Judiciary Committee Approves Grassley Bill to Reauthorize National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
WASHINGTON
– The Senate Judiciary
Committee, led by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), approved by voice vote the Missing Children’s Assistance Act of
2018. The bill, authored by Grassley, would reauthorize
the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and continue the
fight against child abduction and exploitation.
“This legislation will support and modernize the
work of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which works
every day to help families, caregivers, schools and communities prevent the
exploitation of children. It’s commonsense to get this done and protect
children. I look forward to the bill’s consideration by the full Senate,” Grassley said.
The
bill is cosponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif), Orrin Hatch
(R-Utah), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Dean Heller (R-Nev.),
Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and
Richard Durbin (D-Illinois). It was introduced in August
and must pass the full Senate before it is considered by the House of
Representatives.
The
legislation updates terms that are used in the Missing Children’s Assistance
Act to reflect the latest research and trends. It extends funding for five more
years, at the current level of $40 million, for the National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children and other organizations that help prevent and respond to
offenses committed against vulnerable children. It also ensures continued
federal support of efforts by state and local entities to recover missing and
exploited children—including children who are the victims of kidnapping and
child pornography crimes. And the bill includes measures to ensure that school
personnel, law enforcement, individuals and other non-governmental
organizations can receive technical assistance and training on how to prevent,
recover, and help missing, abducted, or exploited children.
Full text of the bill can be
found HERE.
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