WASHINGTON (4 Jun) – U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.) today succeeded in getting the entire Florida congressional delegation to co-sponsor his legislation creating a national Silver Alert grant program.

The Silver Alert Grant Program Act, H.R. 5898, would provide U.S. states and territories with the means to implement an Amber Alert-like notification system to help families, friends and authorities locate missing older adults suffering from dementia-related illnesses. The bipartisan measure currently has 76 co-sponsors hailing from all ends of the political spectrum, including all of Florida's Congressional delegation.

"From the very beginning, I have said that this bill is a common sense issue for Congress to immediately act on. My Florida colleagues agree," said Bilirakis. "It seems that almost daily, an elderly adult suffering from a dementia-related illness goes missing. Fortunately, many are found unharmed, but ever more are missing for longer periods, thereby increasing the risk for tragedy.”

On Tuesday, Congressman Bilirakis brought together state legislators, and regional elderly and Alzheimer’s advocates, to discuss the urgent need for a Silver Alert system in Florida. During the event, Florida State Representatives Tom Anderson (R-Dunedin), Kurt Kelly (R-Ocala) and Peter Nehr (R-Tarpon Springs) pledged to support Silver Alert legislation to be introduced in the State Legislature next session.

"It is so critical that we get this system implemented in a state with such a high population of elderly adults 65 and older who are most prone to suffering from dementia," said Bilirakis. "Silver Alert systems have been proven to save lives in other states, and Florida should not be an exception."