U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office

Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800

Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001

43–525 PDF 2009

NATIONAL SILVER ALERT ACT, THE SILVER ALERT 

GRANT PROGRAM ACT OF 2008, AND THE 

KRISTEN’S ACT REAUTHORIZATION OF 2007 

HEARING 

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME, TERRORISM, 

AND HOMELAND SECURITY 

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS 

SECOND SESSION 

ON

H.R. 6064, H.R. 5898 and H.R. 423 

JULY 15, 2008 

Serial No. 110–194 

Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary 

( 

Available via the World Wide Web: http://judiciary.house.gov 

(II) 

COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY 

JOHN CONYERS, JR., Michigan, Chairman 

HOWARD L. BERMAN, California 

RICK BOUCHER, Virginia 

JERROLD NADLER, New York 

ROBERT C. ‘‘BOBBY’’ SCOTT, Virginia 

MELVIN L. WATT, North Carolina 

ZOE LOFGREN, California 

SHEILA JACKSON LEE, Texas 

MAXINE WATERS, California 

WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts 

ROBERT WEXLER, Florida 

LINDA T. SA ́ NCHEZ, California 

STEVE COHEN, Tennessee 

HANK JOHNSON, Georgia 

BETTY SUTTON, Ohio 

LUIS V. GUTIERREZ, Illinois 

BRAD SHERMAN, California 

TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin 

ANTHONY D. WEINER, New York 

ADAM B. SCHIFF, California 

ARTUR DAVIS, Alabama 

DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Florida 

KEITH ELLISON, Minnesota 

LAMAR SMITH, Texas 

F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR., 

Wisconsin 

HOWARD COBLE, North Carolina 

ELTON GALLEGLY, California 

BOB GOODLATTE, Virginia 

STEVE CHABOT, Ohio 

DANIEL E. LUNGREN, California 

CHRIS CANNON, Utah 

RIC KELLER, Florida 

DARRELL ISSA, California 

MIKE PENCE, Indiana 

J. RANDY FORBES, Virginia 

STEVE KING, Iowa 

TOM FEENEY, Florida 

TRENT FRANKS, Arizona 

LOUIE GOHMERT, Texas 

JIM JORDAN, Ohio 

PERRY APELBAUM, Staff Director and Chief Counsel 

SEAN MCLAUGHLIN, Minority Chief of Staff and General Counsel 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME, TERRORISM, AND HOMELAND SECURITY

ROBERT C. ‘‘BOBBY’’ SCOTT, Virginia, Chairman 

MAXINE WATERS, California 

WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts 

JERROLD NADLER, New York 

HANK JOHNSON, Georgia 

ANTHONY D. WEINER, New York 

SHEILA JACKSON LEE, Texas 

ARTUR DAVIS, Alabama 

TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin 

BETTY SUTTON, Ohio 

LOUIE GOHMERT, Texas 

J. RANDY FORBES, Virginia 

F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR., 

Wisconsin 

HOWARD COBLE, North Carolina 

STEVE CHABOT, Ohio 

DANIEL E. LUNGREN, California 

BOBBY VASSAR, Chief Counsel 

CAROLINE LYNCH, Minority Counsel 

(III) 

C O N T E N T S 

JULY 15, 2008 

Page 

THE BILLS 

H.R. 6064, the ‘‘National Silver Alert Act’’ ............................................................ 3 

H.R. 5898, the ‘‘Silver Alert Grant Program Act of 2008’’ ................................... 16 

H.R. 423, the ‘‘Kristen’s Act Reauthorization of 2007’’ ......................................... 25 

OPENING STATEMENTS 

The Honorable Robert C. ‘‘Bobby’’ Scott, a Representative in Congress from 

the State of Virginia, and Chairman, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, 

and Homeland Security ....................................................................................... 1 

The Honorable Louie Gohmert, a Representative in Congress from the State 

of Texas, and Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 

Homeland Security ............................................................................................... 30 

WITNESSES 

The Honorable Lloyd Doggett, a Representative in Congress from the State 

of Texas 

Oral Testimony ..................................................................................................... 32 

Prepared Statement ............................................................................................. 33 

The Honorable Gus Bilirakis, a Representative in Congress from the State 

of Florida 

Oral Testimony ..................................................................................................... 34 

Prepared Statement ............................................................................................. 36 

The Honorable Sue Wilkins Myrick, a Representative in Congress from the 

State of North Carolina 

Oral Testimony ..................................................................................................... 38 

Prepared Statement ............................................................................................. 39 

LETTERS, STATEMENTS, ETC., SUBMITTED FOR THE HEARING 

Prepared Statement of the Honorable Maxine Waters, a Representative in 

Congress from the State of California, and Member, Subcommittee on 

Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security ........................................................ 40 

APPENDIX 

Material Submitted for the Hearing Record .......................................................... 43 

(1) 

NATIONAL SILVER ALERT ACT, THE SILVER 

ALERT GRANT PROGRAM ACT OF 2008, AND 

THE KRISTEN’S ACT REAUTHORIZATION OF 

2007 

TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2008 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME, TERRORISM,

AND HOMELAND SECURITY

COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, 

Washington, DC. 

