[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3120]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 911, A BILL TO AWARD THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL 
                             TO JOHN WALSH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 7, 2001

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to introduce, along 
with 17 of my colleagues, a bill that will recognize John Walsh, a true 
American hero, for his efforts in fighting crime, reuniting families, 
and bringing criminals to justice.
  In February of 1988, ``America's Most Wanted'' premiered on seven 
local television stations across the United States. Since then, the 
show has profiled more than 1,500 fugitives, leading to the capture of 
over 1,000 of them. His weekly profiles of missing children on 
``America's Most Wanted'' have led to the reunion of thirty missing 
children and their families.
  Leading this aggressive attack on crime has been John Walsh, a man 
who has taken his own personal tragedy--the abduction and murder of his 
six-year-old son Adam--and used it as the inspiration to rededicate his 
life to helping children and to making America a safer place.
  When six of the seven recent Texas prison escapees were apprehended 
(with the seventh committing suicide before being caught) in the 
foothills of the Rocky Mountains this past January, authorities were as 
quick to give credit as they were in making the capture. El Paso County 
(Colorado) Sheriff John Anderson noted that a ``couple who had become 
acquainted with some of the escapees saw a segment on them on 
`America's Most Wanted' on Saturday night and wondered whether their 
new friends were some of the escapees.'' The couple subsequently tipped 
off the authorities and the captures were made soon thereafter.
  The drama that played out was something that most of the people of 
Woodland Park, Colorado had never seen before, but one that people who 
are familiar with ``America's Most Wanted'' and host John Walsh's 
commitment to law enforcement have seen time and time again. And though 
best known for his work on ``America's Most Wanted,'' John Walsh's work 
with law enforcement agencies throughout the nation is equally notable. 
In 1988 he was named the U.S. Marshals ``Man Of The Year,'' and two 
years later received the FBI's highest civilian award. He is the only 
private citizen to receive a Special Recognition Award by a U.S. 
Attorney General. And he has been honored in the Rose Garden four times 
by three different presidents. John Walsh has sacrificed his personal 
safety for the safety and security of all Americans.
  In addition, his hard work aided the passage of the Missing Children 
Act of 1982 and the Missing Children's Assistance Act of 1984, the 
latter of which founded the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children.
  Mr. Speaker, John Walsh's tireless efforts have helped to raise a 
level of awareness of crime and victims here in the United States, and 
I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation 
and commending John Walsh for his enduring contributions to law 
enforcement and the safety and well-being of our nation's children.

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