[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10979]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    5,172 MISSING CHILDREN ARE FOUND

  (Mr. POE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, the ladies of the gulf, Hurricanes Katrina and 
Rita, battered Louisiana and Texas, shattering families, scattering 
5,172 children across the country. In the darkness of the night, 
children disappeared from their families. Searchers only hoped and 
prayed that they would be found.
  Frantic parents upon arrival in safe harbors panicked because they 
were separated from their kids. While the hurricanes were a bad dream, 
losing their kids was a nightmare.
  This is when the child crusaders came together, without hesitation, 
launching into action, combing 50 States, searching among thousands of 
people. In the end, all 5,172 children were brought home. After 
hundreds of hours of manpower, success occurred because of the dogged 
determination of the National Center For Missing and Exploited 
Children.
  Through the tenacious work of peace officers and the tireless efforts 
of the U.S. Postal Service and thousands of nameless citizen 
volunteers, children were united with their parents. Yesterday, I was 
present at the White House when the First Lady honored these valid 
heroes. Demonstrating the face of tragedy is best met by strong hearts 
and iron wills, and people just taking care of people.
  And that's just the way it is.

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