Nick Lampson: “I want to particularly start out by thanking the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad) for introducing the Missing…”

“I want to particularly start out by thanking the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad) for introducing the Missing Children's Fairness Act. This is a piece of legislation that is indeed greatly needed. I was informed this morning, as the gentleman from Minnesota had stated, that under pressure from lawmakers the Internal Revenue Service has reversed a decision disqualifying parents from taking tax deductions for kidnapped children. While I am happy to hear that the IRS is reversing its decision, I am disheartened that it took the threat of legislation passing to go this route. I come from a part of Texas where there have been a significant number of stranger abductions and deaths, particularly of young girls. We have had 27 in the last 12 years. I know the pain and suffering that these families go through, and to have this other kind of hardship tossed on them through a thoughtless act, in my opinion, just further complicates the effort that we are trying our best to make here in the United States House of Representatives by bringing the bond of a parent and a child closer, by making it easier for parents to search for their children, and to keep the hope alive that exists when a child is missing and they do not know where that young person might be.”