[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 161 (Friday, October 3, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2217-E2218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 6064, THE ``NATIONAL SILVER ALERT ACT''

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 3, 2008

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I support the National 
Silver Alert Act. I also urge my colleagues to support this bill. It is 
necessary.
  Thousands of vulnerable older adults go missing each year as a result 
of dementia, diminished capacity, foul play or other unusual 
circumstances. The Alzheimer's Foundation of America estimates that 
over five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease, and that 
60 percent of these are likely to wander from their homes. Alzheimer's 
disease and other dementia related illnesses often leave their victims 
disoriented and confused and unable to find their way home. According 
to the Alzheimer's Association, up to 50 percent of wanderers risk 
serious illness, injury or death if not found within 24 hours. The 
problem can be exacerbated greatly by national disasters, such as 
Hurricane Katrina, that can, in a matter of hours, increase the number 
of missing persons by the thousands.
  At least eight States, along with non-profit organizations such as 
the National Center for Missing Adults, Project Lifesaver International 
and the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, have developed programs to 
address various aspects of the problem of missing adults, but the need 
for a coordinated national approach, similar to the Amber Alert Program 
for children, still exists. In addition, financial support is needed 
for existing and new local and State programs.
  The Missing Alzheimer's Disease Patient Alert Program, administered 
by the Department of Justice, is the only Federal program that 
currently provides grant funding to locate vulnerable elderly 
individuals who go missing. Authorization for this program ceased in 
1998, but Congress has continued to appropriate some monies for it 
through fiscal year 2008, when it appropriated $940,000. Another 
Federal law, Kristen's Act, had authorized annual grants in the amount 
of $1 million for fiscal years 2001 through 2004 to assist law 
enforcement agencies in locating missing adults and for other purposes. 
Between fiscal years 2002 through 2006, Kristen's Act grants were made 
through the Edward Byrne Discretionary Grants Program, primarily to the 
National Center for Missing Adults, a non-profit organization. In 2006, 
Congress appropriated $150,000 for this purpose.


            A. H.R. 6064, the ``National Silver Alert Act''

  Importantly, today I urge my colleagues to support another important 
piece of legislation, H.R. 6064, the National Silver Alert Act. H.R. 
6064 sets forth a comprehensive national program. It directs the 
Attorney General to establish a permanent national Silver Alert 
communications program within the Department of Justice to provide 
assistance to regional and local search efforts for missing seniors. 
The bill requires the Attorney General to assign a Department of 
Justice officer as a Silver Alert Coordinator.
  The Silver Alert Coordinator acts as a nationwide point of contact, 
working with States to encourage the development of local elements of 
the network, known as Silver Alert plans, and to ensure regional 
coordination. The bill requires the Coordinator to develop protocols 
for efforts relating to reporting and finding missing seniors and to 
establish voluntary guidelines for States to use in developing Silver 
Alert plans. The bill requires the Coordinator to establish an advisory 
group (1) to help States, local governments and law enforcement 
agencies with Silver Alert plans, (2) to provide training and 
educational programs to States, local governments and law enforcement 
agencies, and (3) to submit an annual report to congress. The bill also 
requires the Coordinator to establish voluntary minimum standards for 
the issuance of alerts through the Silver Alert communications network.
  H.R. 6064 directs the Attorney General, subject to the availability 
of appropriations, to provide grants to States for the development and 
implementation of programs and activities relating to Silver Alert 
plans. The bill authorizes $5 million for fiscal year 2009 for this 
purpose. The bill also authorizes an additional $5

[[Page E2218]]

million for fiscal year 2009 specifically for the development and 
implementation of new technologies. The Federal share of the grant may 
not exceed 50 percent and amounts appropriated under this authorization 
shall remain available until expended.


              B. My Past Amendments on Elder Justice Bills

  In similar elder legislation, namely the Elder Justice Act and the 
Elder Abuse Victims Act, I co-sponsored amendments with Ms. Maxine 
Waters of California to provide funding to State, local, and non-profit 
programs to locate missing elderly. Specifically, my amendment would 
allow a voluntary electronic monitoring pilot program to assist with 
the elderly when they are reported missing. In these particular bills, 
my amendment would allow the Attorney General, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, to issue grants to States and 
local government to carry out pilot programs to provide voluntary 
electronic monitoring services to elderly individuals to assist in the 
location of such individuals when they are reported missing.


                   C. Elder Legislation Is Important

  Elder legislation such as the legislation before us today and the 
prior elder bills that I mentioned are important. As elder Americans 
enter their twilight years, we must do more to protect and ensure their 
safety. Nothing reminds me more of the necessity of this kind of 
legislation than my very own experiences in Houston, Texas. A few years 
ago, the family of Sam Kirk, a native of Houston, Texas, called me to 
help look for him. Mr. Kirk was elderly and suffered from dementia. He 
had wandered off and could not be located for several days. His family 
looked for him for many days but could not find him. In an act of 
desperation, they called on me to lend my services to help them find 
him. I helped his family look for him and we found him. When we found 
Mr. Kirk, he was dehydrated and in need of medical attention. We 
searched for hours and days to find him. It was worth the time and 
effort we spent to find him alive and well. Legislation that helps 
America find and take care of its lost and missing elders is extremely 
important.


                          sammy kirk amendment

  I fought hard to get an amendment to this bill, H.R. 6064, the 
National Silver Alert. The amendment would authorize a voluntary 
electronic monitoring program to be used to assist in the location of 
elderly persons. Specifically, the amendment requires the Attorney 
General, after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, to award grants to States and units of local government to 
carry out programs to provide for voluntary electronic monitoring 
services to elderly individuals to assist in the location of such 
individuals in the event that such persons are reported missing. It is 
authorized for $2 million for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 
2014. The amendment is named after Mr. Sammy Kirk, a former constituent 
of the 18th Congressional District who suffered from Alzheimers and was 
lost. I, along with his family, searched for him for 3 days only to 
find him dead near the bayou. The Sam Kirk amendment ensures that other 
senior Alzheimer patients do not suffer the same fate as Mr. Kirk.
  I believe that my amendment and these bills help elderly people. I 
urge my colleagues to support this bill.

                          ____________________