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







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 537

 Expressing support for the designation and goals of ``National 9-1-1 
               Education Month'', and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 11, 2007

    Ms. Eshoo (for herself, Mr. Shimkus, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Davis of 
Illinois, Mr. Costello, Mr. McIntyre, Mr. Miller of North Carolina, Mr. 
 Weller of Illinois, Mr. Terry, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Gillmor, Mr. Gordon of 
 Tennessee, Mrs. Myrick, Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California, Mr. Coble, Mr. 
  Turner, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Price of North Carolina) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
                         and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for the designation and goals of ``National 9-1-1 
               Education Month'', and for other purposes.

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 the emergency response system in the United States and is 
        often the first to know of emergencies of all magnitudes, making 9-1-1 a 
        significant homeland security asset;
Whereas there are over 6,000 9-1-1 public safety answering points (PSAPs) 
        serving more than 3,000 counties and parishes throughout the United 
        States;
Whereas public safety answering points 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 expect these services to be able 
        to connect directly to 9-1-1;
Whereas the growth and variety of means of communications, 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;
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 United States 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 the public of 
        all ages on the proper use of 9-1-1;
Whereas senior citizens are at high risk for needing access to 9-1-1 and a large 
        segment of this population is learning to use new technology;
Whereas thousands of 9-1-1 calls are made every year by children properly 
        trained on the use of 9-1-1 resulting in lives saved which underscores 
        the critical importance of training children early in life about 9-1-1;
Whereas there is 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 and a need to reduce this practice;
Whereas parents, teachers, and all other care givers need to play an active role 
        in 9-1-1 education for children, but will do so only after being first 
        educated themselves;
Whereas there are many avenues for 9-1-1 public educations such as safety fairs, 
        school presentations, libraries, churches, businesses, public safety 
        answering point tours or open houses, civic organizations and senior 
        citizen centers;
Whereas children, parents, the National Parent Teachers Association, and 
        teachers are important groups to educate about the importance of 9-1-1 
        through targeted outreach efforts to public and private school systems;
Whereas we as a Nation should strive to annually host at least one educational 
        event in every school in the country every 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, other care 
        givers 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 education we can offer regarding 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.
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