On Wednesday, USA Today posted an article about the growing need for the implementation of a Silver Alert system. Gus' bill was highlighted as a potential solution.

From USA Today...

To encourage more states to establish programs — including his own — Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., has introduced the Silver Alert Grant Program Act of 2008, which would pay out at least $100,000 for each state that creates a program for seniors modeled after the AMBER Alert system.

The bill is pending in the House Judiciary Committee, Bilirakis said. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. The push for it is prompting Florida legislators to plan to discuss a state bill when they reconvene in January, said Bilirakis' spokeswoman, Liz Hittos.

"This seems like a no-brainer," Bilirakis says. "We have a model to go by — the AMBER Alert system. There's no reason not to pass this."

On Tuesday, July 15th, The House Committee on Judiciary's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security will hold a hearing on Gus' legislation (H.R. 5898).