll-free Hotline for the recovery of 
missing children in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice. It 
is also the sole organization operating a 24-hour, toll-free child 
pornography tip-line in cooperation with the U.S. Customs Service and 
the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
  Clearly, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children does 
our country and our nation's families a great service, and I urge my 
colleagues to assist the Center by supporting H.R. 1104.




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