After Years of Advocacy, Senate Passes 'Billy's Law'

Press Release

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday applauded Senate passage of the bipartisan Help Find the Missing Act or "Billy's Law." This legislation will close loopholes in America's missing persons systems by streamlining the missing persons reporting process and ensuring that law enforcement databases are more accessible and comprehensive.

Billy's Law was originally introduced in the House of Representatives in 2009 by then-Congressman Chris Murphy. The bill was conceived by Janice and Bill Smolinski of Cheshire, Connecticut, after their 31-year-old son Billy went missing from Waterbury, Connecticut. While working with law enforcement to locate her missing son, the Smolinskis faced countless systemic challenges, most significantly federal databases about missing persons and unidentified remains that were incomplete and uncoordinated. Billy's Law was introduced to address those challenges and help ensure that the tens of thousands of American families whose loved ones go missing each year do not experience the same hurdles faced by the Smolinskis.

"I met the Smolinskis when I was first elected to Congress. I was outraged by the obstacles they faced in searching for their missing son Billy and inspired by their determined fight for change. There are thousands of families like the Smolinskis who are forced to navigate a broken missing persons system while dealing with the unthinkable heartache of a loved one's disappearance. I've introduced this commonsense fix every Congress since 2009, and I'm grateful to my colleagues, Billy's family, the family of Gabby Petito, and countless other families searching for their loved ones for their efforts to get this bill across the finish line in the Senate. I look forward to this legislation passing in the House and heading to the President's desk," said Murphy.

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