In 2013, Hank Hunt’s daughter, Kari Rene Hunt of Texas, was murdered by her estranged husband in a hotel room; when Kari’s 9-year-old daughter tried to dial 9-1-1 for help, she could not reach emergency personnel because she did not dial “9” to reach an outside line

Klobuchar’s bipartisan bill would require manufacturers of multi-line telephone systems to allow callers to reach 9-1-1 without dialing a prefix or postfix

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar met with Hank Hunt, the father of Kari Rene Hunt, to discuss her bipartisan legislation that would make contacting emergency personnel simpler and easier. In 2013, Kari Rene Hunt of Texas was murdered by her estranged husband in a hotel room. But, when Kari’s 9-year-old daughter tried to dial 9-1-1 for help she could not reach emergency personnel because she did not dial “9” to reach an outside line. Klobuchar’s bipartisan bill, Kari’s Law, would require manufacturers of multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) to create systems that allow callers to reach 9-1-1 without dialing a prefix or postfix.

“I want to thank Hank Hunt for sharing his daughter’s heartbreaking story and discussing his important work to make contacting emergency personnel simpler and easier,” said Klobuchar. “We must work together to help ensure a tragedy like Kari’s never happens again.”

Klobuchar’s bipartisan bill builds on the progress of industry leaders like the American Hotel and Lodging Association to ensure that anyone dialing 9-1-1 on any phone can reach emergency personnel. It would be another step forward in making sure dialing 9-1-1 to reach emergency personnel is as simple and easy as possible.

Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) are original cosponsors of Klobuchar’s legislation. Representatives Louie Gohmert (R-TX) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) have introduced a bipartisan companion bill in the House.