Lieberman, Blumenthal Introduce Bill to Aid Law Enforcement in Finding Missing Persons

Press Release

Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today introduced the Help Find the Missing Act, known as "Billy's Law," to make it easier for law enforcement to find missing adults.

Senator Lieberman introduced the bill last year, and Senator Blumenthal was quick to co-sponsor the bill this year upon joining the Senate. Congressman Chris Murphy will also introduce the bill in the House of Representatives.

The bill is named after then 31-year old William Smolinski--known as Billy--who disappeared without a trace in August 2004 from his Waterbury home. Since Billy's disappearance, his mother, Janice, has been tireless in her efforts to reform the way missing persons cases are handled locally and nationally.

Senator Lieberman met with Janice Smolinski last year to discuss ways to reform the standards and practices and improve the resources used by the federal, state and local officials in cases of missing persons.

"I commend Janice for her courage, commitment, and tireless efforts on behalf of missing adults and their families," said Lieberman. "She has been a national leader for a cause that deserves all of our attention and swift action by Congress."

He went on to say, "By authorizing the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, Billy's Bill will provide these families with a comprehensive resource that will help them to locate loved ones who have disappeared and, in those unfortunate circumstances; provide them a sense of closure."

"I'm proud to join efforts to help families find and identify their missing loved ones," said Blumenthal. "We owe it to families like Billy's to do everything possible to give law enforcement officials -- and members of the public -- the tools and resources they need to find the missing and bring them home."

"The thousands of families across America that wake up every day not knowing the whereabouts of their missing loved one live in every corner of our nation, and they expect Congress to come together to figure out a way to improve the way we handle missing persons cases. I'm thrilled to be working with Connecticut's Senators and Congressman Poe from Texas on this important legislation," said Murphy.

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