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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Carolyn Lewis, Vice President of National Child ID Program
7:58:00
·
123 sec
Carolyn Lewis, Vice President of the National Child ID Program, presented information about their child safety initiative and sought support for funding DNA kits. The program aims to provide families with tools to quickly gather DNA information in case of child abductions or missing persons cases.
- The program partners with organizations like NOBLE, NFL teams, and focuses on communities of color
- They are seeking $1 million in funding, which they will match to provide 600,000 free DNA kits to students
- The program is not federally funded and relies on sponsorships, scholarships, and donations
Carolyn Lewis
7:58:00
Appreciate the opportunity.
7:58:01
My name is Carolyn Lewis.
7:58:02
I'm vice president of the National Child ID Program.
7:58:05
Although this is a public safety concern, the reason I'm reaching out to the education committee and finance is just to speak to you a little bit.
7:58:13
The National Child ID program was founded in 1997 after the tragic ab abduction of Amber Hagerman, which is where the Amber light came from.
7:58:22
And we have since part during that time, it took Amra's family seven days to gather her DNA.
7:58:30
This program that I'm speaking about, we have partnered with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the NFL All 32 Teams Caring for Kids program, and Hall of Famers.
7:58:41
It is a comprehensive informational kit, three card stock kit that the family would keep.
7:58:47
It does not go in the database.
7:58:48
It does not be given to the authorities.
7:58:51
Everyone I believe everyone would know the most important thing you could do in a matter of minutes when a person goes missing is direct DNA.
7:59:00
What we are asking for and how we have partnered, I'm just going to mention one thing.
7:59:05
We know that May 25 is National Missing Child Children's Day, and that's really one of the reasons that I wanted to come on.
7:59:14
The Child IDEA is partnered with NOBLE, National Congress of American Indians, and we focus on trying to bring this gift of safety to communities specifically of color.
7:59:24
More than 2,300 children between 11 and 21 go missing every single day.
7:59:29
That's about four hundred and sixty thousand.
7:59:31
The our call to action is we are seeking your help in raising $1,000,000 for a manufacturing grant.
7:59:39
If the amount is secured, the National Child ID program will match dollar for dollar, allowing us to provide 600,000 free child children DNA kits to students across The US.
7:59:52
We are also we are we are a program that is not federally funded.
7:59:56
We are based on sponsorships, scholarships, and donations.
Justin Brannan
8:00:00
Your time has expired.
8:00:01
Thank you.
Carolyn Lewis
8:00:02
Thank you.