[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14896]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND 
                           EXPLOITED CHILDREN

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 11, 2009

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, on June 9, 2009, the National 
Center for Missing and Exploited Children celebrated its 25th 
anniversary. I stand here today to express my gratitude to an 
organization that continues to help so many children all across this 
nation.
  In 1984, President Ronald Regan established the National Center for 
Missing and Exploited Children. Twenty-five years later, the center has 
a missing child recovery rate of 97 percent. Within my own district, 
the organization established The Adam Walsh Child Resource Center, 
having collected fingerprint data from over 50,000 children, providing 
help to victim parents, and creating victim prevention programs for 
south Florida--all steps towards making Florida and American families 
safer.
  A price cannot be placed upon the safety of our children and it is 
essential that, as lawmakers, we continue to support those 
organizations who strive to great lengths to protect America's youth. 
As a Member of Congress, it is imperative that we do everything in our 
power to ensure the safety and protection of our children.
  Madam Speaker, as national security threats continue to grow, 
threatening our freedom and livelihoods, we must recognize the domestic 
problems which threaten our society and always be vigilant of those who 
wish to cause harm to others. I applaud the National Center for Missing 
and Exploited Children whose efforts over the past twenty-five years 
have undoubtedly been at the forefront of keeping our children safer 
from abduction and sexual exploitation.

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