Nick Lampson: “I rise today in light of the reported abduction and murder of young Dannarriah Finley of southeast Texas, coming on the…”

“I rise today in light of the reported abduction and murder of young Dannarriah Finley of southeast Texas, coming on the heels of the nationally publicized abductions of Danielle Van Damme and Elizabeth Smart. It is time for our communities to come together to educate our children and save other families from the heartbreaking tragedy of child abduction, exploitation and murder. There are ways that we can work together to make sure that children are safe in our communities. First, I encourage my colleagues to go to schools in their districts to do a ``know the rules'' workshop with students and parents. Education is the key to giving children the tools and power to stay safe. Second, I encourage Members to start a student Safety Ambassadors program. The program seeks to empower children through safety, and has students leading and teaching their peers on the issue. Third, Members should work with our schools to make sure they know about the ``Guidelines for Programs to Reduce Child Victimization: A Resource for Communities When Choosing a Program to Teach Personal Safety to Children.'' It takes each one of us, including schools, to keep our kids safe, happy, and healthy.”