[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 17] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 24027] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 6064, THE ``NATIONAL SILVER ALERT ACT'' ______ HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE of texas in the house of representatives Friday, October 3, 2008 Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I support the National Silver Alert Act. I also urge my colleagues to support this bill. It is necessary. Thousands of vulnerable older adults go missing each year as a result of dementia, diminished capacity, foul play or other unusual circumstances. The Alzheimer's Foundation of America estimates that over five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease, and that 60 percent of these are likely to wander from their homes. Alzheimer's disease and other dementia related illnesses often leave their victims disoriented and confused and unable to find their way home. According to the Alzheimer's Association, up to 50 percent of wanderers risk serious illness, injury or death if not found within 24 hours. The problem can be exacerbated greatly by national disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, that can, in a matter of hours, increase the number of missing persons by the thousands. At least eight States, along with non-profit organizations such as the National Center for Missing Adults, Project Lifesaver International and the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, have developed programs to address various aspects of the problem of missing adults, but the need for a coordinated national approach, similar to the Amber Alert Program for children, still exists. In addition, financial support is needed for existing and new local and State programs. The Missing Alzheimer's Disease Patient Alert Program, administered by the Department of Justice, is the only Federal program that currently provides grant funding to locate vulnerable elderly individuals who go missing. Authorization for this program ceased in 1998, but Congress has continued to appropriate some monies for it through fiscal year 2008, when it appropriated $940,000. Another Federal law, Kristen's Act, had authorized annual grants in the amount of $1 million for fiscal years 2001 through 2004 to assist law enforcement agencies in locating missing adults and for other purposes. Between fiscal years 2002 through 2006, Kristen's Act grants were made through the Edward Byrne Discretionary Grants Program, primarily to the National Center for Missing Adults, a non-profit organization. In 2006, Congress appropriated $150,000 for this purpose. A. H.R. 6064, the ``National Silver Alert Act'' Importantly, today I urge my colleagues to support another important piece of legislation, H.R. 6064, the National Silver Alert Act. H.R. 6064 sets forth a comprehensive national program. It directs the Attorney General to establish a permanent national Silver Alert communications program within the Department of Justice to provide assistance to regional and local search efforts for missing seniors. The bill requires the Attorney General to assign a Department of Justice officer as a Silver Alert Coordinator. The Silver Alert Coordinator acts as a nationwide point of contact, working with States to encourage the development of local elements of the network, known as Silver Alert plans, and to ensure regional coordination. The bill requires the Coordinator to develop protocols for efforts relating to reporting and finding missing seniors and to establish voluntary guidelines for States to use in developing Silver Alert plans. The bill requires the Coordinator to establish an advisory group (1) to help States, local governments and law enforcement agencies with Silver Alert plans, (2) to provide training and educational programs to States, local governments and law enforcement agencies, and (3) to submit an annual report to congress. The bill also requires the Coordinator to establish voluntary minimum standards for the issuance of alerts through the Silver Alert communications network. H.R. 6064 directs the Attorney General, subject to the availability of appropriations, to provide grants to States for the development and implementation of programs and activities relating to Silver Alert plans. The bill authorizes $5 million for fiscal year 2009 for this purpose. The bill also authorizes an additional $5 million for fiscal year 2009 specifically for the development and implementation of new technologies. The Federal share of the grant may not exceed 50 percent and amounts appropriated under this authorization shall remain available until expended. B. My Past Amendments on Elder Justice Bills In similar elder legislation, namely the Elder Justice Act and the Elder Abuse Victims Act, I co-sponsored amendments with Ms. Maxine Waters of California to provide funding to State, local, and non-profit programs to locate missing elderly. Specifically, my amendment would allow a voluntary electronic monitoring pilot program to assist with the elderly when they are reported missing. In these particular bills, my amendment would allow the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to issue grants to States and local government to carry out pilot programs to provide voluntary electronic monitoring services to elderly individuals to assist in the location of such individuals when they are reported missing. C. Elder Legislation Is Important Elder legislation such as the legislation before us today and the prior elder bills that I mentioned are important. As elder Americans enter their twilight years, we must do more to protect and ensure their safety. Nothing reminds me more of the necessity of this kind of legislation than my very own experiences in Houston, Texas. A few years ago, the family of Sam Kirk, a native of Houston, Texas, called me to help look for him. Mr. Kirk was elderly and suffered from dementia. He had wandered off and could not be located for several days. His family looked for him for many days but could not find him. In an act of desperation, they called on me to lend my services to help them find him. I helped his family look for him and we found him. When we found Mr. Kirk, he was dehydrated and in need of medical attention. We searched for hours and days to find him. It was worth the time and effort we spent to find him alive and well. Legislation that helps America find and take care of its lost and missing elders is extremely important. sammy kirk amendment I fought hard to get an amendment to this bill, H.R. 6064, the National Silver Alert. The amendment would authorize a voluntary electronic monitoring program to be used to assist in the location of elderly persons. Specifically, the amendment requires the Attorney General, after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to award grants to States and units of local government to carry out programs to provide for voluntary electronic monitoring services to elderly individuals to assist in the location of such individuals in the event that such persons are reported missing. It is authorized for $2 million for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2014. The amendment is named after Mr. Sammy Kirk, a former constituent of the 18th Congressional District who suffered from Alzheimers and was lost. I, along with his family, searched for him for 3 days only to find him dead near the bayou. The Sam Kirk amendment ensures that other senior Alzheimer patients do not suffer the same fate as Mr. Kirk. I believe that my amendment and these bills help elderly people. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. ____________________