On the recordMay 18, 2010
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank Mr. Rooney for introducing this resolution. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution. I thank you for remembering today the missing children's law that was passed some 28 years ago. It's hard to believe time passes by, and sometimes some of the details of how laws or important changes in our legal system and our approach to issues like missing children, how things happen. I thought it would be good to come out to the floor this afternoon, and I again thank you for paying attention to the missing children law. Again, hard to believe that it's almost three decades since it's passed. I heard some of the speakers speak about the law, and I think it's important as we remember today, as we recognize the missing children's law and this anniversary, how it all came about. If you are here long enough in Congress, you find that certain people get dedicated to a proposition or to an effort or a cause and they spearhead that cause. In 1981, I had the great honor to be selected as chief of staff for United States Senator Paula Hawkins. She was probably the first woman elected to the United States Senate in her own right. She had no husband or family ties. She was just popularly elected to the U.S. Senate. She had a different set of agendas, and it was wonderful to work with her and learn from her. I knew her as a very determined woman who shook up the Public Service Commission.…





