[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 102 (Monday, July 25, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8831-S8832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 208--COMMEMORATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
              NATIONAL CITIZENS' CRIME PREVENTION CAMPAIGN

  Mr. SPECTER (for himself and Mr. Leahy) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 208

       Whereas crime prevention improves the quality of life in 
     every community;
       Whereas crime prevention is central to maintaining a sound 
     criminal justice system at the national, State, and local 
     level and to ensuring safer and more secure communities;
       Whereas 2005 marks the 25th anniversary of the National 
     Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign, featuring McGruff the 
     Crime Dog, conducted by the National Crime Prevention 
     Council;
       Whereas McGruff the Crime Dog is an icon, recognized as the 
     Nation's symbol for crime prevention;
       Whereas the National Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign 
     has inspired and directed millions of citizens to take 
     action, individually and collectively, to reduce crime, drug 
     abuse, and the fear of crime;
       Whereas the National Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign 
     has led a multitude of community organizations, including law 
     enforcement, other State and local agencies, civic and 
     community groups, faith-based organizations, schools, and 
     businesses, to play a vital role in reducing crime and 
     building safer communities; and
       Whereas the National Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign is 
     a leading example of a campaign conducted by public and 
     private individuals and entities on a national, State, and 
     local level to improve the quality of life throughout the 
     Nation: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commemorates the 25th anniversary of the National 
     Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign, and commends all 
     individuals and organizations involved in the campaign for 
     advancing the principles and practice of effective crime 
     prevention;
       (2) asks the people of the United States to join in the 
     celebration of the 25th anniversary of the National Citizens' 
     Crime Prevention Campaign, and of the campaign's icon 
     (McGruff the Crime Dog), and of the campaign's managing 
     organization (National Crime Prevention Council); and
       (3) encourages the National Crime Prevention Council and 
     the Crime Prevention Coalition of America to continue to 
     promote, through the National Citizens' Crime Prevention 
     Campaign, individual and collective action, in collaboration 
     with law enforcement and other supporting agencies, to reduce 
     crime and build safer communities throughout the United 
     States.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I seek recognition today to submit a 
Senate Resolution commemorating the 25th anniversary of the National 
Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign. This effort is being led by the 
National Crime Prevention Council, NCPC, and its icon, McGruff the 
Crime Dog.
  NCPC is a private, nonprofit educational organization. NCPC is well 
known by the general public for coordinating the public service 
advertising efforts featuring McGruff. Yet the National Crime 
Prevention Council provides comprehensive crime prevention technical 
assistance and training to communities throughout the United States; 
develops and implements highly acclaimed and innovative programs; and 
disseminates information on effective crime prevention practices to 
thousands of individuals and organizations every year. The council also 
publishes books, program kits, posters, and consumer education 
materials that can be localized by crime prevention activists 
everywhere.
  On July 1, 2005, the National Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign and 
McGruff the Crime Dog celebrated their 25th anniversary. I, along with 
Senator Leahy, acknowledge this significant milestone with a resolution 
that: 1. Commemorates the 25th anniversary and commends all individuals 
and organizations involved in the Campaign for advancing the principles 
and practices of effective crime prevention; 2. Asks all Americans to 
join in the celebration of the 25th anniversary; and 3. Encourages the 
efforts of the National Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign to promote 
individual and collective action, in collaboration with law enforcement 
and other supporting agencies, to reduce crime and build safer 
communities throughout the United States of America.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am proud to join my friend and colleague, 
Senator Specter, in submitting this bipartisan resolution commemorating 
the 25th anniversary of the National Citizens' Crime Prevention 
Campaign, which is managed by the National Crime Prevention Council. I 
applaud all individuals and organizations involved in the Campaign for 
their efforts to advance the principles and practice of effective crime 
prevention throughout the United States.

[[Page S8832]]

  We have all been urged over the years by McGruff the Crime Dog, the 
Campaign's icon, to ``Take A Bite Out Of Crime'' a simple and effective 
slogan to help begin to educate and make the public aware of the 
importance of crime prevention. Through their leadership, the Campaign 
and McGruff have played vital roles in reducing crime and making our 
communities safer.
  The Campaign was the first public education program on crime 
prevention in the country. It is designed to stimulate community 
involvement, generate confidence in comprehensive crime prevention 
activities and provide a national focus and resource for crime 
prevention programs nationwide. When it was formally launched in 1979, 
most Americans viewed crime as inevitable and its prevention as the job 
of the police. Today, three out of four Americans believe that they can 
personally take actions to reduce crime and that their neighborhoods 
and communities can act to prevent crime. A major force behind this 
shift to a more positive attitude is the National Citizens' Crime 
Prevention Campaign.
  Crime prevention is central to maintaining a sound criminal justice 
system at the national, State, and local levels, and to ensuring safer 
and more secure communities. Making prevention a priority through the 
National Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign is a collective effort. 
This alliance of national, State and Federal organizations works with 
businesses, civic groups, individuals and law enforcement to generate 
crime prevention awareness and action throughout the country through a 
variety of mechanisms.
  The National Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign has inspired and 
directed millions of citizens to take action, individually and 
collectively, to reduce crime, drug abuse and the fear of crime. I look 
forward to another 25 years and beyond of McGruff and the Campaign, 
under the skilled leadership of its President and CEO, Al Lenhardt, who 
is the former Sergeant At Arms of the U.S. Senate, continuing to be 
national leaders in improving the quality of life in every community 
through crime prevention. I have no doubt that together they will 
continue to promote individual and collective action, in collaboration 
with law enforcement and other supporting agencies, to reduce crime and 
build safer communities throughout the United States.

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