Schumer, Gillibrand Call On President Bush To Declare Suzanne Lyall's Birthday 'National Missing Persons Day'

With thousands of Americans going missing every year, today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Congresswoman Kristin Gillibrand called on President Bush to immediately declare April 6th "National Missing Persons Day." This ratchetsup their efforts to shine light on this tragic problem, and comes after both representatives successfully spearheaded resolutions in the Senate and House of Representatives to bring greater awareness to the issue of missing persons. The Capital Region experienced firsthand the disappearance of Suzanne Lyall, a University at Albany student, who was last seen on March 2, 1998.

"It's absolutely essential that we shine light on the hundreds of New Yorkers who go missing every year. Here in the Capital Region, the memory of Suzanne Lyall is a tragic reminder that we must do everything humanly possible to extend help and hope to those in need," said Senator Schumer. "National Missing Persons Day" will not only memorialize Suzanne Lyall, but will also raise the nation's awareness of the plight of missing peoples and foster an environment where more missing people may be located."

 "It is my hope that the President will issue a Proclamation establishing April 6th as 'National Missing Persons Day.'  This day will allow Americans to appropriately remember the victims, their families, and the efforts of local law enforcement and the community," Congresswoman Gillibrand said.  "The United States Congress has unanimously approved of establishing a day to bring awareness to the issue of missing persons, and I will continue to work with Senator Schumer and the Lyall family to help prevent future tragedies from occurring."

Each year tens of thousands of people go missing in the United States, and on any given day, there are as many as 100,000 active missing person cases in the United States.  In 1983, President Reagan established May 25 as National Missing Children's Day, but a day has not been set aside to remember those Americans who are over the age of 18 and missing from their families.  Issuing a Presidential Proclamation would be the next step in bringing a greater awareness to the issue of all missing persons - something that confronts so many American families and communities.

April 6th is the birthday of Suzanne Lyall, a 19yearold sophomore at the University at Albany who disappeared on March 2, 1998 after leaving work at Crossgates Mall in Guilderland.  Schumer and Gillibrand are hoping that April 6th can also become the national day of remembrance for all missing Americans

Last April, the United States Senate unanimously adopted S. Res. 112, a bipartisan resolution designating April 6, 2007 as National Missing Persons Day.  Similarly, on September 24, 2007, the United States House of Representatives agreed to H. Res. 303, expressing the sense of the House that a day ought to be established to bring awareness to the issue of all missing persons.

 In 2003, at the request of the Lyall Family, Senator Schumer sponsored an amendment to the Amber Alert bill.   The amendment created "Suzanne's Law," which prohibits law enforcement agencies from imposing a waiting period before accepting reports of missing persons between the ages of 18 and 21.