To Family Members and Friends of the Missing,
Monday, November 5th, 2007, might be remembered by those involved in the missing persons cause as a day in which a huge step backwards was taken.
Unless something major breaks in the way of funding, this will be the day in which the National Center for Missing Adults (NCMA) will close their doors. Thousands of families will be affected, now and in the future.
Why is this happening?
The answer is complex, but in summary:
· The NCMA stepped up and assisted over 13,000 victims of Hurricane Katrina and was to be reimbursed for those expenditures, which were close to $250,000. At this time, the NCMA has only received $50,000 to cover the work they did at the request of the Dept. of Justice.
· The 2007 re-authorization of Kristens Law, (HR 423) which would provide the NCMA with up to $4 million per year in funding for 10 years, continues to remain in the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security committee, with no action taken to help the center. This re-authorization effort has been in the works unsuccessfully since 2005.
· As experienced not only by the NCMA, but by other national organizations, including ours, the public does not generally consider missing adults assistance nonprofits as a part of their charitable giving plans. Corporations are also hesitant to provide funding, and grant makers dont seem responsive, either. This lack of support has also contributed to the problem.
What will save the NCMA at this late hour?
If an angel company or person comes forward who can help keep the center operating until the Kristens Law Re-authorization funds are released.
AND/OR
The DOJ immediately releases the funds owed to the NCMA from their work related to Hurricane Katrina.
What Can I Do?
I spent time talking with Kym Pasqualini, founder of the NCMA, late last night, and based upon the conversation, this is what she asks of you if you feel moved to help with a final effort.
· Kym feels that, out of all the national media, the person who could best help with exposure and a push for action is Larry King of CNNs Larry King Live Show. She says that Larrys show is watched by many members of congress and that he is not afraid to step on toes to get something accomplished. If she could get a spot on his show as soon as possible, she plans to talk candidly about the situation.
If you can help with this step, please write to Larry King at
larrykinglive@cnn.com and ask him to have Kym on as a guest immediately. Keep in mind that even if a spot on the show is not successful at moving congress or getting the Katrina reimbursement, it could reach the angel company or person as mentioned above.
· Contact Peter D. Keisler, acting Attorney General, and let him know how you feel about missing adults losing their national clearinghouse and resource. Mention the 2007 re-authorization of Kristens Law, (HR 423) You can also write to Vice President Dick Cheney at
vice_president@whitehouse.gov The White House fax is 202-456-2461. Use
AskDOJ@usdoj.gov to send correspondence to the Attorney Generals office.
· The webpage for the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security is
http://judiciary.house.gov/committee...px?committee=6 Once there, click on the names of the various members and be redirected to their own websites with contact information. You can also write to your congressman.
Time is quickly running out for this years session, so please send your letters right away.
No matter what happens, we need to find a way to gain more support from the general public for our missing persons assistance organizations. We cannot allow the continued disintegration of all we have worked so hard for in the past few years.
Not only would the loss of the NCMA represent less support for families of the missing, but it also means that another avenue of training for law enforcement is gone. (When fully funded, the NCMA had assisted with providing specialized missing adults investigative training through the excellent Fox Valley Technical College .)
I know I have asked much of you, so if you can only do one thing suggested in this letter, write to Larry King and ask him to have Kym on as a guest right away.
Remember when the NCMA was there for you? Now you can be there for them.
If we do not try, then we will never succeed. If we do try, then we have a chance.
There is always hope.