Alford Leads Legislation to Strengthen Missing Persons Framework for Those With Disabilities

Today, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04), Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08) introduced the Enhanced Alerts for Missing Loved Ones with Disabilities Act of 2026. This critical legislation will enhance the national missing person alert system, as well as expand state-level first responder training and education, to more fully cover individuals with developmental disabilities and adults with Alzheimer's or dementia.

This legislation will help prevent future cases similar to a tragic instance out of Cass County, Missouri where a teen with autism went missing and drowned. Earlier this year, the Missouri legislature passed similar legislation to create a "Purple Alert" system, which now awaits Governor Kehoe's signature. This bicameral bill brings those efforts to the federal level.

"Families in Missouri and across America should never have to wonder if our alert systems will find their missing loved ones with a developmental or cognitive disability," said Congressman Alford. "The Enhanced Alerts for Missing Loved Ones with Disabilities Act closes dangerous gaps in our national missing person framework, while ensuring first responders have the training and tools they need to bring vulnerable individuals home safely. Missouri led the way with RJ's law, and now were bringing those efforts to the federal level. This is commonsense, life-saving legislation that I'm proud to lead."

"Strengthening our federal alert systems to better protect individuals with intellectual disabilities is commonsense," said Senator Schmitt. "The Enhanced Alerts for Missing Loved Ones with Disabilities Act will improve existing protocols for disability-specific emergencies and will equip our law enforcement with the tools they need to respond appropriately and save lives."

"There are real gaps in our national missing-person alert framework that do not account for individuals with developmental, cognitive, or intellectual disabilities, leaving communities without timely notifications and law enforcement without the training or tools to respond," said Congressman Smith. "Missouri has already taken action with RJ's Law, and it's time the federal government follows suit. This legislation will strengthen our nation's missing-person alert systems to give first responders access to the training they need to act fast and save lives."

Read the text of the legislation here.

Background:

Individuals with developmental, cognitive, or intellectual disabilities face significantly higher risks when they go missing, and existing alert systems were not designed with their needs in mind. The current national missing person alert system (Ashanti Alert) criteria does not explicitly account for individuals with developmental disabilities, or adults with dementia or Alzheimer's disease-making clear the need to enhance our alert systems and expand first responder training for these cases.

By strengthening federal alert systems and providing additional training resources for first responders, this legislation will ensure vulnerable individuals are identified quickly, appropriate search protocols are activated, and communities receive timely, actionable information. These improvements will save lives and provide families and law enforcement with the tools they need to respond effectively.

Summary of the Legislation:

The Enhanced Alerts for Missing Loved Ones with Disabilities Act strengthens existing national missing-person alert systems and directs states to provide specialized first-responder training and education for cases of missing individuals with disabilities by:

• Amending Kristen's Act to expand the definition of "health care needs" by including developmental disabilities, Alzheimer's disease, dementia.
• Amending Kristen's Act as well as the PROTECT Act to direct states to provide training and educational programs to better respond to missing adult and children with disabilities.

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