Expressing the Sesne of the House of Representatives that a Day Ought to be Established to Bring Awareness to the Issue of Missing Persons
Floor Speech
EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT A DAY OUGHT TO BE ESTABLISHED TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE ISSUE OF MISSING PERSONS -- (House of Representatives - September 24, 2007)
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Davis for his support of this resolution and for generously yielding.
I've introduced House Resolution 303 in order to allow all Americans to honor and reflect on the number of Americans who remain missing, and to remember their families and loved ones who hope and pray every day for their safe return.
This issue is especially significant for my constituents. On March 2, 1998, Suzanne Lyall, a 19-year-old sophomore at SUNY Albany, was kidnapped and never seen again. This crime captivated the country's attention and has left a permanent mark on the community that I serve. Over 9 years later, her case remains unsolved.
Tragically, similar situations occur every day in America. On any given day, there are as many as 100,000 active missing-person cases in the United States. In addition, missing-adult cases often go unreported in the media. Even though the first few days after a crime is committed are the most critical in solving a case, there can be significant delays in beginning the search for someone over the age of 18 who has gone missing. Sadly, in New York there are over 3,500 missing-person cases, including nearly 1,400 cases involving New Yorkers over the age of 18.
Furthermore, the statistics show that a disproportionate number of adults reported missing are college-aged women. Currently in New York State, over two-thirds of the college-aged individuals reported missing are female, and this group also makes up approximately half of all missing adults. It is important that the Federal Government partners with local law enforcement to protect young women as they attend college or enter the workforce.
I am honored to represent Suzanne's parents, Doug and Mary, who are leaders in New York and around the country in bringing attention to crimes involving young adults. They have used their personal nightmare to assist other parents and families who have had loved ones go missing. They founded the Center for Hope, an organization with the mission of providing resources to educate, assist, and support families and friends to cope with the disappearance of a loved one. The center works with the New York State and Federal Government to improve our laws in order to prevent future abductions.
In 1983, President Reagan established May 25 as the National Missing Children's Day, and last May Americans marked the 25th National Missing Children's Day. This important day is set aside to draw attention to children who are still missing, whether they have been missing for a few days or for decades.
Yet a day has not yet been set aside to remember those Americans who are over the age of 18 and are missing from their families. With over 100,000 Americans unaccounted for, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters, a day must be established to remind the public of those missing and our country's dedication to solving their cases and, hopefully, reuniting them with families and loved ones.
In 2001, former Governor George Pataki established April 6, Suzanne's birthday, as the State's Missing Persons Day in New York. It is my hope that this date can also become the national day of remembrance for all missing Americans. This day will allow Americans to appropriately remember the victims, their families, and the efforts of local law enforcement and the community.
Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in unanimously approving this resolution and that the President will soon establish a day to bring awareness to the issue of missing persons.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source