The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:38 p.m., in Room 

2237, Rayburn House Office Building, the Honorable Robert C. 

‘‘Bobby’’ Scott (Chairman of the Subcommittee) presiding. 

Present: Representatives Scott, Johnson, Gohmert, and Coble. 

Staff present: Bobby Vassar, Subcommittee Chief Counsel; Karen 

Wilkinson (Fellow) AOC Detailee; Veronica Eligan, Majority Professional Staff Member; Caroline Lynch, Minority Counsel; and Kelsey 

Whitlock, Minority Staff Assistant. 

Mr. SCOTT. The Crime Subcommittee will convene as soon as we 

can get set up. The Crime Subcommittee will be convening as soon 

as we possibly can. 

The Subcommittee will now come to order, and I am pleased to 

welcome you today to the hearing from the Subcommittee on 

Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on several bills, H.R. 

6064, the ‘‘National Silver Alert Act;’’ H.R. 5898, the ‘‘Silver Alert 

Grant Program Act of 2008;’’ and H.R. 423, the ‘‘Kristen’s Act Reauthorization of 2007.’’ 

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 5 

million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and that 60 percent of these are likely to wander from their homes. 

Many of these will be unable to find their way back home because of disorientation and confusion. Their safe return home often 

depends on their being found quickly. 

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 50 percent of wanderers risk serious illness, injury, or death if not found within 24 

hours. 

We currently have no comprehensive Federal approach to this 

problem. A handful of states, including Virginia and Texas, along 

with several national non-profit organizations have developed proVerDate Aug 31 2005 16:52 Jan 22, 2009 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6601 H:\WORK\CRIME\071508\43525.000 HJUD1 PsN: 43525
2 

grams that address the various aspects of the problem with missing adults. 

But the need for a coordinated national approach still exists. 

Financial support is also needed for the continuation of some of 

these programs and for the development of new local and state programs. 

In recognition of this need, three Members of Congress, the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Doggett; the gentleman from Florida, Mr. 

Bilirakis; and the gentlelady from North Carolina, Mrs. Myrick, 

have introduced three separate bills this session to address the 

problem of missing adults. 

Each bill approaches the problem in a slightly different way and 

complements of efforts of the other bills. 

There is some overlap among the bills, however, and the sponsors have been working together to draft a bill that combines the 

unique aspects of each bill into one while eliminating the duplication. 

I would like to thank all of them for not only introducing these 

important bills but also for their willingness to work together in a 

bipartisan manner to create a comprehensive bill addressing the 

problems, including the bills introduced by the gentlelady from 

California, Ms. Waters, and the gentlelady from Texas, Ms. Jackson Lee. 

All of you are working together, and we appreciate that. 

[The bill, H.R. 6064, follows:] 

3 


HR6064-1.eps
4 


HR6064-2.eps
5 


HR6064-3.eps
6 


HR6064-4.eps
7 


HR6064-5.eps
8 


HR6064-6.eps
9 


HR6064-7.eps
10 


HR6064-8.eps
11 


HR6064-9.eps
12 


HR6064-10.eps
13 


HR6064-11.eps
14 


HR6064-12.eps
15 


HR6064-13.eps
16 

[The bill, H.R. 5898, follows:] 


HR5898-1.eps
17 


HR5898-2.eps
18 


HR5898-3.eps
19 


HR5898-4.eps
20 


HR5898-5.eps
21 


HR5898-6.eps
22 


HR5898-7.eps
23 


HR5898-8.eps
24 


HR5898-9.eps
25 

[The bill, H.R. 423, follows]: 


HR423-1.eps
26 


HR423-2.eps
27 


HR423-3.eps
28 


HR423-4.eps
29 


HR423-5.eps
30 

Mr. SCOTT. With that said, it is my pleasure to recognize the 

Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, the Honorable Louie 

Gohmert. 

Mr. GOHMERT. Thank you, Chairman Scott. 

I also wish to welcome our distinguished panel of witnesses, of 

course, Congressman Doggett, Congressman Bilirakis, and Congresswoman Myrick. And thank you for your dedication in protecting the elderly and the missing adults. 

The Silver Alert Program issues public alerts for missing adults 

suffering from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. 

Modeled on the AMBER Alert Program, Silver Alerts distribute 

important information to law enforcement, radio and television station, and even drivers on the highway to help locate missing 

adults. 

Nine states, including my own state of Texas, have implemented 

Silver Alert Programs, and just 2 weeks ago, the Texas Silver Alert 

Program was used to locate a woman with dementia who had gone 

missing from her home in North Richland Hills. She was found 65 

miles away in Jacksboro, Texas, driving her 1996 Chevy pick-up. 

Police believe she was headed to the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport 

when she was found. 

The fastest-growing segment of our population is Americans over 

the age of 65. The baby-boomer generation is beginning to retire, 

and in 2000, Americans aged 65 and older accounted for 12.64 percent of the population. But it is estimated that by 2030, this number will double. 

