WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today recorded new audio about progress on the Kelsey Smith Act, including House and Senate bill introduction and Missey Smith’s testimony before a House subcommittee earlier today.

Senator Roberts’ audio can be downloaded below. For more on the Kelsey Smith Act, go here.

Video and audio of Missey Smith’s moving testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology can be found here at the 45:50 mark. Missey Smith is the mother of Kelsey Smith and serves as the Treasurer of the Kelsey Smith Foundation.

The following is text of Senator Roberts’ audio remarks:

Congressman Kevin Yoder and I have been working on the Kelsey Smith Act and we have some progress to announce.

I have re- introduced the Senate version of the bill to accompany Congressman Yoder’s House bill.

And, Kelsey Smith’s parents, Greg and Missey Smith, will be in Washington to testify before the House Commerce Committee about the need for Kelsey Smith Act protections to be available to all Americans.

Our bills honor the memory of 18-year-old Kelsey Smith who was abducted in broad daylight from an Overland Park department store and murdered. The abduction was captured on the store’s security camera leaving little doubt of the emergency nature of the circumstances. Four days after she disappeared, authorities were able to locate Kelsey’s body after her wireless provider released the “ping” or “call location” information from her cell phone. Providing this information as fast as possible is critical to ensure law enforcement officials can rescue victims in imminent danger of death or serious physical harm.

The Kelsey Smith Act provides industry and law enforcement with the necessary tools to work together to do everything they can to find a loved one in danger when seconds count.

Thanks to the tireless advocacy of Greg and Missey Smith, 22 states have the Kelsey Smith law on the books. It is past time to make this protection available to all Americans.

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