I
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5317
To develop, coordinate, and improve the AMBER Alert communications
network throughout the country.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 4, 2002
Mr. FOLEY (for himself, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. GREEN-
WOOD, Ms. BROWN
of Florida, Mr. HASTINGS
of Florida, Mrs.
TAUSCHER, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. TIBERI,
Mr. HAYES, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. SCHROCK, Mr. BORSKI, Mr.
GRAHAM, Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr.
BOYD, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mr. GRUCCI, and Mr. KELLER) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned
A BILL
To develop, coordinate, and improve the AMBER Alert
communications network throughout the country.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National AMBER
Alert Act of 2002’’.
SEC. 2. AMBER ALERT COORDINATION.
(a) COORDINATOR.—The Attorney General shall es-
tablish an AMBER Alert Coordinator position (referred
to in this section as ‘‘the Coordinator’’). The Coordinator
shall—
(1) establish, with the assistance of the Na-
tional Center for Missing and Exploited Children
and the Federal Communications Commission,
guidelines for implementing a statewide Amber Alert
plan not later than 60 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act;
(2) provide technical assistance to the States,
broadcasters, and law enforcement agencies in im-
plementing AMBER Alert plans;
(3) certify, not later than 90 days after a cer-
tification request is received, to the Secretary of
Transportation any State that—
(A) has established or agrees to establish
a statewide AMBER Alert plan not later than
1 year after receiving a grant under section 3;
(B) agrees to establish a reciprocal ar-
rangement with other States, including sharing
of information regarding the initiation of an
AMBER Alert; and
(C) is in compliance with the guidelines es-
tablished pursuant to paragraph (1);
(4) deny certification, not later than 90 days
after a certification request is received and provide
notification of such denial to the Secretary of Trans-
portation, to any State that fails to comply with the
certification requirements described in paragraph
(3);
(5) monitor compliance and revoke certification
of any State that fails to establish an AMBER Alert
plan in accordance with the 1-year period referred to
in paragraph (3)(A) and provide notification of such
revocation to the State and the Secretary of Trans-
portation;
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
$500,000 for fiscal year 2003 and such sums as may be
necessary for fiscal years 2004 through 2007. Such sums
shall remain available until expended.
SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation
shall make grants to States to develop, acquire, install,
and construct facilities and equipment along highways to
notify the public of missing children (including a descrip-
tion of such children), information regarding any abductor
of such children, and other relevant information.