Jerry Moran: “Today I rise to remind us that, as America is focused on fighting terrorism and providing for homeland security, we have…”

“Today I rise to remind us that, as America is focused on fighting terrorism and providing for homeland security, we have recent headlines that tell the story of another threat, one that causes parents to question the security of their homes and contemplate the safety of their children. That threat is child abduction. The story is too common. In Kansas, it happened last September, when 4-year-old Jaquilla Scales disappeared from her home. More recently, in Utah, it is 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart who was taken from her bedroom while her sister slept nearby. Both girls are still missing. This tragedy can strike any family, any community. It is estimated that one in 42 children will become a missing child. Each year, between 200 and 300 children are abducted by strangers, and approximately 115,000 more children are victims of attempted abduction. These statistics remind us of the magnitude of the problem, but also indicate that the majority of attempted abductions will fail. In many cases, an abduction is prevented by a teacher, a law enforcement officer, or a watchful neighbor. A concerned and engaged community is our best resource in the war against child abduction. When a child is abducted by a stranger, time is of the essence. Research shows that 74 percent of children abducted and later murdered are killed within the first 3 hours following the abduction.”