[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 111 (Thursday, August 2, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H5316-H5317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    REQUESTING THE PRESIDENT TO TAKE MEASURES TO FOCUS APPROPRIATE 
  ATTENTION ON NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME PREVENTION, COMMUNITY POLICING, AND 
                       REDUCTION OF SCHOOL CRIME

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the immediate 
consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 193) requesting that the 
President focus appropriate attention on the issues of neighborhood 
crime prevention, community policing, and reduction of

[[Page H5317]]

school crime by delivering speeches, convening meetings, and directing 
his Administration to make reducing crime an important priority, and 
for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  Mr. STUPAK. Reserving the right to object, but I do not intend to 
object, Mr. Speaker, I introduced this resolution along with the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) and the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Hoeffel) to emphasize the importance of crime 
prevention at the local level and to recognize the efforts of National 
Night Out.
  I am pleased to say that this resolution has bipartisan support with 
over 64 cosponsors.
  I would like to specifically thank the chairman of the Committee on 
the Judiciary, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner); and 
the ranking members of the Committee on the Judiciary; and ranking 
member of the Subcommittee on Crime; and the leadership on both sides 
of the aisle in helping to bring this measure to the floor.
  Our resolution calls upon the President to focus on neighborhood 
crime prevention, community policing programs, and reducing crime, and 
to issue a proclamation in support of National Night Out.
  Mr. Speaker, last year over 32 million people participated in 
National Night Out. These 32 million people joined together and sent a 
message loud and clear that they do not want crime in their 
neighborhoods and streets and that they will keep working together 
until their communities are safe.
  Each of us will be returning next week to our districts for the 
August recess. I hope each Member will take the opportunity to 
participate in a National Night Out event in their community and show 
the strength of our national commitment to stop crime and keep our 
communities safe.
  Our resolution also urges President Bush to continue to focus 
national attention on reducing crime and to issue a proclamation in 
support of National Night Out, which is such an important national 
event. National Night Out brings communities together; and when we come 
together with our neighbors, our community leaders, our families, our 
unity leaves no room for crimes.
  It is a testament to what we can do together, and I am proud to see 
the House pass this resolution in support of such a program.
  Mr. Speaker, I have introduced this resolution along with 
Representatives Curt Weldon and Joe Hoeffel to emphasize the importance 
of crime prevention at the local level and to recognize the efforts of 
National Night Out. I am pleased to say that this resolution has 
bipartisan support, with 64 cosponsors. I would like to specifically 
thank the Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner, and Ranking Member of the 
Judiciary Committee, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Crime 
Subcommittee, and the leadership on both sides of the aisle for their 
help in bringing this measure to the floor.
  Our resolution calls upon the President to focus on neighborhood 
crime prevention, community policing programs and reducing school crime 
and to issue a proclamation in support of National Night Out.
  National Night Out, which is coming up on August 7, is a successful 
national program which exemplifies the goals of crime reduction through 
neighborhood and community efforts. It is a nationwide event which 
combines a nationally coordinated crime prevention campaign with local 
community groups and law enforcement organizations to take a stand 
against crime.
  This year's National Night Out is the 18th annual event in the 
campaign by National Association of Town Watch to fight crime. National 
Night Out has grown year after year, and now includes citizens, law 
enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood 
organizations and local officials from 9,500 communities from all 50 
states and the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, Canadian cities 
and military bases worldwide.
  Last year over 32 million people participated in National Night Out. 
Those 32 million people joined together and sent a message, loud and 
clear, that they don't want crime in their neighborhoods and streets, 
and that they will keep working together until their communities are 
safe.
  I firmly believe that a focus on neighborhood and community crime 
prevention is essential. It is for this reason that I have long 
supported the COPS program in the Department of Justice, and that I am 
such a strong supporter of National Night Out. As a former police 
officer who used to fight crime on the local and state level, I can 
tell you these programs work. Personal involvement in one's community, 
individual attention to our youth, taking responsibility for ourselves 
and for others, these things make a difference.
  Each of you will be returning next week to your districts for the 
August recess. I hope that you will take the opportunity to participate 
in a National Night Out event in your community, and show the strength 
of our national commitment to stop crime and keep our communities safe.
  Our resolution also urges President Bush to continue to focus 
national attention on reducing crime, and to issue a proclamation in 
support of National Night Out, which is such an important national 
event.
  National Night Out brings communities together. And when we come 
together with our neighbors, our community leaders, our families--our 
unity leaves no room for crime. It is a testament to what we can do 
together--and I am proud to see the House pass this resolution in 
support of such an important program.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 193

       Whereas neighborhood crime is of continuing concern to the 
     American people;
       Whereas the fight against neighborhood crime requires 
     people to work together in cooperation with law enforcement 
     officials;
       Whereas neighborhood crime watch organizations are 
     effective at promoting awareness about, and the participation 
     of volunteers in, crime prevention activities at the local 
     level;
       Whereas neighborhood crime watch groups can contribute to 
     the Nation's war on drugs by helping to prevent their 
     communities from becoming markets for drug dealers;
       Whereas crime and violence in schools is of continuing 
     concern to the American people due to the recent high-profile 
     incidents that have resulted in fatalities at several schools 
     across the United States;
       Whereas community-based programs involving law enforcement, 
     school administrators, teachers, parents, and local 
     communities work effectively to reduce school violence and 
     crime;
       Whereas citizens across the United States will soon take 
     part in ``National Night Out'', a unique crime prevention 
     event which will demonstrate the importance and effectiveness 
     of community participation in crime prevention efforts by 
     having people spend the period from 7 to 10 o'clock p.m. on 
     August 7, 2001, with their neighbors in front of their homes 
     with their lights on; and
       Whereas schools that turn their lights on from 7 to 10 
     o'clock p.m. on August 7, 2001, will send a positive message 
     to the participants of ``National Night Out'' and show their 
     commitment to reduce crime and violence in schools: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and ideas of ``National Night Out''; 
     and
       (2) requests that the President--
       (A) issue a proclamation calling on the people of the 
     United States to conduct appropriate ceremonies, activities, 
     and programs to demonstrate support for ``National Night 
     Out''; and
       (B) focus appropriate attention on the issues of 
     neighborhood crime prevention, community policing, and 
     reduction of school crime by delivering speeches, convening 
     meetings, and directing his Administration to make reducing 
     crime an important priority.

  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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