[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 91 (Thursday, June 23, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4096-S4097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KOHL (for himself and Mr. Manchin):
  S. 1263. A bill to encourage, enhance, and integrate Silver Alert 
plans throughout the United States and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today with Senator Manchin to 
introduce the Silver Alert Act of 2011. This legislation increases the 
chances of quickly locating missing senior citizens by establishing a 
national communications network to help regional and local search 
efforts.
  Every year, thousands of adults go missing from their homes or care 
facilities due to diminished mental capacity, dementia, Alzheimer's 
disease, or other circumstances. As the population of the United States 
ages, that number is likely to increase. Over five million Americans 
currently suffer from Alzheimer's disease, and it is estimated that 60 
percent of these men and women are likely to wander away from their 
homes. Disorientation and confusion may keep many from finding their 
way back home. The safe return of missing persons often depends upon 
them being found quickly. If not found within 24 hours, roughly half 
risk serious illness, injury, or death. Only four percent of those 
Alzheimer's sufferers who leave home are able to get back without some 
assistance.
  Our bill would create a national program to coordinate existing 
state-based Silver Alert plans so that missing seniors can be returned 
safely to their homes and families. Not only will a federal network 
increase the success of efforts to find missing seniors, but it also 
eliminates duplicative search efforts, saving the public time and 
money. The Silver Alert Act creates this needed Federal network.
  The Amber Alert system, which the Silver Alert Act is modeled after, 
has a track record of success. The Amber Alert Act created a similar 
Federal program that filters information and transmits relevant details 
to the appropriate authorities as quickly as possible. Just as with 
missing and abducted children, timely notification and dissemination of 
appropriate information about missing seniors greatly improves the 
chances that they will be found before they are seriously harmed. 
Silver Alert plans use the same infrastructure as Amber Alert plans, so 
this Act enables us to protect another vulnerable group in our 
population, at very little additional cost.
  Over half of States have responded to the problem of missing seniors 
by establishing Silver Alert plans. These plans have created public 
notification systems triggered by the report of a missing senior. 
Postings on highways, radio, television, and other forms of media 
broadcast information about the missing senior to locate him or her, 
and return the senior safely home.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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