[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 18]
[House]
[Pages 25246-25247]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT A DAY OUGHT 
  TO BE ESTABLISHED TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE ISSUE OF MISSING PERSONS

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 303) expressing the sense of the House 
of Representatives that a day ought to be established to bring 
awareness to the issue of missing persons.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 303

       Whereas each year tens of thousands of people go missing in 
     the United States;
       Whereas, on any given day, there are as many as 100,000 
     active missing persons cases in the United States;
       Whereas the Missing Persons File of the National Crime 
     Information Center (NCIC) was implemented in 1975;
       Whereas, in 2005, 109,531 persons were reported missing to 
     law enforcement agencies nationwide, of whom 11,868 were 
     between the ages of 18 and 20;
       Whereas section 204 of the PROTECT Act, known as Suzanne's 
     Law and passed by Congress on April 10, 2003, modifies 
     section 3701(a) of the Crime Control Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
     5779(a)), so that agencies must enter records into the NCIC 
     database for all missing persons under the age of 21;
       Whereas Kristen's Act (42 U.S.C. 14665), passed in 1999, 
     has established grants for organizations to, among other 
     things, track missing persons and provide informational 
     services to families and the public;
       Whereas, according to the NCIC, 48,639 missing persons were 
     located in 2005, an improvement of 4.2 percent from the 
     previous year;
       Whereas many persons reported missing may be victims of 
     Alzheimer's disease or other health-related issues, or may be 
     victims of foul play;
       Whereas, regardless of age or circumstances, all missing 
     persons have families who need support and guidance to endure 
     the days, months, or years they may spend searching for their 
     missing loved ones; and
       Whereas it is important to applaud the committed efforts of 
     families, law enforcement agencies, and concerned citizens 
     who work to locate missing persons and to prevent all forms 
     of victimization: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that--
       (1) a day ought to be established to bring awareness to the 
     issue of missing persons; and
       (2) the people of the United States should be encouraged 
     to--
       (A) observe the day with appropriate programs and 
     activities; and
       (B) support worthy initiatives and increased efforts to 
     locate missing persons.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she might 
consume to the sponsor of this resolution, Representative Kirsten 
Gillibrand.
  Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Davis for his 
support of this resolution and for generously yielding.
  I've introduced House Resolution 303 in order to allow all Americans 
to honor and reflect on the number of Americans who remain missing, and 
to remember their families and loved ones who hope and pray every day 
for their safe return.

                              {time}  1430

  This issue is especially significant for my constituents. On March 2, 
1998, Suzanne Lyall, a 19-year-old sophomore at SUNY Albany, was 
kidnapped and never seen again. This crime captivated the country's 
attention and has left a permanent mark on the community that I serve. 
Over 9 years later, her case remains unsolved.
  Tragically, similar situations occur every day in America. On any 
given day, there are as many as 100,000 active missing-person cases in 
the United States. In addition, missing-adult cases often go unreported 
in the media. Even though the first few days after a crime is committed 
are the most critical in solving a case, there can be significant 
delays in beginning the search for someone over the age of 18 who has 
gone missing. Sadly, in New York there are over 3,500 missing-person 
cases, including nearly 1,400 cases involving New Yorkers over the age 
of 18.
  Furthermore, the statistics show that a disproportionate number of 
adults reported missing are college-aged women. Currently in New York 
State, over two-thirds of the college-aged individuals reported missing 
are female, and this group also makes up approximately half of all 
missing adults. It is important that the Federal Government partners 
with local law enforcement to protect young women as they attend 
college or enter the workforce.
  I am honored to represent Suzanne's parents, Doug and Mary, who are 
leaders in New York and around the country in bringing attention to 
crimes involving young adults. They have used their personal nightmare 
to assist other parents and families who have had loved ones go 
missing. They founded the Center for Hope, an organization with the 
mission of providing resources to educate, assist, and support families 
and friends to cope with the disappearance of a loved one. The center 
works with the New York State and Federal Government to improve our 
laws in order to prevent future abductions.
  In 1983, President Reagan established May 25 as the National Missing 
Children's Day, and last May Americans marked the 25th National Missing 
Children's Day. This important day is set aside to draw attention to 
children who are still missing, whether they have been missing for a 
few days or for decades.
  Yet a day has not yet been set aside to remember those Americans who 
are over the age of 18 and are missing from their families. With over 
100,000 Americans unaccounted for, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, 
sons, and daughters, a day must be established to remind the public of 
those missing and our country's dedication to solving their cases and, 
hopefully, reuniting them with families and loved ones.
  In 2001, former Governor George Pataki established April 6, Suzanne's 
birthday, as the State's Missing Persons Day in New York. It is my hope 
that this date can also become the national day of remembrance for all 
missing Americans. This day will allow Americans to appropriately 
remember the victims, their families, and the efforts of local law 
enforcement and the community.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in unanimously 
approving this resolution and that the President will soon establish a 
day to bring awareness to the issue of missing persons.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  House Resolution 303 establishes a day to bring awareness to the 
issues surrounding missing persons. I congratulate the sponsor on this 
bill.
  Each year tens of thousands of people go missing in the United 
States. Probably there isn't a day goes by that some newspaper doesn't 
report either a child or adult that is missing. It is a national crisis 
affecting thousands of families. I think these families struggle 
through the loss and pain of losing their loved ones and often need 
support and guidance during the search for their missing friends or 
family members.
  Through effective legislation, grants have been provided to our 
organizations tasked with tracking missing persons and provide much-
needed support services to families. Legislation has also ensured that 
agencies are able to

[[Page 25247]]

keep updated databases on missing persons. It's important that we take 
time to recognize and applaud the work of law enforcement agencies, 
concerned citizens, and, of course, the families who unite together to 
find their loved ones and support prevention efforts.
  I urge the passage of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H. 
Res. 303, a resolution expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that a day ought to be established to bring awareness 
to the issue of missing persons.
  H. Res. 303, which has 58 cosponsors, was introduced by 
Representative Kirsten Gillibrand on April 17, 2007. H. Res. 303 was 
reported from the Oversight Committee on September 20, 2007, by voice 
vote.
  Mr. Speaker, reports of missing persons have increased sixfold in the 
past 25 years, from roughly 150,000 people in 1980 to about 900,000 
this year. The CourtTV's Crime Library estimates that 2,300 people are 
reported missing every day in America.
  I support establishing a day to bring awareness to the issue of 
missing persons. We should all reflect to remember the victims, their 
families, and local law enforcement and community volunteers who help 
search for missing individuals. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, even 
as we speak, in my city in the area where I live, there is a young 
woman who has been missing now for several days, and it has created a 
tremendous outpouring of empathy and sympathy on the part of the people 
for her parents and other family members who are searching diligently, 
hoping and praying that she will be found safely.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Kirsten 
Gillibrand, for introducing this legislation and urge its swift 
passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 303.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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