[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 121 (Tuesday, September 11, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H5787-H5790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CHILD AND ELDERLY MISSING ALERT PROGRAM

  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4305) to authorize the Attorney General to provide a grant 
to assist Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies in 
the rapid recovery of missing individuals, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4305

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Child and Elderly Missing 
     Alert Program''.

     SEC. 2. PROGRAM TO ASSIST FEDERAL, STATE, TRIBAL, AND LOCAL 
                   LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE RAPID RECOVERY 
                   OF MISSING CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY, AND DISABLED 
                   INDIVIDUALS.

       Section 1701 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and 
     Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796dd) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--

[[Page H5788]]

       (A) in paragraph (16), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (B) in paragraph (17), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(18) to permit eligible nonprofit organizations to assist 
     Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies in 
     the rapid recovery of missing children, elderly individuals, 
     and disabled individuals through the use of a rapid telephone 
     and cellular alert call system, in accordance with subsection 
     (l).''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(l) Child and Elderly Missing Alerts.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Attorney General is authorized to 
     award grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to assist 
     Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies in 
     the rapid recovery of missing children, elderly individuals, 
     and disabled individuals through the use of a rapid telephone 
     and cellular alert call system.
       ``(2) Specified use of funds.--The grants awarded under 
     this subsection shall be used to--
       ``(A) provide services to Federal, State, tribal, and local 
     law enforcement agencies, in response to a request from such 
     agencies, to promote the rapid recovery of a missing child, 
     an elderly individual, or a disabled individual by utilizing 
     rapid telephone and cellular alert calls;
       ``(B) maintain and expand technologies and techniques to 
     ensure the highest level of performance of such services;
       ``(C) provide both centralized and on-site training and 
     distribute information to Federal, State, tribal, and local 
     law enforcement agency officials about missing children, 
     elderly individuals, and disabled individuals and use of a 
     rapid telephone and cellular alert call system;
       ``(D) provide services to Federal, State, tribal, and local 
     Child Abduction Response Teams;
       ``(E) assist Federal, State, tribal, and local law 
     enforcement agencies to combat human trafficking through the 
     use of rapid telephone and cellular alert calls;
       ``(F) share appropriate information on cases with the 
     National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the AMBER 
     Alert, Silver Alert, and Blue Alert programs, and appropriate 
     Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies; 
     and
       ``(G) assist appropriate organizations, including Federal, 
     State, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies, with 
     education and prevention programs related to missing 
     children, elderly individuals, and disabled individuals.
       ``(3) Eligibility.--To be an eligible nonprofit 
     organization for purposes of a grant under this subsection, a 
     nonprofit organization shall have experience providing rapid 
     telephone and cellular alert calls on behalf of Federal, 
     State, and local law enforcement agencies to find missing 
     children and elderly adults.
       ``(4) Grant period and renewal.--The Attorney General shall 
     determine an appropriate grant period for grants awarded 
     under this subsection. Such grants may be renewed at the 
     discretion of the Attorney General.
       ``(5) Evaluation.--The Attorney General shall require each 
     grantee under this subsection to annually submit the results 
     of the monitoring and evaluations required under subsections 
     (a) and (b) of section 1705, and shall publish an annual 
     report regarding such results and the effectiveness of the 
     activities carried out under each such grant.
       ``(6) Inapplicable provisions.--The following provisions of 
     this part shall not apply to grants awarded under this 
     subsection:
       ``(A) Subsection (j) of this section (relating to grants to 
     Indian tribes).
       ``(B) Section 1703 (relating to renewal of grants).
       ``(7) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       ``(A) Child.--The term `child' means an individual under 21 
     years of age.
       ``(B) Disabled individual.--The term `disabled individual' 
     means--
       ``(i) an individual with 1 or more disabilities (as defined 
     in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 
     (42 U.S.C. 12102)); or
       ``(ii) an individual who has been diagnosed by a physician 
     or other qualified medical professional with Alzheimer's 
     disease or a related dementia.
       ``(C) Elderly individual.--The term `elderly individual' 
     means an individual who is 60 years of age or older.
       ``(D) Missing.--The term `missing', with respect to a 
     child, an elderly individual, or a disabled individual, means 
     such a child or individual who has been reported to law 
     enforcement as missing and whose whereabouts are unknown to 
     Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies.
       ``(E) Rapid telephone and cellular alert call system.--The 
     term `rapid telephone and cellular alert call system' means 
     an automated system with the ability to place at least 1,000 
     telephone and cellular calls in 60 seconds to a specific 
     geographic area determined by law enforcement--
       ``(i) based on the last known whereabouts of a missing 
     individual; or
       ``(ii) based on other evidence and determined by such law 
     enforcement agency to be necessary to the search for the 
     missing individual.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Chabot) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CHABOT. 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 materials on H.R. 4305, as amended, currently 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded not to traffic the 
well.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 4305, a commonsense, bipartisan bill which 
would increase resources for local law enforcement to aid in the 
recovery of missing children and elderly adults. I would also like to 
thank my colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch), for his 
diligent work on this bill.
  Every 40 seconds, a child goes missing. Throughout the United States, 
an average of 2,000 children under the age of 18 are reported missing 
every day, and as many as 800,000 each year are reported missing. 
Although many of our children are at risk, the risk for children living 
with autism is even greater. About one in four parents of children 
living with autism spectrum disorders have reported that their children 
have gone missing long enough to cause significant concern about their 
safety. In addition, health care reports show three out of five 
Americans living with Alzheimer's disease will sometimes wander from 
their locations and may be unable to find their way back home.
  The need to locate missing children and seniors in some instances in 
the first hours of the disappearance is vital. Unfortunately, most law 
enforcement agencies lack the appropriate resources to knock on every 
door in the community in every unfortunate crisis.

