[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 3 (Monday, January 22, 1996)]
[Pages 78-79]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the Memorandum on Missing Persons and Missing 
Children

January 19, 1996

    Every parent knows that their children are the most important thing 
in their lives. We cherish them, we invest our hopes in them, and when 
they fall victim to harm, it can be the most wrenching experience of 
all. For every parent, one of the most horrible things imaginable is the 
disappearance of a child. We must do whatever we can to help parents in 
these situations find their children.
    Every year, approximately 300 children are abducted by strangers. 
Just yesterday, we heard news of a terrible tragedy in Texas, where a 
young girl was found murdered, after she had been missing for 5 days. We 
must do everything we can to stop this from happening again. Time is the 
enemy in abduction cases--and the most important tool we have against it 
is making sure information gets out to the public.
    The Federal Government, through the FBI and other law enforcement 
agencies, is doing its part to help State and local law enforcement 
investigate these cases and disseminate information as quickly as 
possible.

[[Page 79]]

    But it is critical that the FBI be notified within 48 hours of the 
abduction. In 6 out of 10 recent cases, the FBI learned of the abduction 
from TV reports. We've got to do better. And we will.
    Nearly all 16,000 police departments around the country have the 
capacity, through a state-of-the-art computer system, to report missing 
persons to the FBI. I have asked the Attorney General to make it the 
highest priority to make sure this system works as quickly as possible.
    The Federal Government already works with States to establish 
clearinghouses for information on missing children. The National Center 
for Missing and Exploited Children, funded by the Justice Department, 
has helped establish clearinghouses in 47 States plus the District of 
Columbia. The Center also funds Project Alert, which uses the expertise 
of volunteer retired police officers to help search for missing 
children.
    Now, it is time to do more to help families beat the race against 
time in searching for their missing children. Federal offices come into 
contact with thousands of citizens and workers every day. That gives the 
Federal Government a unique role to play in the search for missing 
children.
    Today, I will sign an executive memorandum directing all agency 
heads to take the necessary actions to allow the posting of photos of 
missing children in Federal buildings. This Presidential action also 
directs agencies to appoint an action officer to maintain the space for 
these notices.
    This memorandum is just one step--but it's a step in the right 
direction. There is more we can do--and we will.
    The Federal Government is doing its part. But we know that the key 
to finding missing children is within their own communities. When these 
terrifying abductions occur, we have seen communities band together to 
distribute flyers, interview potential witnesses, and support the 
families. Unfortunately, sometimes a terrible tragedy brings out the 
very best in our communities and our country.
    If we love our children, then we must do everything we can to help 
when they are in harm's way. Every one of us must take responsibility to 
do what they can to help find our missing children. Please look twice at 
the photos of missing children you see in the mail, on your milk 
cartons, and now, in Federal buildings across the country. Everyone can 
make a difference--and everyone has an obligation to try.