[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21064]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


           NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NICK LAMPSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 25, 2007

  Mr. LAMPSON. Madam Speaker, as you heard, Congresswoman Biggert and I 
had planned to offer an amendment today that would have designated $34 
million for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 
However, we weren't able to do so, because $34 million exceeds the 
Center's current authorization.
  This gives me an opportunity to discuss the importance of the work of 
the National Center and the need for increasing funding for the Center.
  Since its creation in 1984, the Center has played a critical role in 
locating and protecting children. The Center is a primary component of 
the Missing and Exploited Children's Program and employs over 300 
employees at its Alexandria, VA headquarters and regional offices in 
California, Florida, Kansas, New York, and South Carolina. These 
regional offices provide case management and technical support in their 
geographic areas. An Austin, TX office is scheduled to open this 
summer.
  The Center provides activities and services concerning (1) missing 
children, including those abducted to or from the United States; (2) 
exploited children; (3) training and technical assistance; (4) families 
of missing children; and (5) partnerships with State clearinghouses, 
the private sector, and children's organizations. In addition to 
funding through the missing and exploited children's program, the 
center is funded through contributions and the United States Secret 
Service, pursuant to Public Law 103-322.
  As two of the four cochairs of the Congressional Missing and 
Exploited Children's Caucus, we hope that our colleagues will join us 
in cosponsoring H.R. 2517, the Protecting Our Children Comes First Act 
of 2007, to reauthorize the center from 2008 through 2013. 
Authorization for appropriations for the Center, under our bill, would 
increase from $20 million to $50 million, while funding for the Missing 
and Exploited Children program would remain constant.
  Again, the importance of the work performed by folks at the National 
Center cannot be underestimated.

                          ____________________