[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 84 (Monday, June 26, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H4532-H4533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REAUTHORIZING PERMANENTLY USE OF PENALTY AND FRANKED MAIL RELATING TO 
               LOCATION AND RECOVERY OF MISSING CHILDREN

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 4416) to reauthorize permanently the use of penalty and 
franked mail in efforts relating to the location and recovery of 
missing children.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4416

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REPEAL OF TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY TO USE PENALTY 
                   AND FRANKED MAIL TO LOCATE AND RECOVER MISSING 
                   CHILDREN.

       Public Law 99-87 is amended by striking section 5 (39 
     U.S.C. 3220 note).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4416, a bill which 
permanently reauthorizes the use of penalty and franked mail in efforts 
relating to the location and recovery of missing children. This bill 
was passed by the Government Reform Committee by a voice vote on June 
8.
  I would like to thank my colleague from California, Juanita 
Millender-McDonald, for sponsoring this very important bill.
  According to the U.S. Department of Justice, every day more than 
2,100 children are reported missing somewhere in the United States. We 
are all familiar with the missing child notices that appear in the 
media, on government office bulletin boards, on advertising mail and, 
of course, on milk cartons. These notices provide immeasurable help in 
bringing missing children home. According to the National Center for 
Missing and Exploited Children, one out of every six children featured 
on these notices are recovered.
  This bill will allow Members of Congress and Federal agencies to 
continue to assist in the recovery of missing children by authorizing 
them to include missing child notices on their official and franked 
mail envelopes. The wider these notices are disseminated, the greater 
the chances that someone will recognize a missing child and contact the 
proper authorities.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of 
H.R. 4416, legislation sponsored by Representative Millender-McDonald, 
which would permanently reauthorize the use of franking and penalty 
mail by Congress and Federal agencies and departments. This measure, 
which was unanimously reported from the Government Reform Committee on 
June 8,

[[Page H4533]]

would allow Members to assist in efforts to locate and to recover 
missing children.
  First enacted in 1985, this program authorized the Office of Juvenile 
Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice to 
prescribe guidelines under which the government and franked mail may be 
used to help find and recover missing children. The law also authorized 
the Senate Committee on Rules and the House Commission on Congressional 
Mailing Standards to establish guidelines for the use of franked mail 
in the House and Senate.
  Although the law was reauthorized three times, the underlying 
statutory authority expired in 2002. H.R. 4416 would permanently 
reauthorize this very important effort. The placement of photos of 
missing children on government and congressional mail will greatly 
assist in locating and recovering children.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Ranking Member Millender-
McDonald, for sponsoring this bill; and I urge my colleagues to include 
photos of missing children on their official and franked mail.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record a letter from Congressman 
Vernon Ehlers, chairman of the Committee on House Administration, 
regarding the bill before us that is under consideration.
         House of Representatives, Committee on House 
           Administration, Longworth House Office Building,
                                    Washington, DC, June 14, 2006.
     Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
     Speaker, House of Representatives,
     U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Speaker: I write concerning H.R. 4416, a bill to 
     permanently reauthorize the use of penalty and franked mail 
     in efforts relating to the location and recovery of missing 
     children. H.R. 4416 was ordered reported by the Committee on 
     Government Reform on June 8, 2006.
       As you know, the Committee on House Administration received 
     a joint referral on the bill because of the Committee's 
     jurisdiction over matters concerning Congressional franking 
     privileges. However, in order to expedite this legislation 
     for floor consideration, the Committee will forgo action on 
     this bill. This is being done with the understanding that it 
     does not in any way prejudice the Committee with respect to 
     the appointment of conferees or its jurisdictional 
     prerogatives on this or similar legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Vernon Ehlers,
                                                         Chairman.

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time; 
and I hope that our colleagues support this important legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4416.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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