Bean Introduces Bi-Partisan Legislation Aimed at Supporting Missing and Exploited Children

Representative Aaron Bean has filed the bi-partisan Missing Children’s Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2023.

Co-sponsored by Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT), the proposed bill renews the Missing Children’s Assistance Act (MCAA) and increases support for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

The MCAA designated the NCMEC as the national resource center for assisting in the coordination of state and local efforts to recover and support missing and exploited children.

In 2022, the NCMEC contributed to the recovery of missing children in 24,326 cases. 

“Reauthorizing the MCAA gives hope and encouragement to loved ones during a time of immense heartbreak and uncertainty. Time is a critical factor in the search and recovery effort, and this bill will modernize the reporting system, so law enforcement can more efficiently find missing persons and bring closure to countless families to ensure the NCMEC can continue their critical mission to help find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation, and prevent child victimization,” said Chairman Bean.

.@RepAaronBean & @RepJoeCourtney introduced the Missing Children’s Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2023, bipartisan legislation to bolster support for youth who are missing, reduce sexual exploitation & prevent child victimization.
 
More info: https://t.co/BKGyKRpQDh pic.twitter.com/AgSXneFuSs

— House Committee on Education & the Workforce (@EdWorkforceCmte) August 21, 2023

The MCAA will develop educational materials on background check operations for adults working with children and on how to reduce the risk of child sex trafficking. Additionally, the bill provides for support services to missing and exploited children and their families and facilitates requests to have child sexual abuse material removed from the internet.

Finally, the MCAA ups funding for related programs from Missing Children’s Assistance from $40,000,000 to $49,300,000 for each fiscal year from 2024 t0 2028. 

Bean serves as the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Chairman. 

The subcommittee oversees legislation relating to the formation of children from early education to the High School level.