PRINTER'S NO. 4064
No. 791 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY WATERS, BISHOP, JAMES, KIRKLAND, WASHINGTON,
BEBKO-JONES, BROWNE, CAUSER, CORRIGAN, DeLUCA, FABRIZIO,
FORCIER, GEORGE, GOODMAN, HARHAI, HORSEY, MELIO, LEWIS,
MAJOR, McGILL, PALLONE, PETRI, READSHAW, ROEBUCK, RUBLEY,
SANTONI, B. SMITH, BARRAR, BOYD, CAPPELLI, CLYMER, CRUZ,
DiGIROLAMO, FLEAGLE, FREEMAN, GINGRICH, GRUCELA, HERMAN,
KENNEY, LEDERER, LYNCH, McCALL, MYERS, PAYNE, PISTELLA,
ROBERTS, ROSS, SAINATO, SCAVELLO, SOLOBAY, TANGRETTI, WEBER,
YOUNGBLOOD, JOSEPHS, GABIG, SHANER, TIGUE, WOJNAROSKI,
DeWEESE, DALEY AND FAIRCHILD, JUNE 15, 2004
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JUNE 15, 2004
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the week of June 13, 2004, as "Child Abduction
2 Prevention and Safety Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, The tragedy of missing children is a national
4 problem which must be continually addressed; and
5 WHEREAS, There are nearly 800,000 children reported missing
6 in the United States each year (more than 2,000 per day); and
7 WHEREAS, Statistics from the United States Department of
8 Justice put the chance of a child becoming missing at 1 in 42;
9 and
10 WHEREAS, Each year 58,200 children are abducted by nonfamily
11 members, 203,900 children are the victims of family abductions
12 and 115 children are the victims of the most serious, long-term
13 abductions, of which 56% are recovered alive and 40% are killed;
1 and
2 WHEREAS, The Federal Bureau of Investigation has 2,100 new
3 missing children reports each day; and
4 WHEREAS, According to the Vanished Children's Alliance, every
5 40 seconds another child is missing or abducted; and
6 WHEREAS, The largest number of missing children are runaways,
7 followed by family abductions, lost, injured or otherwise
8 missing children and nonfamily abductions, the category in which
9 the child is at greatest risk of injury or death; and
10 WHEREAS, The increase in missing children since 1982 has been
11 468%; and
12 WHEREAS, The most important abduction prevention strategy is
13 to maintain healthy communication with a child and spouse; and
14 WHEREAS, A recent survey conducted by the National Center for
15 Missing and Exploited Children found that 34% of parents did not
16 know their child's height, weight and eye color, the three key
17 pieces of information investigators need; and
18 WHEREAS, Child abduction safety awareness includes compiling
19 yearly pictures, fingerprints, footprints and updated medical
20 and dental records; and
21 WHEREAS, Children should be taught their formal names,
22 telephone number and how to call 911; and
23 WHEREAS, Parents should always educate their children and
24 themselves about child abduction safety tips, physical and
25 sexual abuse and children's rights; and
26 WHEREAS, Children need positive adult role models who are
27 empowered with the knowledge to help protect them; therefore be
28 it
29 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
30 week of June 13, 2004, as "Child Abduction Prevention and Safety
20040H0791R4064 - 2 -
1 Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
F7L82JAM/20040H0791R4064 - 3 -