SEN. MENENDEZ INTRODUCES MISSING CHILDREN'S BILL IN THE SENATE

Washington, D.C. –U.S Senator Robert Menendez today introduced the, “A Child is Missing Alert and Recovery Center Act,” to help in the search for missing children and adults with special needs.  The legislation would establish a national A Child is Missing Alert and Recovery Center with regional centers. It would also provide $5 million in annual grants to expand the already successful A Child is Missing program which generates 1000 calls every 60 seconds and is credited with over 300 safe-assisted recoveries. A bipartisan and bicameral effort, the legislation was introduced in the House earlier this month by U.S. Representatives Ron Klein (D-FL) and Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI).

“We have a great opportunity to help parents in this country breathe a little easier knowing that there are effective resources available to them if, God forbid, their child were to go missing,” said Sen. Menendez. “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. I will work to encourage my Senate colleagues to support this legislation."

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.