Members:
NCISS Legislative Chair
Jimmie Mesis today urged Congress to pass HR 3695, the "Help
Find the Missing Act". This legislation is the subject of a
hearing Thursday (January 21, 2010) in the
House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism &
Homeland Security.
HR 3695 would permit the US
Department of
Justice to share information about missing individuals in
the
NCIC database with the National
Missing and
Unidentified Persons System (NamUS), a database that is
available to both law enforcement and private individuals.
Mesis explained that
private
investigators are called upon to locate missing
individuals because law enforcement often lacks the resources
and may have jurisdictional issues. Mesis stated that while
this legislation is helpful, other pending legislation would be
harmful.
"We must point out that at
the same time (HR 3695 is being considered), Congress is
considering legislation which would limit access to databases
which assist us in locating lost individuals. One such bill is
HR 3306, now before the Committee on
Ways & Means. HR 3306 would effectively deny
investigators access to databases which use Social Security
numbers to identify individuals. Access to such information is
particularly important for solving parental abductions," said
Mesis.
Mesis urged Congress to
support exceptions to permit access to databases for locating
lost individuals as well as finding both witnesses and
criminals. Details regarding the necessary exceptions have been
provided to the Subcommittee staff.
Specific information on HR
3695 can be found on "Thomas", the government web site at the
Library of Congress. Go to
HR 3695
Legislative Chair Mesis
and Legislative Advocate Larry Sabbath along with NCISS
Legislative Committee members
Steve Kirby,
Ed McClain, Brian McGuinness and Vince Ruffolo provide
unwavering diligence by watching out for the interests
of private investigators and security professionals. NCISS is
truly "your voice" in the Nation's Capitol.
Thank you to Jimmie Mesis
and to the entire legislative team.
Sincerely,
