May 14, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 80 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H3774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     ENACT NATIONAL STANDARDS TO PROTECT CHILDREN LIKE MALEAH DAVIS

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell the story, very 
briefly, of little 4-year-old Maleah Davis, who has now been missing 
for almost 2 weeks.
  Just a few days ago, it was said that her dad was taking her and her 
younger brother to the airport. All of a sudden, he says she was 
kidnapped.
  This is a little girl who was taken away from this family by CPS last 
year and, unfortunately, returned to that family by a judge at the 
beginning of this year. The little girl was abused and had brain 
surgery.
  All of a sudden, after being kidnapped, the story that was told by 
the father was that he was unconscious from Friday to Saturday evening 
at 6 p.m.
  My heart has gone out to that family and that little girl.
  I thank law enforcement in Texas and in Houston, along with Texas 
EquuSearch and other volunteers who poured their hearts out to find 
this little girl.
  We now know that this individual is under arrest. Blood has been 
found in the apartment. Other items or activity suggest that maybe that 
wasn't the true story.
  I believe, as the chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, we 
must define how CPS returns children to their families, and there must 
be national standards.
  I pray for the little girl, and I pray for those who love her.

                          ____________________