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(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - U.S. Representatives Ron Klein (FL-22), Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) joined today to announce the “A Child Is Missing Alert and Recovery Center Act of 2007,” which would help in the search for missing children and adults with special needs. The legislation would expand the successful A Child Is Missing program, which is credited with over 300 safe-assisted recoveries, to establish a national A Child Is Missing Alert and Recovery Center with regional centers under the Department of Justice, and would be funded through annual grants of $5 million. Reps. Klein and Sensenbrenner introduced the legislation this week in the House, and Sen. Menendez said he will introduce it in the Senate when that chamber is back in session beginning February 25.
“This legislation speaks to what makes our country great: one American helping another in a time of need,” says Rep. Klein. “Whereas this would have involved knocking on your neighbor’s door fifty years ago, now we can take advantage of the latest satellite and telephone technology to the locate the missing person, often within the critical three-hour window that can determine whether a child lives or dies. And we don’t have to reinvent the wheel to do this. The A Child Is Missing program is already a success in South Florida; what we’re doing is providing the dedicated resources and funding to help bring it to every community across the country.”
“As the former Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and author of the PROTECT Act, my work on behalf of missing children, and against sexual predators, is well known,” said Rep. Sensenbrenner. “I am proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 5464, as this bill will help to locate not only missing children, but adults as well. When it comes to finding missing people, it is imperative that we move quickly, using all of the resources we have. H.R. 5464 increases the presence and availability of ACIM alerts, which have proven to be an effective resource in locating missing people.”
"The notion of a child going missing sends chills down the spines of parents all across the country," Sen. Menendez stated. "These parents deserve to have the peace of mind of knowing that every step imaginable is being taken to ensure the safe return of their son or daughter. This legislation will brighten the searchlight used by law enforcement in order to increase the chances that these unthinkable situations ultimately have a happy ending."
A Child Is Missing (ACIM) is the only program of its kind that assists in all missing cases involving abduction, children who are lost, wander or run away, the elderly (Alzheimer's), and mentally and physically challenged individuals. When a person is reported missing to the police, ACIM utilizes the latest technology to place 1,000 emergency calls every 60 seconds to residents and businesses in the area where the person was last seen. ACIM works in concert with the Amber Alert and all child safety programs, and has the support of law enforcement agencies all across the country, including the National Sheriff’s Association and the National Chief’s Association.
A Child Is Missing also fills a critical gap in time. Although the Amber Alert has been an extremely successful program, there is still a crucial void from when a child is first reported missing and when an Amber Alert, which is activated only in cases of abduction, can be issued (about 3-5 hours). Moreover, many local law enforcement offices have scant resources and manpower to conduct searches that can cost as much as $400,000 over twelve hours.
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