                              {time}  1450

  Further, although the Amber Alert and Silver Alert are sometimes 
successful alert programs, there remains a crucial lapse of time 
between the point when a child or elderly adult is first reported 
missing and when one of these services can be utilized. This important 
legislation would help solve this problem by employing targeted 
telephone and cellular alerts within minutes of a missing person report 
to residents and businesses in the area where the person was last seen. 
In fact, as many as 1,000 calls can be made in merely 60 seconds, a 
vital asset in reaching the greatest number of neighbors in the early, 
critical moments of a search.
  Targeted alert programs are typically available to law enforcement 
nationwide, and they're multilingual. The regional databases used for 
alerts can take years to build and contain an accumulation of public 
residential telephone numbers, as well as volunteered cellular phone 
numbers. These programs are able to utilize computer mapping and 
enhanced satellite imagery to select the targeted calling area.
  To date, as many as 8,500 law enforcement agencies have received 
training with targeted alert programs. My legislation would support 
these programs which assist Federal, State, and local law enforcement 
agencies in the rapid recovery of missing children and elderly persons 
while saving tax dollars. The automated alert systems are free for 
local law enforcement to use, saving thousands of dollars on a 
traditional search which could require as many as 10 officers on the 
ground at any one time.
  A recent success story in my district highlights the value of a 
targeted telephone and cellular alert program. On February 1 of this 
year, a 9-year-old girl was reported missing from her home after she 
went to walk her dog and did not return. Sergeant Beavers of the 
Hamilton County Sheriff's Department in Cincinnati contacted A Child is 
Missing and provided the girl's description to be distributed via a 
telephone alert. Nearly 1,700 alert calls were made asking that anyone 
with information contact the police. According to the case follow-up 
report after the alert was activated, several calls were received 
immediately, some containing valuable tips. The police used these tips 
to locate the girl safely approximately one-half mile away from her 
home in less than an hour after the activation of the alert.