As our aging population expands, so too does the demand for new 

and innovative ways to protect them. The Alzheimer’s Association 

estimates that as many as 5 million Americans suffer from some 

form of Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia. Of these, nearly 3 million, 

or 60 percent, will wander, and of those, nearly 70 percent will do 

so repeatedly. 

In the nine states using this program, Silver Alerts have proven 

to be an effective tool in locating vulnerable seniors. 

According to a survey by the National Association of State Units 

on Aging, most states reported that the costs associated with implementing the program were minimal. 

H.R. 6064, the National Silver Alert Act, and H.R. 5898, the Silver Alert Grant Program Act, both facilitate the expanded use of 

the Silver Alert Program. 

I commend Congressman Doggett and Congressman Bilirakis for 

their work on this important program and look forward to working 

with them as the Committee moves forward with their legislation. 

While Silver Alerts help locate missing elderly and AMBER 

Alerts help locate missing children, there is still a large segment 

of the population that must not be overlooked. Each year, thousands of adults are reported missing. In 2007, the FBI reported 

over 171,000 missing persons ages 18 and older. 

In 2000, Kristen’s Act established a National Center for Missing 

Adults, a non-profit organization that serves as a national clearinghouse for missing adults. The NCMA coordinates law enforcement, 

media, and the families of missing adults and operates a national 

database of endangered or at-risk adults. 

31 

The NCMA and other programs like it provide a critical service 

to assisting law enforcement and families with locating missing 

adults. 

H.R. 423 reauthorizes Kristen’s Act and grants to organizations, 

such as the NCMA, through fiscal year 2018. 

And I do commend my colleague, Congresswoman Myrick, for 

long-standing dedication to these programs and look forward to 

working with her to reauthorize Kristen’s Act. 

At this time, though, I thank you for being here and look forward 

to hearing what you have to say. 

Mr. SCOTT. Thank you. 

I would like to recognize the presence of gentleman from North 

Carolina, Mr. Coble, and the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Johnson. 

Our first witness today is the gentleman from Texas’ 25th District, the Honorable Lloyd Doggett, who is the sponsor of H.R. 

4081. 

Mr. Doggett served 11 years in the Texas Senate and began service as a justice in the Texas Supreme Court in 1988. 

In 1994, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. 

He is currently a senior Member of the House Ways and Means 

Committee and a Member of both the Budget Committee and the 

Joint Economic Committee. 

The next witness will be the gentleman from Florida’s 9th District, the Honorable Gus Bilirakis. 

He is in his first session in Congress, but served four terms as 

a member of the Florida House of Representatives before coming 

to Congress. 

Before that, he was the senior partner in the Bilirakis Law 

Group in Holiday, Florida. 

He serves on the House Committees on Homeland Security, Veteran’s Affairs, and Foreign Affairs. 

He is also the senior freshman whip of the Republican Party and 

the chair of the Veteran’s Affairs Task Force for the Republican 

Policy Committee. 

Our third and final witness will be the Honorable Sue Myrick 

from North Carolina’s 5th District. She came to Congress in 1995. 

Before coming to Congress, she served 2 years as mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina and is the former president and CEO of 

Myrick Advertising and Public Relations and Myrick Enterprises. 

She serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and is a 

Member of the Health, the Energy, and the Commerce, Trade, and 

Consumer Protection Subcommittees. 

She was appointed deputy whip of the 108th Congress and still 

holds that position. 

She chairs the House Cancer Caucus. 

Now, the witnesses will know the normal process will be followed. 

Your written statements will be entered into the record, and I 

ask you to summarize your testimony in 5 minutes or less, if you 

can. 

We will put the lights on, but you can govern yourselves accordingly. 

Mr. Doggett? 

32 

TESTIMONY OF THE HONORABLE LLOYD DOGGETT, A 

REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS 

Mr. DOGGETT. I will summarize very briefly because it is apparent that, from the opening statements that you have both given, 

that you fully understand what we are doing and, in your actions 

prior to today, you have been very supportive. 

I am here, of course, on behalf of the bill that I authored, H.R. 

6064, the National Silver Alert Act. But what I am really here on 

behalf of is a collective effort, a bipartisan effort. We are all working together on a substitute on which you have taken the lead, Mr. 

Chairman, that will incorporate with the National Silver Alert Act 

all of Mrs. Myrick’s important legislation and significant recommendations and contributions from Mr. Bilirakis. 

We are about addressing those needs of the 60 percent of Alzheimer’s patients to which you referred to and others who don’t 

suffer from Alzheimer’s but have other forms of dementia who wander away from home. 

And as you know, Mr. Chairman, if those folks are not found in 

the first 24 hours, about half of them will either die or suffer from 

serious injury. And we are looking for a way to address that. 

We know that there is not any silver bullet, but Silver Alert is 

a good place to begin to assist the law enforcement officials in the 

community in addressing this. 

As Mr. Gohmert pointed out, we have had a successful AMBER 

Alert system, and all we are really doing is following the same approach that this Congress took a few years ago in taking the 

AMBER Alert approach and taking it national. 

