Nick Lampson: “the Nation grieved with the Smart family when Elizabeth disappeared 9 months ago. As chairman of the Congressional…”

“the Nation grieved with the Smart family when Elizabeth disappeared 9 months ago. As chairman of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus, I, and our Nation, are overjoyed at her discovery. This is the light at the end of the tunnel for her family and friends, something that every parent who has a missing child would dream of. I want to thank the media, the citizens who paid attention and called in leads, and the law enforcement officials who worked so hard on this case. This is the ultimate example of the growing cooperation between law enforcement, the public, and the media. By working together, people become the eyes and ears of law enforcement, increasing their numbers by thousands. We can learn a great deal from this case. First of all, the parents did exactly the right thing and were prepared with current photos and information of Elizabeth. This is the most important thing for parents to have. Elizabeth's sister was an incredible witness and a wonderful example of how kids can play a part in their own and others' safety. And we also saw law enforcement officials that handled the case well. Through cooperation, like what we saw in this case, cooperation of the media, the public, witnesses, and the family, we will bring more children home.”