Congressman Bilirakis has introduced legislation that would establish a national grant program to help U.S. states and territories establish ‘Silver Alert’ notification systems to locate missing individuals suffering from Alzheimer's and other dementia-related illnesses.

UPDATE 2/11/09:  The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation (H.R. 632) that includes key portions of a bill sponsored by Gus to create a federal grant program to help states establish silver alert notification systems to help find missing seniors. Read More...

UPDATE 1/23/09: Rep. Bilirakis Calls for National Silver Alert Program once again in the 111th Congress. Read More...

UPDATE 9/18/08: The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation (H.R. 6064) that includes key portions of a bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.) to create a federal grant program to help states establish silver alert notification systems to help find missing seniors.  Read More...

UPDATE 7/15/08: The Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security of the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on H.R. 5898, the "Silver Alert Grant Program Act of 2008." Read More...

Legislative Resources

• Download: Section-by-Section Summary of H.R. 5898 (in .PDF format)
• Download: Full Text of H.R. 5898 (in .PDF format)
• View: Legislative Digest of H.R. 5898 on THOMAS (THOMAS)
• Press Release: Entire Florida Delegation Gets behind Silver Alert Bill
• Press Release: Rep. Bilirakis Introduces Bill Creating Silver Alert Grant Program
• Blog Post: Florida Silver Alert Moves Closer
• Blog Post: Silver Alert Saves Lives in Texas
• Blog Post: Another Alzheimer's Sufferer Goes Missing, Later Found
• Blog Post: National Silver Alert Grant Program Could Save Lives
• Download: CRS Report on Amber Alert Technology (in .PDF format)

In the News

Stories on H.R. 5898

• St. Petersburg Times: Alert for missing seniors sought
• St. Petersburg Times: Silver Alert offers valuable tool when seniors are missing  
• USA Today: Silver Alerts could help pinpoint missing seniors' location
• The Tampa Tribune: Lawmakers To Consider Creating a Silver Alert for Seniors
• The State-Banner: Kelly plans to file bill creating Silver Alert system
• Bay News 9: New support for Silver Alert system
• WTSP-TV (CBS 10): Bilirakis wants Silver Alert for Florida
• The Chicago Tribune: An Amber Alert for seniors?
• Florida Today: Editorial: Finding the missing
• St. Petersburg Times: Death prompts 'Silver Alert' bill
• WFTS ABC Action News: Bill to create Silver Alert Program introduced to lawmakers
• Stateline.org: When an elder goes missing, seven states can trigger Silver Alerts

Stories on May Zelter

• The Tampa Tribune: Silver Alert Is 'Great Idea For Florida'
• St. Petersburg Times: Search for missing woman, 86, widens across nation
• ABC News: Could an Amber Alert for Seniors Help?
• St. Petersburg Times: Body pulled from water identified as missing Largo woman
• The Tampa Tribune: Family Of Dead Woman Advocates Alert System For Missing Elderly
• St. Petersburg Times: Police find Largo woman, but few answers
• St. Petersburg Times: Missing 86-year-old Largo woman drowned

Stories on 'Silver Alert'

• USA Today: Editorial: Bright ideas on public health
• Prime Time Radio, AARP's Weekly National Hour-Long Program: Silver Alert Feature
  
• St. Petersburg Times: Florida's Silver Alert spurs a national plan
  
• St. Petersburg Times: U.S. House passes Silver Alert to find seniors
• St. Petersburg Times: Silver Alert provides valuable tool at critical times
  
• St. Petersburg Times: Largo tragedy gives rise to new Silver Alert system
• St. Petersburg Times: Silver Alert offers valuable tool when seniors are missing
• The Tampa Tribune: Pinellas Officials Relish Coming Of Silver Alert System
• Bay New 9: U.S. House passes National Silver Alert Act
• Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Texas' 'silver alert' system has helped find missing seniors
• Associated Press: State's 'Silver Alert' program successfully finds seniors
• The News & Observer: Questions linger in elderly man's death
• KTNV ABC Action News: Group Works To Get Silver Alert Program In Nevada
• The Register-Herald: ‘Silver Alert’ proposed to find missing seniors
• KHOU-TV 11 News: Silver Alert saves lives
• Associated Press: NJ lawmakers advance bill to establish 'Silver Alert' to find lost seniors
• Charlotte Observer: Lt. Gov: SC needs an alert system to quickly find older adults who wander off