I believe that, actually, as of today, the state of Kentucky is a 

new state implementing a program, and we are up to 11 states 

now. But those states need coordination. And by having a person 

in the Justice Department who is responsible for coordinating with 

Federal agencies like the Department of Transportation, like the 

Federal Communications Commission, and the aging folks all 

works together, we can share best practices. 

We can provide a reinforcement for the states that are doing it 

now, and we can provide assistance for those states. I think there 

are at least half a dozen other states that are seriously looking at 

state Silver Alert Programs right now. 

Just a word about our experience in Texas. This program has 

only been in effect there since last September. And the Department 

of Public Safety reports that it has been used 41 times. Thirtyeight of the 40 missing seniors were located safely. We believe that 

at least nine of these were directly attributable to our state Silver 

Alert Program. 

Each of us has a story like the one that Mr. Gohmert referred 

to. The one from my district is a fellow named Howard Butler. He 

got in his car and drove south from Austin to San Antonio, turned 

around, drove back through Austin all the way up to Dallas. He 

was found in a parking lot up there by a passerby who notified the 

police because they had the Silver Alert description on him and his 

car. They went over after some treatment for dehydration there in 

Dallas. They were able to reunite him with his family in a very 

short period of time. 

33 

That is the kind of compelling story that we hear around the 

country that we believe a little bit of Federal support can help us 

to replicate. 

I want to extend particular thanks to two central Texans, Bill 

Cummings and Carlos Higgins, who have been active with the 

Texas Silver Alert legislature. 

I know you work with some of those folks, too, Mr. Gohmert. And 

they came up with this idea to me. That is why I filed the legislation because they got the endorsement of it by the National Silver 

Alert legislature. 

And I appreciate their commitment to it and would also like to 

note for the Committee that the Elder Justice Coalition, the Child 

Alert Foundation, the National Citizen’s Coalition for Nursing 

Home Reform, and the Assisted Living Federation of America have 

all offered their support for this bill. 

I think all of us working together, even with the short timeframe 

we have left before the end of this session, can get this collective 

effort endorsed and approved. 

I am open to any questions you might have. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Doggett follows:] 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE LLOYD DOGGETT, 

A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS

Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Gohmert, and colleagues. I join you on behalf 

of H.R. 6064, the National Silver Alert Act, which I authored, and on behalf of the 

substitute on which I have worked with Chairman Scott and Representatives 

Myrick and Bilirakis. The three of us, along with many colleagues, who have cosponsored our bills, share a common concern for the challenges presented by an 

aging population that includes a rapidly increasing number of our neighbors, who 

suffer from mental impairments. The substitute for H.R. 6064 would incorporate all 

of Rep. Myrick’s legislation and several provisions from the bill filed by Rep. Bilirakis. When it comes to the safety of missing seniors, there is no silver bullet, but 

a good start is a National Silver Alert. 

Silver Alert is a public notification system triggered by the report of a missing 

senior with dementia or other mental impairment. Similar to Amber Alert for missing children, Silver Alert uses a wide array of media outlets—such as radio, television, and highway signs—to broadcast information about missing persons in order 

to locate and return them. In response to the unique needs presented by wandering 

elderly, eleven states—including Texas—have enacted programs such as Silver 

Alert. In fact, today marks the very first day of Kentucky’s similar new effort. Another 5 states are actively considering such legislation. 

While these states have shown how successful a Silver Alert system can be, Americans at risk can be found in every state and every community. The national Amber 

Alert law, which Congress approved in 2003 has provided national leadership to coordinate state programs, link states to resources and best practices, fund technology 

improvements, and encourage interstate and regional coordination. The National 

Silver Alert program, which I am proposing, would follow that successful model with 

a coordinator at the Justice Department to consult with the Federal Communication 

Commission, the Department of Transportation, and the Administration on Aging 

to prevent duplication of efforts. This would be a voluntary program that will help 

states initiate Silver Alert programs and sustain those already underway. 

Since its inception in Texas last September, Silver Alert has been invoked 41 

times. 38 of the 41 missing seniors were located safely, and 9 of those recoveries 

were directly attributable to Silver Alert. One of those successes involved Howard 

Butler, an 85-year-old man in my district. Mr. Butler left his home in Austin and 

drove south on Interstate 35 to the outskirts of San Antonio, then turned around 

and drove back north through Austin to Dallas—a distance of 325 miles. If this gentleman had been driving on I-95 here in the Northeast instead of I-35 in Texas, he 

would have traveled through seven states. Mr. Butler was found in the parking lot 

of a Dallas department store late one night. The responding officer knew that there 

was a Silver Alert posted for a missing person from Austin driving a dark green 

Buick. Thanks to Silver Alert, Austin Police were immediately notified, and he was 

34 

reunited safely with his family the next morning—after being treated for slight dehydration at a local hospital. 

A National Silver Alert compliments other, existing programs—like Project Lifesaver, whose leaders endorse this legislation; and the Missing Alzheimer’s Disease 

Patient Alert Program, which was included in the Elder Justice Act, approved by 

this Committee earlier this year. Silver Alert is unique in its ‘‘wide net’’ approach, 

with the ability to broadcast the alert beyond the immediate vicinity. With a range 

of complimentary programs, we have a better chance to find missing seniors in the 

crucial first 24 hours. 

