U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) this week spearheaded efforts to move the Kelsey Smith Act closer to a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Tiahrt, the sponsor of the Kelsey Smith Act, met with House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher (D-Va.), Rep. Lee Terry (R- Neb.) and Greg and Missy Smith, parents of Kelsey Smith, from Johnson County, Kan., to discuss the next steps in bringing it up for a vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
The Kelsey Smith Act would require wireless phone companies to swiftly respond to law enforcement requests for location information of victims who are in jeopardy of death or serious physical harm.
Greg and Missy Smith said, "We are really encouraged by our meeting with Chairman Boucher, Congressman Terry, and Congressman Tiahrt. We are hopeful that it will pass committee soon and get to the House floor for a vote."
Tiahrt said, "We know that when law enforcement has access to this technology at a moment’s notice— it saves lives. The Kelsey Smith Act will give law enforcement additional resources to quickly locate a victim whose life is at risk. This is non-controversial legislation that should be quickly voted on in committee so we can move it through Congress and get it to the president’s desk for his signature.
"It was an honor to have Greg and Missy at the meeting today whose input on this bill is invaluable."
The bill is named after 18-year-old Kelsey Smith from Johnson County, who was tragically abducted and murdered in 2007.
For four days, her cell phone provider refused to release Smith’s cell phone location information to law enforcement officials. When the company finally released the information, her body was found within 45 minutes using the cell tower information from her phone.
