"Over the past several months, our nation has been shocked and saddened as we have watched the seemingly endless news reports of abducted children - reports of children snatched from parking lots, their front yards, or even their own homes," Senator Collins said. "We have also seen first hand how effective Amber alert plans can be in bringing these children home safely."
The bill would create a matching grant program to states for the purchase of highway signage, education and training programs, and other equipment necessary to create a comprehensive national alert system.
The bill would also establish an Amber coordinator within the Department of Justice to enhance the operation of the Amber Alert communications for the recovery of abducted children. The coordinator's duties would include coordinating various Amber plans, eliminate gaps between Amber networks in various states, further developing the Amber network and establishing a voluntary minimum standard for coordination between various Amber plans.
Currently 16 states have Amber Alert systems. An additional 17 states are implementing statewide plans by the end of this year. The system is credited with helping to recover 27 children nationwide. Maine is in the final stages of implementing its own alert system, a cooperative effort between the Maine State Police and the Maine Association of Broadcasters.
In 1996, 9-year-old Amber Hagerman of Arlington, Texas was abducted and brutally murdered. Her death lead local law enforcement and broadcasters to develop the Amber Alert system.
The Amber Alert legislation has the support of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the National Association of Broadcasters. ###