Goodlatte Floor Statement on Kevin and Avonte's Law

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) delivered the following remarks on the House floor in support of the Kevin and Avonte’s Law of 2016 (H.R. 4919). Chairman Goodlatte: “It is estimated that 60 percent of the 5.3 million individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and 49 percent of children with autism are susceptible to wandering, or leaving safe areas and the protection of a responsible caregiver. “The results of wandering can be devastating to the individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and children with developmental disabilities. The legislation we are considering today is named in honor of two boys with autism who wandered away from their caregivers and tragically drowned. The special circumstances surrounding cases of wandering individuals are circumstances that people in local communities, such as first responders and school personnel, are often not specifically trained to handle.  The cost to local communities for a search for a missing person is extremely expensive, even in instances where the local law enforcement agency is trained. “That is why we are considering Kevin and Avonte’s Law of 2016.  It reauthorizes the ‘Missing Alzheimer’s Disease Patient Alert Program,’ and broadens the program to protect children with autism. “This legislation authorizes DOJ to make grants to law enforcement agencies, public safety agencies, and nonprofit organizations, to provide educational wandering-prevention programming to families and caretakers of individuals who wander, as well as training to first responders and school personnel to facilitate rescue and recovery. “The bill also enables parents and caregivers to apply for voluntary, non-invasive tracking technology that can be used to help locate a person who has wandered away from the care and safety of his or her home. While these devices are already in widespread use, there are many families that simply can’t afford them. The result is oftentimes an expensive search, borne by state and local law enforcement agencies, that all too frequently results in tragic consequences. “We have worked hard to address the privacy concerns that some have raised about this bill. The updated language makes it explicitly clear that this is a completely voluntary program, that all tracking devises must be non-invasive, and that the federal government may not store location data related to the devices. Finally, we make it clear that such devices are only to be recommended where they are the least restrictive alternative. “American communities are safer when they are equipped with the training to prevent tragedies from happening. This legislation will assist communities in receiving valuable education on how to prevent individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and children with autism from wandering, and to respond quickly and appropriately in cases in which they do. I urge all Members to support this legislation.” ###