[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 656 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 656

 Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Forensic 
                             Science Week.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 27, 2018

Mr. Crapo (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr. Isakson) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Forensic 
                             Science Week.

Whereas the Senate is committed to the use of forensic science in the 
        investigation of crimes, the prosecution and conviction of the correct 
        perpetrators of crimes, and the exoneration of innocent individuals 
        falsely accused of crimes in the United States;
Whereas forensic science service providers address critical criminal and civil 
        questions in the United States, including by providing scientific 
        conclusions relating to forensic evidence;
Whereas forensic science service providers partner with--

    (1) Federal agencies to build and maintain criminal databases relating 
to latent prints, DNA, and other information relevant to criminal cases; 
and

    (2) Federal, State, and local agencies to ensure public safety;

Whereas forensic science service providers serve a vital role in the criminal 
        justice system by providing scientific information to investigators and 
        officers of the court; and
Whereas the third week in September is recognized as ``National Forensic Science 
        Week'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) it is the sense of the Senate that National Forensic 
        Science Week provides a special opportunity for--
                    (A) forensic service providers to--
                            (i) recognize the contributions of forensic 
                        scientists in the laboratories in which those 
                        individuals work;
                            (ii) organize community events to encourage 
                        a better understanding of forensic science;
                            (iii) provide tours to Federal, State, and 
                        local policymakers to assist those individuals 
                        in gaining better insight into the current 
                        capabilities of forensic service providers and 
                        future demands that forensic service providers 
                        will face; and
                            (iv) contact local media outlets and invite 
                        those groups to cover events hosted during 
                        National Forensic Science Week;
                    (B) local policymakers to--
                            (i) recognize, through formal commendation 
                        or resolution, the contributions of local 
                        forensic science laboratories to the 
                        communities of those policymakers;
                            (ii) formally declare the third week of 
                        September to be ``Forensic Science Week'' by 
                        proclamation;
                            (iii) visit local forensic science 
                        laboratories to gain an understanding of the 
                        capabilities and needs of those laboratories; 
                        and
                            (iv) discuss the operational needs of State 
                        and local forensic science laboratories;
                    (C) members of communities in the United States, 
                including members of the media, to--
                            (i) attend community events sponsored by 
                        local forensic science laboratories;
                            (ii) take tours of local forensic science 
                        laboratories; and
                            (iii) ask local forensic science 
                        laboratories about the operational and 
                        legislative needs of those laboratories;
                    (D) members of the media to highlight local news 
                stories that focus on the work of local forensic 
                science laboratories in the communities that those 
                laboratories serve; and
                    (E) public safety officers, law enforcement 
                officers, and officers of the court to--
                            (i) attend community events sponsored by 
                        local forensic science laboratories;
                            (ii) take tours of local forensic science 
                        laboratories;
                            (iii) discuss the operational needs of 
                        State and local forensic science laboratories; 
                        and
                            (iv) engage local forensic science 
                        laboratories regarding working together more 
                        effectively; and
            (2) the Senate supports the goals and ideals of National 
        Forensic Science Week.
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