I want to extend special thanks to Bill Cummings and Carlos Higgins of the Texas 

Silver Haired Legislature, who first asked me to develop this legislation to replicate 

nationally the success that Texas Silver Alert has had in locating missing seniors. 

My bill has been endorsed by groups including the Elder Justice Coalition, National Silver Haired Congress, Child Alert Foundation, the National Citizen’s Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, and the Assisted Living Federation of America. 

Working together, we can prevent the worst outcomes and keep our seniors safe. 

Mr. SCOTT. Thank you very much. 

Mr. Bilirakis? 

TESTIMONY OF THE HONORABLE GUS BILIRAKIS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA 

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

I want to thank you and Ranking Member Gohmert for holding 

this hearing on an issue of great importance to me and many of 

my constituents. 

I am honored to testify before this distinguished panel about my 

bill, the Silver Alert Grant Program Act, in an effort to establish 

state notification systems to help finding missing individuals suffering from dementia-related illnesses. 

I first became involved with this issue earlier this year when one 

of my constituents, Mary Lalucci, lost her mother who had wandered away from her care-giving facility and could not be located 

before she had driven her car into the Gulf of Mexico and drowned. 

This tragedy, unfortunately, highlights the very real problem of 

older individuals who suffer from diseases which leave them easily 

confused and disoriented wandering away from their homes or 

caregiver’s facilities and meeting harm because family, friends, and 

authorities could not find them in time. 

The inability to find missing elderly is a problem state and Federal policymakers should address before something like this happens again. That is why I introduced H.R. 5898, the Silver Alert 

Grant Program Act, which has been endorsed by the Alzheimer’s 

Association. 

My bill would establish a grant program within the Department 

of Justice allowing states to obtain needed funding to establish or 

make improvements to their Silver Alert notification systems which 

help locate individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related illnesses before they harm themselves or others. 

The bill also will require the Attorney General’s office to report 

to Congress—and I think this is very important—on the experiences of states that have implemented such notification systems to 

help guide their establishment in other states. 

I have secured strong bipartisan support for my bill since introducing it in April, including co-sponsorship by 87 of our colleagues, 

many of you; 49 Republicans, so it is a bipartisan effort, and 38 

Democrats. 

35 

I am proud that the entire Florida delegation has also co-sponsored my measure and six Members, as I said, of the Judiciary 

Committee. 

I believe that Florida and other states should establish alert systems similar to the highly successful AMBER Alert system to help 

find those suffering from dementia-related illnesses and prevent 

tragedies like the one that occurred in my community. 

The experiences of states that already have developed such Silver 

Alert systems suggest that these programs can save lives, as Mr. 

Doggett alluded to. States have found that, just as with missing 

and abducted children, the ability to filter pertinent information so 

that relevant details are transmitted to appropriate authorities as 

quickly as possible greatly improves the chances of finding missing 

seniors safely. 

I believe that the Federal Government can and should help 

states develop systems to prevent these all-too-frequent tragedies. 

This is especially important in Florida which has more residents 

over 65, I believe; the most in the country. 

My state needs Silver Alert, and it needs it now. 

Mrs. Lalucci was asked whether she thought a Silver Alert estimate in Florida would have saved her mother. ‘‘Who knows?’’ she 

said. ‘‘Unfortunately, I will never know.’’ 

Mr. Chairman, I believe Congress should pass legislation to create a Federal Silver Alert Grant Program so that states can enact 

these systems to prevent another family from being forced to struggle with the same uncertainty. 

Before I finish, I want to thank Congressman Doggett for his 

work on this issue. Although, his bill is broader in scope than mine, 

I fully support combining these complimentary bills and moving 

them through the Judiciary Committee together with Congresswoman Myrick’s bill. 

So the important thing is that we get this done as soon as possibly. I plead with you that we get this done so that we can save 

more lives. 

Thank you for the opportunity to testify on this very important 

issue, and I would be happy to answer questions as well. 

Thank you. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Bilirakis follows:] 

36 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE GUS M. BILIRAKIS, 

A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA


GMB-1.eps
37 


GMB-2.eps
38 

Mr. SCOTT. Thank you. 

Mrs. Myrick? 

TESTIMONY OF THE HONORABLE SUE WILKINS MYRICK, A 

REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF 

NORTH CAROLINA 

Mrs. MYRICK. Thank you both, Chairman and Ranking Member 

Gohmert, for giving us this opportunity today. And I am grateful 

to be working with my two colleagues so we can, hopefully, get 

these bills moving. 

I am here because 11 years ago, Kristen Modafferi disappeared 

in my district, and she was just shortly after her 18th birthday. 

And when it happened, I called her parents and said, you know, 

what can we do to help. And after hearing their story and literal 

nightmare that they went through in trying to locate her, I introduced Kristen’s Act in 1999. And it very quickly passed the House 

and Senate. And then President Clinton signed it into law in 2000. 

But it expired in 2005, and we reintroduced it again in the last 

Congress and weren’t able to make anything happen, so we are 

back here today. And, of course, it fits very well with what my two 

colleagues are doing. 

