Patrick Leahy: “Thirty-eight. I thank the Senator from Texas. The Senator from Florida represents a State the length of which, if it…”

“Thirty-eight. I thank the Senator from Texas. The Senator from Florida represents a State the length of which, if it went in the other direction, it would go across time zones. Incidentally, people may see the success stories on one or two television programs, where there might have been one last year or last month or last week, but the Department of Justice estimates the number of children taken by strangers annually is between 3,000 and 4,000. That is terrible. This plan originated in Arlington, TX, after the murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman. We will help coordinate. We will make sure the local, State, and Federal officials can work together. But not only that, private citizens will be involved because they will hear from State broadcasters or from law enforcement people. I don't know of anybody who hears of a missing child who would not want to help. And this will make that possible. So it will help kidnap victims. It will also preserve the flexibility of the States because States are different in how they want to implement it. It is disturbing to see on TV or in the newspapers photo after photo of missing children from every corner of the Nation. As the father of three children, as well as a grandfather of one grandson, with another grandchild on the way, I know that an abducted child is a parent's or grandparent's worst nightmare. Unfortunately, it appears this nightmare is happening all too often.”