[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 482 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 482

     Designating April 2010 as ``National 9-1-1 Education Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 14, 2010

   Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mr. Burr) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Designating April 2010 as ``National 9-1-1 Education Month''.

    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; 113 Stat. 1286);
    Whereas section 102 of the ENHANCE 911 Act of 2004 (47 U.S.C. 942 
            note) declared an enhanced 9-1-1 system to be ``a high 
            national priority'' and 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 place emergencies of 
            all magnitudes are reported, making 9-1-1 a significant 
            homeland security asset;
    Whereas more than 6,000 9-1-1 public safety answering points serve 
            more than 3,000 counties and parishes throughout the United 
            States;
    Whereas dispatchers at public safety answering points answer more 
            than 200,000,000 9-1-1 calls each year in the United 
            States;
    Whereas 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, deaf-blind, and individuals with speech 
            disabilities are increasingly communicating with 
            nontraditional text, video, and instant messaging 
            communications services and expect those services to 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 an enhanced 
            9-1-1 system and require increased education and awareness 
            about the capabilities of different means of communication;
    Whereas numerous other N-1-1 and 800 number services exist for 
            nonemergency 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 those services in addition to or instead of 9-1-1;
    Whereas international visitors and immigrants make up an increasing 
            percentage of the United States population each year, and 
            visitors and immigrants may have limited knowledge of our 
            emergency calling system;
    Whereas people of all ages use 9-1-1 and it is critical to educate 
            those people on the proper use of 9-1-1;
    Whereas senior citizens are at high risk for needing to access to 
            9-1-1 and many senior citizens are learning to use new 
            technology;
    Whereas thousands of 9-1-1 calls are made every year by children 
            properly trained in the use of 9-1-1, which saves lives and 
            underscores the critical importance of training children 
            early in life about 9-1-1;
    Whereas the 9-1-1 system is often misused, including by the 
            placement of prank and nonemergency calls;
    Whereas misuse of the 9-1-1 system results in costly and 
            inefficient use of 9-1-1 and emergency response resources 
            and needs to be reduced;
    Whereas parents, teachers, and all other caregivers 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 education, 
            including safety fairs, school presentations, libraries, 
            churches, businesses, public safety answering point tours 
            or open houses, civic organizations, and senior citizen 
            centers;
    Whereas children, parents, teachers, and the National Parent 
            Teacher Association contribute importantly to the education 
            of children 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 host at least 1 educational 
            event regarding the proper use of 9-1-1 in every school in 
            the country every year;
    Whereas programs to promote proper use of 9-1-1 during National 9-
            1-1 Education Month could include--
                  (1) public awareness events, including conferences 
              and media outreach, training activities for parents, 
              teachers, school administrators, other caregivers and 
              businesses;
                  (2) educational events in schools and other 
              appropriate venues; and
                  (3) production and distribution of information about 
              the 9-1-1 system designed to educate people of all ages 
              on the importance and proper use of 9-1-1; and

    Whereas the people of the United States deserve the best education 
            regarding the use of 9-1-1: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates April 2010 as ``National 9-1-1 Education 
        Month''; and
            (2) urges Government officials, parents, teachers, school 
        administrators, caregivers, businesses, nonprofit 
        organizations, and the people of the United States to observe 
        the month with appropriate ceremonies, training events, and 
        activities.
                                 <all>