[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 40 (Monday, March 10, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1421-H1423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL 9-1-1 EDUCATION MONTH

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 537) expressing support for the 
designation and goals of ``National 9-1-1 Education Month'', and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.

[[Page H1422]]

  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 537

       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);
       Whereas the ENHANCE 911 Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-494) 
     established enhanced 9-1-1 as ``a high national priority'' as 
     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 emergency responders, and is a 
     significant homeland security asset;
       Whereas there are over 6,000 9-1-1 public safety answering 
     points (PSAPs) serving more than 3,000 counties and parishes 
     throughout the United States;
       Whereas PSAPs answer more than 200,000,000 9-1-1 calls each 
     year in the United States, and 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, and deaf-blind, and individuals with 
     speech disabilities, are increasingly communicating with 
     nontraditional text, video, and instant messaging 
     communications services, and anticipate that these services 
     will 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 enhanced 9-1-
     1, and require increased education and awareness about their 
     capabilities and limitations;
       Whereas numerous other N-1-1 and 800 number services exist 
     for non-emergency 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 
     these services in addition to or instead of 9-1-1;
       Whereas international visitors and individuals immigrating 
     to the United States make up an increasing part of the 
     Nation's population in any given year, and such visitors and 
     individuals may have limited knowledge of our emergency 
     calling system;
       Whereas people of all ages use 9-1-1, and it is critical to 
     educate members of the public of all ages on the proper use 
     of 9-1-1;
       Whereas thousands of 9-1-1 calls are made every year by 
     children properly trained in the use of 9-1-1, resulting in 
     lives saved, and which, in turn, underscores the critical 
     importance of training children early in life about 9-1-1;
       Whereas there is a need to reduce the widespread misuse of 
     the 9-1-1 system, including prank and non-emergency calls, 
     which can result in costly and inefficient use of 9-1-1 and 
     emergency response resources;
       Whereas we as a Nation should strive to host at least 1 
     educational event in every school in the country each year 
     regarding the proper use of 9-1-1;
       Whereas an established National 9-1-1 Education Month could 
     include public awareness events, including conferences and 
     media outreach, training activities for parents, teachers, 
     school administrators, care givers, children, the elderly, 
     and businesses; educational events in schools and other 
     appropriate venues; and production and distribution of 
     educational content on 9-1-1 designed to educate people of 
     all ages on the importance and proper use of 9-1-1; and
       Whereas Americans deserve the finest the Nation can offer 
     in 9-1-1 education: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the designation of an appropriate month as 
     ``National 9-1-1 Education Month'' and the goals of such 
     designation; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation--
       (A) designating a month as ``National 9-1-1 Education 
     Month''; and
       (B) calling upon Government officials, parents, teachers, 
     school administrators, care givers, businesses, nonprofit 
     organizations, and the people of the United States to observe 
     such month with appropriate ceremonies, training events, and 
     activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Now I would yield myself such time as I might 
consume.
  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H. 
Res. 537, as amended, which expresses the House's support for the 
designation and goals of National 9-1-1 Month.
  H. Res. 537 was introduced by Representative Anna Eshoo of the great 
State of California on July 11, 2007, and has the support and 
cosponsorship of nearly 60 Members of Congress. Upon introduction, the 
measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform where it was passed by the panel by voice vote after having been 
amended on February 26, 2008.
  Madam Speaker, it is only fitting that we consider this resolution 
today, as it makes the important point of highlighting National 9-1-1 
Month as a way of reminding everybody of the significance these three 
small numbers hold in times of emergency and distress.
  Whether young or old, the number 9-1-1, which had its first debut 
back in 1968 when AT&T, under the encouragement of Congress, 
established the digits as the Nation's emergency telephone number, is 
known by most Americans as the number to ring when someone needs a 
fire, police, or ambulance response right away because of a threat to 
health, safety, or property. There are countless stories that I am sure 
we can all recall where children as young as 3 or 4 have remembered to 
pick up the phone and dial the numerical sequence of 9-1-1, thereby 
saving the lives of parents, grandparents, caretakers, and siblings.
  Further, urging support for National 9-1-1 Month education would be 
futile if we failed to mention the commitment and diligence of the 
thousands of persons that serve on the other end of the 9-1-1 line. By 
simply doing their jobs, these 9-1-1 call takers are saving lives every 
hour of every day by dispatching emergency first responders and by 
providing verbal support and comfort in some of the most perilous 
moments of our lives.
  As localities and communities across our great country consistently 
search for ways to make the 9-1-1 calling system more efficient, 
reliable and well-known, let us do our part in elevating the importance 
of the numbers 9-1-1 by passing the measure at hand, which expresses 
the support of the entire House of Representatives for the designation 
and goals of National 9-1-1 Month.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in support of this resolution expressing support for the 
designation and goals of National 9-1-1 Education Month. Every day 
across this great Nation, lives are saved thanks to this simple, yet 
vital, support service.
  Recommended in 1967 by the President's Commission on Law Enforcement 
and Administration of Justice and established a year later by AT&T, 9-
1-1 has continued to evolve as an integral part of America's vital 
emergency response and homeland security. Each year over 200 million 
calls are received by the 6,000-plus public safety answering points 
across the country. These calls come from people of all walks of life, 
young and old, wealthy and poor. As this service is a vital access 
point for the public to reach a public safety official during a time of 
need, it is critical that we continue to educate our citizens on the 
services 9-1-1 provides and the appropriate uses of the number.
  We must also continue to modernize this vital tool. There is a 
growing population of citizens, otherwise unable to communicate 
clearly, who are learning to communicate through new technologies such 
as text, video, and instant messaging. We should strive to connect the 
use of emerging technologies to the 9-1-1 system.

[[Page H1423]]

  Madam Speaker, once again, increased awareness and understanding of 
this service will help save lives and increase national security. For 
this reason, I support this resolution and ask that my colleagues do 
the same.
  Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I'm proud to have sponsored this Resolution 
to establish a National 9-1-1 Education Month.
  Forty years ago President Johnson's Commission on Law Enforcement and 
Justice recommended that a single, nationwide telephone number be 
established for reporting emergencies--9-1-1. Since then, 9-1-1 has 
been used by millions of people across the country to quickly and 
efficiently contact their local fire and police departments, as well as 
report emergencies in their communities. Over 200 million emergency 
calls are made each year through the 6,000 9-1-1 public safety 
answering points serving more than 3,000 counties.
  As the connection between the eyes and ears of the public and the 
emergency response system in the U.S., 9-1-1 answering points are often 
the first to know of emergencies caused by natural disasters, to 
national security threats, making 9-1-1 a vital homeland security 
asset. Educating people of all ages and backgrounds about 9-1-1 is 
crucial to the effectiveness of our emergency response system. It is 
especially important for vulnerable populations like children, the deaf 
and the hard of hearing, and those with limited English skills to 
understand and use.
  A National 9-1-1 Education Month will encourage the development of 
public awareness events, advertising to the public, targeted outreach 
to schools, and training activities for parents and teachers. The deaf 
and hard of hearing are increasingly using text, video and instant 
messaging to access 9-1-1 operators. With such an effective and 
comprehensive emergency network, everyone benefits from learning.
  As co-chairs of the E9-1-1 Caucus, Mr. Shimkus and I understand the 
importance of the 9-1-1 emergency network to the public safety and 
security of our country and this resolution will help to ensure that 
all Americans can access these critical services in an emergency. I 
urge my colleagues to join me in supporting a National 9-1-1 Education 
Month.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I would yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 537, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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