[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 86 (Thursday, May 24, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN DAY

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                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 24, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, protecting our children is one of the 
most important things that we can do for society. In 1983, President 
Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25th as National Missing Children's Day. 
There are very few situations more difficult than when a family member, 
especially a young child, disappears.
  As a former Judge and prosecutor, this is something that I saw first-
hand. What do you say to a parent of a missing child? Words are hard to 
find. 30 years ago, a missing child was akin to a death sentence. A 
child could be abducted, taken across state lines, and never be seen 
again. Our best method of locating a missing child was to plaster their 
images on the sides of milk cartons, encouraging our communities to be 
on the lookout--a stark reminder of how far we have come.
  Last year, in 2017, there were 464,324 children reported as missing 
in the United States. The statistics paint a grim picture. Of the 
nearly 25,00 runaways reported to the National Center for Missing and 
Exploited Children, one in seven were likely victims of human 
trafficking.
  As technology has evolved, so has the way in which we search for 
missing children. With today's technology, the likelihood of finding an 
abducted child has seen a sharp increase, mostly due to technological 
advances, social media, and the way in which searches are conducted.
  Before the creation of the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children, there were little or no resources available to assist law 
enforcement with the cases of missing children. In fact, there was no 
way for police to enter information about missing children into the 
FBI's national crime computer. Today, thanks to the work of this 
outstanding organization's work, this is no longer the case. Many 
children owe their rescue to the center, and many parents are grateful 
for the return of their kids.
  Mr. Speaker, as we observe National Missing Children's Day 2018, it 
is our duty to ensure that children of this country are protected from 
those who wish to do them harm.
  As we celebrate the good work that the National Center for Missing 
and Exploited Children does, we pray for those children who have not 
returned home.
  And that's just the way it is.

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