[[Page H5789]]

  When it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, it's 
important that we first equip our law enforcement at the local level. 
H.R. 4305 would facilitate the partnership of privately run programs 
with law enforcement and members of the community to safely recover 
missing individuals, whether they're minors or whether they be, in the 
case of Alzheimer's, for example, senior citizens.
  I urge my colleagues to support this straightforward, bipartisan 
legislation.
  Once again, I would like to thank Mr. Deutch for his leadership on 
this issue, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4305, the Child and Elderly 
Missing Alert Program. This important measure will assist law 
enforcement agencies to address the terrifying experience of when a 
child, elderly person, or other family member or friend goes missing.
  The number of individuals that go missing each year is staggering. 
For example, a child goes missing almost every 40 seconds in the United 
States. That's about 800,000 children reported missing every year.
  The adults suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other forms of 
dementia also become missing persons. These diseases cause many of 
their suffers to become disoriented and lost; and because of their 
condition, these individuals are often unable to assist first 
responders in finding their way back to their caregivers. It is 
currently estimated that about 5\1/2\ million Americans suffer from 
Alzheimer's disease. In about 2050, that number may go up to 16 
million.
  Locating a missing individual must be done quickly. Research has 
shown that time is of the essence with missing persons. The first hours 
of disappearance are the most vital. According to a study by the 
attorney general of Washington State and the U.S. Department of 
Justice, 74 percent of children abducted and murdered were killed 
within the first 3 hours. Half of the elderly adults who wander from 
their homes suffer serious injury or death if not found within 24 
hours. Accordingly, alerts to law enforcement in those crucial first 
few hours after a person goes missing is obviously very critical.
  H.R. 4305 facilitates targeting telephone and cellular alerts to 
residents and businesses in the area where the person was last seen. 
The residents and businesses are able to opt out if they choose to, but 
most of the people obviously want this information.
  H.R. 4305 will help provide meaningful aid to law enforcement in 
recovering missing children, elderly people, and the disabled. I urge 
my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time. We have no additional speakers at this time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch).
  Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia.
  I rise today to urge passage of H.R. 4305, the Child and Elderly 
Missing Alert Program Act of 2012.
  This bill, which I had the pleasure of introducing with my friend, 
Mr. Chabot of Ohio, will help law enforcement agencies nationwide 
safely recover missing children and elderly adults.
  As Mr. Chabot highlighted, every 40 seconds a child goes missing in 
America, with over 800,000 children reported each and every year. The 
panic that takes over when a child cannot be found is a feeling that 
every parent hopes and prays they will never have to experience.
  We know that every second is precious. In fact, in tragic cases 
involving abducted and murdered children, research supported by the 
Department of Justice shows that 74 percent were slain within the first 
3 hours. Likewise, the families of adults suffering from Alzheimer's 
disease or another form of dementia feel that same anxiety when a loved 
one goes missing. They're not just in danger of injury, but of going 
too long without medications that they rely on. In fact, half of 
elderly adults who wander from their residences suffer serious injuries 
or death if not located within 24 hours.
  Though the Amber Alert and Silver Alert programs are invaluable tools 
for law enforcement to alert communities of missing persons, too often 
they're not activated until precious time has passed. Whether young or 
old, we know that the ability to locate missing persons within the 
first few hours of their disappearance is vital.
  By passing H.R. 4305, we can help law enforcement agencies nationwide 
employ technology pioneered by Sherry Friedlander, a south Florida 
woman who started an organization called A Child is Missing. A Child is 
Missing helps police and rescue teams get the word out fast. It is the 
only organization that assists in all types of missing cases, including 
abductions, runaways, or individuals that lose their way.
  When a person is reported missing to law enforcement, A Child is 
Missing utilizes the latest satellite technology to place 1,000 
emergency phone calls every 60 seconds to residents and businesses in 
the area where the person was last seen. In fact, just this year, A 
Child is Missing marked its 1,000th successfully assisted recovery. 
This proven technology works, and it saves lives. By passing this 
legislation, we can help law enforcement successfully recover missing 
persons nationwide.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would just like to conclude by saying that this is, I think, a very 
important program. Every parent I think is always afraid of that 
potential nightmare that one of their children goes missing. All of us 
that have senior grandparents, for example, know how prevalent 
Alzheimer's can be in the senior community. This is a program that can 
help those at a very early age and those later in their lives. I think 
it's a great program. I urge my colleagues to support it.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman 
Lamar Smith and Ranking Member John Conyers for advancing this bill 
through the Judiciary Committee. And, I'd like to offer my appreciation 
and thanks to my friend Congressman Steve Chabot for introducing the 
Child and Elderly Missing Alert Program Act.
  This is a very innovative and timely program, utilizing telephone and 
cellular alerts to help in the rapid recovery of missing children, 
elderly individuals, and the disabled. The bill specifically includes 
within the definition of disabled those diagnosed with Alzheimer's 
disease. As we know cellular phones are ubiquitous and expanding the 
use of that technology in missing persons programs promises to greatly 
increase the programs' effectiveness.
  As a co-chairman of congressional caucuses for both Alzheimer's 
disease and autism, I am familiar with the widespread occurrence and 
the dangers of wandering for these populations. Sixty percent of the 
millions of Alzheimer's sufferers wander at some point in their 
illness, many are habitual wanderers. Most of us are also well aware of 
the skyrocketing rates of autism, and again wandering is a serious 
concern.
  But this bill will assist Federal, State, local, and tribal law 
enforcement in their efforts to help so many other individuals 
including victims of family abduction and victims of abduction for 
sexual exploitation. As the author of the first federal law to combat 
human trafficking, I am grateful that Mr. Chabot's legislation 
specifically provides for grants to combat human trafficking. Human 
trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry that touches every 
country in the world, including the United States. Victims, primarily 
women and children are stripped of their dignity, robbed of their human 
rights, and forced into bondage and sexual servitude.
  This legislation increases the likelihood that the disabled wanderer 
will be found and reunited safely with his or her loved ones. It will 
help runaways to be reunited with their families or at least to be 
provided a safe environment. And it will make it much more difficult 
for family abductors and human traffickers to avoid detection and to 
rescue their victims.
  I thank Mr. Chabot, and I encourage all of my colleagues to vote for 
this legislation.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4305, the Child and Elderly 
Missing Alert Program, was introduced by my Judiciary Committee 
colleague, Mr. Chabot. I thank him for his work on this issue.