I want to—just before I finished on my testimony—if I could take 

just a moment of personal privilege because you have a Member of 

your Committee who happens to be the dean of our delegation in 

North Carolina. 

And he, as of today, is the longest-serving Republican Member 

from North Carolina, and I just thought you all should know that. 

Howard, we are proud of you. [Applause.] 

But what the Modafferis learned was that Kristen was 3 weeks 

over her 18th birthday, and when they went to the missing children to say can you help us by posting her picture and all, they 

said no. You know, she is 18. 

And so that is when we learned that there was nothing for adults 

that are missing or disappeared with foul play or suspected foul 

play. 

And so that is why we introduced the Act. 

But she was just a young college girl who had gone to California 

for the summer to work. And like so many college kids did—and 

one day, after working in a coffee shop, she literally just disappeared from the earth. I mean, nobody could find her. There was 

no trace. And they have looked for years. 

And so we established this which was, again, a clearinghouse for 

missing adults and a way for everybody to connect and be able to 

find somebody and have some help in that process. 

So that is really what this is about. I mean, there are many people, I think, over 50,000 a year, that disappear and nobody has a 

trace of what happened to them. 

And so along with the people who disappear with Alzheimer’s 

and have that problem, I think this is very important. And having 

gone through this with Kristen’s family, I know how devastating it 

is to a family when you lose somebody but, especially, when you 

feel like there is nothing there that you can do to try and find 

them. 

39 

So I hope that your Committee will take this seriously and give 

it consideration. It is bipartisan, as you know. And maybe we can 

see something done with it this year; it helps a lot of people. 

And I thank you for your time. 

[The prepared statement of Mrs. Myrick follows:] 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE SUE WILKINS MYRICK, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

I would like to thank Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Gohmert for the opportunity to speak today. 

I am here because 11 years ago, Kristen Modafferi disappeared shortly after her 

18th birthday. I asked the family how I could help. 

After visiting with them and hearing a detailed account of their nightmare, I introduced Kristen’s Act in 1999. It was swiftly ratified in both the House and Senate 

before being signed into law by President Clinton in 2000. 

Kristen’s Law established funding to maintain a national clearinghouse for missing adults whose disappearance is determined by law enforcement to be foul play. 

As with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, this bill provided 

assistance to law enforcement and families in missing persons cases of those over 

the age of 17. 

In addition, it authorized 1 million dollars a year for fiscal years 2001 through 

2004 to organizations like the National Center for Missing Adults—a non-profit 

dedicated to helping families locate missing loved ones 18 and older. 

Kristen’s Law expired in 2005. I introduced a reauthorization in the 109th Congress, unfortunately my attempts to get it passed were unsuccessful. I am here 

today in hopes that in this Congress, we may honor the efforts of so many and pay 

tribute to mournful families by moving this bill. 

Kristen Modafferi disappeared in 1997. 

She was an extremely bright, hard-working young lady and attended North Carolina State University. She had just finished her freshman year; and like so many 

other college students, she decided she wanted to go to another city to spend the 

summer and work and have a new experience. 

So she moved to San Francisco. She enrolled in photography class at Berkeley and 

got a job at a local coffee shop. She began settling in and making friends. 

On Monday, June 23—which was just a mere 3 weeks after her 18th birthday— 

she left her job at the coffee shop and headed to the beach for the afternoon. She 

has not been seen since. 

When her panicked parents called National Center for Missing and Exploited 

Children, they heard these unbelievable words, ‘‘I’m sorry—we cannot help you.’’ 

They were shocked to discover that because Kristen was 18, the Center could not 

place her picture and story into its national database, or offer any assistance whatsoever. In fact, there is no national agency in the United States to help locate missing adults. 

Unfortunately, the Modafferis are not alone. The families of thousands of missing 

adults—50,930 cases as of last year—have found that law enforcement and other 

agencies respond very differently when the person who has disappeared is not a 

child. 

Coping with the disappearance of a family member is a traumatic experience— 

and I know personally what the Modafferis went through. But to be forced to conduct the search on their own without any skills or resources is simply unjust. 

The Reauthorization of Kristen’s Act would again establish funding to maintain 

a national clearinghouse for missing adults and provide assistance to law enforcement and families in missing persons cases. 

The bill would authorize 4 million dollars a year for fiscal years 2009 through 

2019 to the National Center for Missing Adults. Since the inception of Kristen’s Act 

so many years ago, I have been thoroughly impressed with the dedicated and motivated staff of the Center. 

Kristen’s Act does send a message to these families that they deserve help in locating endangered and involuntarily missing loved ones. 

Endangered missing adults, regardless of their age, should receive not only the 

benefit of a search effort by local law enforcement—but also the help of an experienced national organization. 

By moving this bill, families will never again have to hear they cannot be assisted 

because a loved one is too old. 

Mr. SCOTT. Thank you. 

40 

I want to thank all of our witnesses for their testimony and, particularly, for working together so that we can have one comprehensive bill without the overlapping and possibly contradicting provisions. 

The gentlelady from California, Ms. Waters, has a statement 

that I would ask unanimous consent to enter into the record. 

