OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN DAN BURTON
FIFTH DISTRICT, INDIANA
2185 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515
PHONE (202) 225-2276
FAX (202) 225-0016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: STEPHEN E. SCHATZ
NOVEMBER 28, 2005
(202) 225-2276
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Congressman Dan Burton [R-IN-05] was pleased to announce that he secured $25,000 for the Miami County Sheriffs' Department. The $25,000, included in the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 [Public Law No: 109-108], will go towards the implementation of the Nation's Missing Children Organization and National Center for Missing Adults' Children's Identification and Location Database (CHILD) Project.
"Protecting our nation's most treasured assets, our children, is and will continue to be one of the preeminent missions of our government. I'll continue to do everything in my power to protect Hoosier children and their families" said Burton.
According to The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 2,000 American children are reported missing everyday. Even though there are over 30 agencies in the United States and Canada that work to provide victim assistance and education, there is currently no national biometric identification registry.
"In order to protect our most vulnerable, law enforcement departments, social services agencies, and various child advocacy groups need access to the most up-to-date technology, including the latest in biometrics. With the advancement and portability of high-resolution digital cameras, a national child biometric registry is achievable. And with the determined commitment of our government, and its various agencies, we can better protect our youth" stated Burton.
The CHILD Project will help create a secure nationwide network database and registry. Using iris recognition biometric technology, Miami County, Indiana, along with other counties that implement the CHILD Project, will be able to quickly and positively identify missing children within seconds.
"In addition to the $25,000 that I helped secure for the Miami County, I am also pleased that the Project received another $25,000 from the Department of Justice's Edward Byrne Discretionary Grant Program" concluded Burton.
To learn more about Congressman Dan Burton's achievements during this session of Congress, please visit his website at http://www.house.gov/burton.