[[Page H5790]]

  A child goes missing in this country every 40 seconds. Almost 800,000 
children are reported missing each year and 500,000 go missing without 
ever being reported.
  In many cases of missing children, the AMBER Alert system is 
activated to help law enforcement and community search efforts.
  However, in order to issue an AMBER Alert for a missing child, law 
enforcement officials must have a description of the child, the 
suspect, the vehicle if there is one and how the abduction took place. 
Additionally, they must be able to confirm that the child has in fact 
been abducted and did not simply wander off on their own.
  Without evidence of an abduction, law enforcement officers cannot 
issue an AMBER Alert. This is where programs like the Child and Elderly 
Missing Alert Program step in.
  Experience shows that time is of the essence when searching for 
missing persons--particularly young children and the elderly.
  H.R. 4305 would allow funding under the Justice Department's 
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant program to go toward 
rapid recovery phone call and alert systems that can be deployed when 
children and elderly persons are missing.
  Such programs complement the AMBER Alert program by quickly 
disseminating information about missing persons within targeted 
geographic areas even when the information available is minimal.
  Having a child, elderly or disabled loved one go missing is any 
family's worst nightmare. H.R. 4305 provides a critical tool in the 
efforts to find missing persons.
  I again thank the gentleman from Ohio for his work on this issue and 
I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Westmoreland). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4305, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________