[The prepared statement of Ms. Waters follows:] 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE MAXINE WATERS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN

CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND MEMBER, SUBCOMMITTEE ON

CRIME, TERRORISM, AND HOMELAND SECURITY

I would like to thank Chairman Bobby Scott for organizing this hearing on three 

innovative proposals to locate missing Alzheimer’s patients, persons with dementia, 

and other adults who are reported missing. I also would like to thank my colleagues, 

Congressman Doggett, Congressman Bilirakis, and Congresswoman Myrick for introducing these bills. 

An estimated 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. One in eight Americans over 65 and nearly half of Americans over 85 suffer from this disorder. Sixty 

percent of Alzheimer’s patients are likely to wander from their homes. Wanderers 

are vulnerable to dehydration, weather conditions, traffic hazards, and individuals 

who prey on those who are defenseless. Up to 50 percent of wandering Alzheimer’s 

patients will become seriously injured or die if they are not found within 24 hours 

of their departure from home. 

I believe the three bills we are considering today could complement the Department of Justice’s Missing Alzheimer’s Disease Patient Alert Program. For the past 

thirteen years, this Department of Justice program has provided a grant to a national non-profit organization to help local communities and law enforcement officials quickly identify persons with Alzheimer’s disease who wander or are missing 

and reunite them with their families. It is a highly successful program whereby 88% 

of registrants who wander are found within the first four hours of being reported 

missing. 

On May 14, the Judiciary Committee adopted an amendment that I offered to the 

Elder Justice Act (H.R. 1783) along with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee and 

Congressman Adam Schiff. Our amendment reauthorizes and expands the Missing 

Alzheimer’s Disease Patient Alert Program, allowing the Department of Justice to 

award multiple competitive grants. Preference would be given to nonprofit organizations that have a direct link to patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their families. 

I am especially interested in H.R. 6064, the National Silver Alert Act, introduced 

by Congressman Doggett. This bill would develop a national Silver Alert communications network for missing seniors modeled after the successful Amber Alert network for missing and abducted children. The bill requires the Attorney General to 

designate a national Silver Alert Coordinator to assist States, local governments and 

law enforcement agencies in developing Silver Alert plans. 

The National Silver Alert Act requires the Silver Alert Coordinator to cooperate 

with other federal agencies and officials, including the head of the Missing Alzheimer’s Disease Patient Alert Program, in developing the Silver Alert network. I 

would like to thank Congressman Doggett for including this cooperation language, 

and I hereby request that he add my name as a cosponsor of his bill. 

With the baby boom generation approaching the age of retirement, the number 

of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease could triple by the year 2050. The need for 

organized efforts to locate wandering Alzheimer’s patients as well as other missing 

persons could also grow substantially. Consequently, it is important that we explore 

a variety of approaches to finding people who are reported missing. I look forward 

to hearing my colleagues explain their proposals. 

I yield back the balance of my time. 

Mr. SCOTT. She and the gentlelady from Texas, Ms. Jackson Lee, 

have provisions that need to be coordinated to make sure they 

work closely together. So I appreciate the fact that you are working 

together and have no questions at this time. 

The gentleman from Texas, Mr. Gohmert? 

Mr. GOHMERT. I do appreciate Congresswoman Myrick pointing 

out that our colleague down here has long-served the Republicans 

41 

from North Carolina, and I might add that though he has been so 

long-serving, I have seen no signs of dementia or reduced judgment. 

Although, he seems to reciprocate my high regard for him, and 

that may be a sign of poor judgment. But otherwise—— 

Mr. COBLE. Would The gentleman yield? 

Mr. GOHMERT. Sure. 

Mr. COBLE. I want to thank the distinguished lady from North 

Carolina and the response from the audience and my fellow colleagues on the Committee. 

It is beginning to sink in I am getting to be an old man. [Laughter.] 

Less talk about this. 

Thank you, both. 

Mr. GOHMERT. But on a serious note, you all know what we are 

doing here is terribly serious and can help a great number of people. 

It just really is nice when we can work together on things. 

So I appreciate your efforts in that regard and for the good that 

you will do the people that are helped by this bill or the bills combined together. 

Thank you. I yield back. 

Mr. SCOTT. Thank you. 

The gentleman from Georgia. 

Mr. JOHNSON. Yes. 

Thank you, Mr. Chair. 

And I wanted to commend all three congress people as well as 

the Chairman for bringing these important bills protecting our seniors to the floor of this Subcommittee and, ultimately, to the full 

Committee and before the full Congress. 

Each of us has, in our districts, numerous instances of elderly 

people wandering off from the care of their loved ones or from 

whatever facility that they are living in. 

We must have in place the resources like that to protect our elderly and ensure that they do not become victims of their own disorientation or of others who would seek to take advantage of them 

in their weakened state. 

So I want to thank the panelists for coming and for your determination in making this happen. 

Thank you. 

Mr. SCOTT. Thank you. 

The gentleman yields back. 

And our long-serving, experienced senior citizen—— [Laughter.] 

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Chairman, hush that talk. [Laughter.] 

