| October 8, 2002 |
Congresswoman Kay Granger (TX-12) today voted for the Child Abduction Prevention Act which includes a nationwide AMBER Alert network. Last month, Granger joined Democratic Caucus Chair Martin Frost (TX-24) and Representative Jennifer Dunn (WA-08) to introduce bipartisan legislation to establish nationwide coordination for the AMBER Alert communications network.
A Senate companion bill introduced by Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Diane Feinstein (D-CA) was approved last month.
Congresswoman Granger stated, "We have to do everything we can to protect our children from violence. The AMBER Alert network has an excellent track record and this bill grows this successful program nationwide. This bill could save many children, but even if only one child is saved, the bill will be a success."
The AMBER Alert Act would establish a coordinator at the Department of Justice to implement state and local AMBER Plans and direct regional coordination between AMBER Alerts. It also provides grants to update technology, such as electronic road signs, to help spread alerts. Finally, it makes funding available for alert-related education, training and law enforcement programs and equipment.
The original AMBER Alert was created by North Texas law enforcement and broadcasters in 1997 after 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was abducted in Arlington, Texas, and murdered. Over the past 5 years, some 50 alerts have been issued in North Texas, helping recover at least 14 abducted children. Around the nation, 53 plans exist, and they have helped recover at least 27 children.