[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 537 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                        March 10, 2008.
Whereas 9-1-1 is nationally recognized as the number to call in an emergency to 
        receive immediate help from police, fire, emergency medical services, or 
        other appropriate emergency response entities;
Whereas in 1967, the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and 
        Administration of Justice recommended that a ``single number should be 
        established'' nationwide for reporting emergency situations, and other 
        Federal Government agencies and various governmental officials also 
        supported and encouraged the recommendation;
Whereas in 1968, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) announced 
        that it would establish the digits 9-1-1 as the emergency code 
        throughout the United States;
Whereas 9-1-1 was designated by Congress as the national emergency call number 
        under the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999 (Public 
        Law 106-81);
Whereas the ENHANCE 911 Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-494) established enhanced 9-
        1-1 as ``a high national priority'' as part of our Nation's homeland 
        security and public safety;
Whereas it is important that policy makers at all levels of government 
        understand the importance of 9-1-1, how the system works today, and the 
        steps that are needed to modernize the 9-1-1 system;
Whereas the 9-1-1 system is the connection between the eyes and ears of the 
        public and emergency responders, and is a significant homeland security 
        asset;
Whereas there are over 6,000 9-1-1 public safety answering points (SAPS) serving 
        more than 3,000 counties and parishes throughout the United States;
Whereas SAPS answer more than 200,000,000 9-1-1 calls each year in the United 
        States, and a growing number of 9-1-1 calls are made using wireless and 
        Internet Protocol-based communications services;
Whereas a growing segment of the population, including the deaf, hard of 
        hearing, and deaf-blind, and individuals with speech disabilities, are 
        increasingly communicating with nontraditional text, video, and instant 
        messaging communications services, and anticipate that these services 
        will be able to connect directly to 9-1-1;
Whereas the growth and variety of means of communication, including mobile and 
        Internet Protocol-based systems, impose challenges for accessing 9-1-1 
        and implementing enhanced 9-1-1, and require increased education and 
        awareness about their capabilities and limitations;
Whereas numerous other N-1-1 and 800 number services exist for non-emergency 
        situations, including 2-1-1, 3-1-1, 5-1-1, 7-1-1, 8-1-1, poison control 
        centers, and mental health hotlines, and the public needs to be educated 
        on when to use these services in addition to or instead of 9-1-1;
Whereas international visitors and individuals immigrating to the United States 
        make up an increasing part of the Nation's population in any given year, 
        and such visitors and individuals may have limited knowledge of our 
        emergency calling system;
Whereas people of all ages use 9-1-1, and it is critical to educate members of 
        the public of all ages on the proper use of 9-1-1;
Whereas thousands of 9-1-1 calls are made every year by children properly 
        trained in the use of 9-1-1, resulting in lives saved, and which, in 
        turn, underscores the critical importance of training children early in 
        life about 9-1-1;
Whereas there is a need to reduce the widespread misuse of the 9-1-1 system, 
        including prank and non-emergency calls, which can result in costly and 
        inefficient use of 9-1-1 and emergency response resources;
Whereas we as a Nation should strive to host at least 1 educational event in 
        every school in the country each year regarding the proper use of 9-1-1;
Whereas an established National 9-1-1 Education Month could include public 
        awareness events, including conferences and media outreach, training 
        activities for parents, teachers, school administrators, care givers, 
        children, the elderly, and businesses; educational events in schools and 
        other appropriate venues; and production and distribution of educational 
        content on 9-1-1 designed to educate people of all ages on the 
        importance and proper use of 9-1-1; and
Whereas Americans deserve the finest the Nation can offer in 9-1-1 education: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of an appropriate month as ``National 
        9-1-1 Education Month'' and the goals of such designation; and
            (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation--
                    (A) designating a month as ``National 9-1-1 Education 
                Month''; and
                    (B) calling upon Government officials, parents, teachers, 
                school administrators, care givers, businesses, nonprofit 
                organizations, and the people of the United States to observe 
                such month with appropriate ceremonies, training events, and 
                activities.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.