Saratoga Springs, NY- Today, local Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand’s office announced that she will be attending and speaking at the 7th Annual New York State Missing Persons Day, on Sunday, April 6, 2008 at approximately 1:45pm at The New York State Museum Cultural Education Center in Albany.

In 2001, former Governor Pataki established April 6th as Missing Persons Day, in remembrance of Suzanne Lyall who went missing March 2, 1998 while a sophomore at SUNY Albany. From this tragedy, Suzanne’s parents, Doug and Mary Lyall, established “The Center for HOPE”, a not for profit organization in New York State, “dedicated to providing resources to educate, assist and support families and friends coping with the ambiguous disappearance of a loved one”. 

Doug and Mary live in the congressional district Congresswoman Gillibrand represents and have worked closely with her in her first term in office.  Last July, at the Lyall’s urging, Congresswoman Gillibrand secured passage of House Resolution 303, which would establish a national day to honor and reflect on the number of Americans who remain missing.

Working again with the Lyall’s, Congresswoman Gillibrand has also passed an amendment to H.R. 4137, which reauthorized the Higher Education Act, requiring institutions of Higher Education to adopt a policy that outlines the working relationship of campus security personnel with State and local law enforcement agencies for the investigation of felonies or a report of a missing student.

In New York, there are over 3,500 missing person cases, including nearly 1,400 cases involving New Yorkers over the age of 18. Currently, in New York State, over two-thirds of college-aged individuals reported missing are female, this group also making up approximately half of all missing adults.

WHO:  Congresswoman Gillibrand, Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings, Albany County Executive Mike Breslin and Doug and Mary Lyall

WHAT: 7th Annual New York State’s Missing Persons Day

WHEN: Sunday, April 6, 2008
          1:45pm

WHERE: New York State Museum Cultural Education Center