Hearing on Silver Alert Act

Judiciary Crime Subcommittee Hearing on

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"

Statement by Rep. Maxine Waters

July 15, 2008
2:00 pm
2237 Rayburn House Office Building

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.