Washington ? A day after the return of Elizabeth Smart, several lawmakers joined the Utah teenager’s father in urging quick passage of a federal Amber Alert bill, which would allocate $25 million for the program that broadcasts information on highway signs, electronic message boards and radio and TV stations in the crucial first hours after a child is kidnapped.

The bill, named after Amber Hagerman, a Texas girl who was kidnapped and murdered in 1996, was passed unanimously in the Senate in September.

But it stalled after the House attached it to Rep. James Sensenbrenner’s, R-Wis., larger Child Abduction Prevention Act, which provides for mandatory 20-year sentencing for kidnapping someone under 18 and expansion of wiretap authority for investigations of sex crimes involving children.

“This is clearly an issue that cannot wait one day longer,” Ed Smart said. “Each day costs a life. … Jim Sensenbrenner seems to be exhibiting reckless disregard for not only his constituents, but children throughout the country.”

With bipartisan support, Rep. Martin Frost, D-Texas, whose district Amber Hagerman was visiting when she was abducted, called on the House to pass a stand-alone version of the Amber Alert Bill. “There is no excuse for delaying the enactment of the Amber bill any further,” he said.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, whose eyes teared up as he spoke of Smart’s return, called Sensenbrenner a good man in whom he has “great faith,” but urged the House to pass the stand-alone bill. “I want to make sure no child is lost because we haven’t done enough,” Hatch said.