Kari’s Law bill passes House; Senate vote date uncertain
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Kari’s Law bill passes House; Senate vote date uncertain
Since then, Kari’s father Hank Hunt has advocated for legislation to eliminate prefixes and suffixes for 911 calls made on MLTSs. A version of Kari’s Law has been passed in Suffolk County, N.Y., as well as in the states of Illinois, Maryland, Texas and Tennessee. Similar legislation is being considered in Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
“This legislation will not reverse the heartbreaking loss of Kari Rene Hunt or her daughter’s horror, as she told her grandfather, when she called 911 four times and could not get help,” Rep. Gohmert said in a statement this week. “However, it will create a legacy for Kari that will safeguard others from this kind of trauma.”
With this in mind, Gohmert expressed optimism that Kari’s Law will be enacted nationwide.
“The indications are that the Senate will now take up this legislation and pass it,” according to Gohmert’s statement. “With the House legislation now having passed out of both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the full House of Representatives (on May 23), no child or adult should ever again pick up the phone to call for help and get nothing.”
FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai, a longtime advocate for Kari’s Law initiatives, echoed this sentiment.
“I applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for passing Kari’s Law (H.R. 4167) last night,” said FCC Commissioner and Kari’s Law advocate Ajit Pai in a May 24 statement. “The passage of this legislation is due first and foremost to the courageous leadership that Hank Hunt, Kari’s father, has shown in drawing attention to this critical issue.”