Senate Approves Hutchison-Feinstein Legislation To
Create Nationwide AMBER Alert Network
September 10, 2002

Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to create a nationwide AMBER Alert Network.

"Today, the Senate approved a bill that will save children's lives by expanding the existing AMBER Alert program nationwide," Senator Feinstein said. "I want to commend Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison for her leadership in sponsoring this legislation. Her work on this bill has been extraordinary."

"I also want give a special thanks to our Chairman, Senator Leahy, and to the Ranking Member, Senator Hatch, for putting the National Amber Alert Network Act on the fast track through the Judiciary Committee. We introduced the bill exactly one week ago, Tuesday, September 3rd. We were able to have a hearing in the Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and Government Information the following day, Wednesday. And it was approved by the Judiciary Committee on Thursday. This is quick work for the Senate, and it would not have been possible without the assistance and support of Senators Leahy and Hatch."

Specifically, the legislation would:

• Establish a national coordinator for AMBER Alerts in the Department of Justice to expand the network of AMBER Alert systems and to coordinate the issuance of region-wide Amber Alerts. The coordinator would consult with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and other private organizations with expertise in this area.
  
  
• Establish a grant program to enable states to develop or upgrade electronic message boards, and training and education programs.
  
  
• Direct the Department of Justice to establish minimum standards to help states determine when and how broadly to issue an alert.
  

"Nationally, since 1996, the AMBER Alert has been credited with the safe return of 30 children to their families, including one case in which an abductor reportedly released the child after hearing the alert himself," Senator Feinstein said. "Since the State of California first adopted AMBER alerts six weeks ago, the State has issued 13 AMBER alerts. Eight of these alerts involved stranger abductions, four involved family members, and one case is considered a false alarm. But most importantly, each of the AMBER Alerts concluded with the missing child being united with their families."

The AMBER Alert program is a voluntary partnership between law-enforcement agencies and broadcasters to activate an urgent alert bulletin in serious child-abduction cases. The goal of the AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the entire community to assist in the search for and safe return of the child. The AMBER Alert program began in North Texas six years ago. The alert was named for Amber Hagerman, a nine-year-old girl who was kidnapped and murdered while visiting relatives in Arlington, Texas.

The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Wayne Allard, Joseph Biden, Robert Bennett, Jean Carnahan, Hillary Clinton, Susan Collins, Michael Crapo, Christopher Dodd, Richard Durbin, John Edwards, John Ensign, Russell Feingold, Peter Fitzgerald, Tom Harkin, Peter Fitzgerald, Jesse Helms, Tim Hutchinson, James Inhofe, Tim Johnson, Jon Kyl, Mary Landrieu, Patrick Leahy, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Bill Nelson, John D. Rockefeller, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, Olympia Snowe, Debbie Stabenow, George Voinovich, and Ron Wyden.

Companion legislation was introduced in the House on September 4, 2002 by Representatives Martin Frost (D-TX) and Jennifer Dunn (R-WA).

"Through this legislation, we will extend to every corner of the nation a network of AMBER Alerts that will protect our children," Senator Feinstein said. "This program will increase the odds that an abducted child will return to his or her family safely. But importantly, it will deter potential abductors from taking a child in the first place."

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