Mr. SCOTT. The gentleman from North Carolina. 

Mr. COBLE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be very brief. 

It has already been said. I want to commend Mr. Doggett and 

Mr. Bilirakis and Mrs. Myrick for the work they have done on this. 

And I commend you, Mr. Chairman and Mr. Gohmert. I think it 

is a good idea to consolidate the three, which I think is plan of the 

day. 

And I am supportive. 

Thank you. 

I yield back. 

42 

Mr. SCOTT. Thank you. 

I want to thank our witnesses for their testimony. 

Members may have additional written questions for the witnesses which we will forward to you and ask that you answer as 

promptly as you can so the answers may be part of the record. 

Without objection, the hearing record will remain open for 1 

week for the submission of additional materials. 

We would like to mark these up as soon as possible. 

I think the likelihood of getting a quorum is, based on experience, somewhat remote at this point, but we will try to skip a couple of steps if we can once we get the agreed-to legislative language. 

Again, I want to express my appreciation for your willingness to 

work together. I think the senior citizens will be greatly helped 

with the legislation that we will be adopting with your help and 

cooperation. 

If there are no further comments and without objection, the Subcommittee will stand adjourned. 

[Whereupon, at 3:03 p.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.] 

(43) 

A P P E N D I X 

MATERIAL SUBMITTED FOR THE HEARING RECORD

PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE SHEILA JACKSON LEE, A REPRESENTATIVE

IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND MEMBER, SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME, TERRORISM, AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Thank you Chairman Scott and ranking member Gohmert for your leadership in 

holding today’s very important hearing which is aimed at making America a safer 

place. These bills address health and safety issues for adults and vulnerable populations within America. Specifically, the Subcommittee will hold a hearing on three 

bills: H.R. 6064, the ‘‘National Silver Alert Act’’; H.R. 5898, the ‘‘Silver Alert Grant 

Program Act’’; and H.R. 423, the ‘‘Kristen’s Act Reauthorization of 2007.’’ During 

this hearing, the Subcommittee will examine the problem of elderly individuals who 

go missing because of dementia, diminished capacity, foul play, or other circumstances. 

Witnesses will include the following: 

1. Honorable Lloyd Doggett, 25th District of Texas, Sponsor of H.R. 6064, the 

‘‘National Silver Alert Act’’ 

2. Honorable Gus M. Bilirakis, 9th District of Florida, Sponsor of H.R. 5898, 

the ‘‘Silver Alert Grant Program Act’’ 

3. Honorable Sue Wilkins Myrick, 9th District of North Carolina, Sponsor of 

H.R. 423, the ‘‘Kristen’s Act Reauthorization of 2007’’ 

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 sixty 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% 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’’ 

H.R. 6064 sets forth a comprehensive national program. It directs the Attorney 

General to establish a permanent national Silver Alert communications program 

44 

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% and amounts appropriated under this authorization shall remain available until expended. 

B. H.R. 5898, THE ‘‘SILVER ALERT GRANT PROGRAM ACT OF 2008’’ 

H.R. 5898 seeks to accomplish three purposes: the creation of a grant program, 

the promotion of best practices, and an increased awareness of the need for coordinated efforts to locate missing individuals. The bill authorizes a grant program for 

State-administered notification systems to help locate missing persons suffering 

from Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia related illnesses. The grants are to be 

used to establish and implement Silver Alert systems or to make improvements to 

existing Silver Alert programs. The bill sets forth the Sense of Congress that Silver 

Alert systems should be used only for individuals who are incapable of making personal care decisions or managing their own personal affairs. The bill requires the 

Attorney General to prepare an annual report related to State Silver Alert systems. 

The bill authorizes $5.6 million for each fiscal year 2009 through 2013, with a minimum award of $100,000. 

C. H.R. 423, THE ‘‘KRISTEN’S ACT REAUTHORIZATION OF 2007’’ 

H.R. 423 reauthorizes Kristen’s Act (P.L. 106–468), which had authorized annual 

grants from 2001 through 2004 for the purpose of finding missing adults. Unlike the 

previous two bills, grants under H.R. 423 are not limited to States, but may be 

awarded to public agencies and nonprofit organizations. The grants are to be used 

to (1) maintain a national resource center and information clearinghouse; (2) maintain a national database for the purpose of tracking missing adults who are endangered due to age, diminished mental capacity, or when foul play is suspected or the 

circumstances are unknown; (3) coordinate public and private programs that locate 

missing adults and reunite them with their families; (4) provide assistance and 

training to law enforcement agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit organizations and other individuals involved in the criminal justice system in matters related to missing adults; (5) provide assistance to families in locating missing adults; 

and (6) assist in public notification of missing adults and victim advocacy. The bill 

authorizes $4 million annually for fiscal years 2008 through 2018. 

D. 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. 

45 

E. 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 Cook, a native of Houston, Texas, called 

me to help look for him. Mr. Cook 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. Cook, 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. 

I believe that the amendments that I offered and these bills help elderly people. 

I urge my colleagues to support them. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I yield the remainder of my time. 

f 

46 

f 


A.eps
47 

Æ 


B.eps