[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 359 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 359

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 21, 2023

  Mr. Crapo (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Risch, Mr. Cornyn, Mrs. 
     Hyde-Smith, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. 
 Whitehouse) 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 questions in civil 
        and criminal investigations and trials 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 week of September 17, 2023, to September 23, 2023, is recognized as 
        ``National Forensic Science Week'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Forensic 
        Science Week; and
            (2) recognizes that National Forensic Science Week provides 
        a special opportunity for--
                    (A) forensic science service providers to--
                            (i) acknowledge 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 science service 
                        providers and the future demands that forensic 
                        science service providers will face; and
                            (iv) contact and invite local media outlets 
                        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 week of September 
                        17, 2023, to September 23, 2023, to be 
                        ``National 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) individuals 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 with local forensic science 
                        laboratories about working together more 
                        effectively.
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