[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 50 (Thursday, March 27, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1104, CHILD ABDUCTION PREVENTION 
                                  ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 26, 2003

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this 
rule, H. Res. 160.
  The rule in the House should mirror the opinion of our colleagues in 
the Senate, that H.R. 1104 should be reduced to one single issue: The 
Amber Alert system.
  The rule as written, however, provides for debate on extraneous 
issues ranging from sentencing guidelines, to penalties for possession 
of child pornography, to the investigative powers of the U.S. Secret 
Service.
  While these and the other extraneous provisions in H.R. 1104 are 
worthy of our full consideration, those provisions should not be 
considered in H.R. 1104.
  The House should debate and pass a clean Amber Alert bill, just as 
the Senate passed a clean Amber Alert bill with S. 121.
  By passing a clean Amber Alert bill we send a clear message to 
America's families that the safety of our children is a priority second 
to none.
  We also increase the likelihood that more child abductions will have 
the happy ending experienced by the family of Elizabeth Smart, who, as 
we all know, was safely returned to her family after a nine-month-long 
kidnapping ordeal.
  The Republican majority's decision to bog down the Amber Alert bill 
with several unnecessary and unrelated provisions is inexplicable and 
endangers our children.
  It seems as though the majority has used every conceivable measure to 
load up the bill and make it more difficult to pass.
  The Senate set aside their partisan agendas and took a giant step 
toward protecting America's children by passing a clean, bipartisan 
Amber Alert bill.
  The Majority should set aside their agenda and eliminate these 
extraneous provisions so that the House, too, can pass a clean Amber 
Alert bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 412, a clean Amber Alert bill.
  I oppose the rule, H. Res. 160.

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