[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 158 (Wednesday, October 28, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H12004-H12006]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CELEBRATE SAFE COMMUNITIES WEEK AND CRIME PREVENTION MONTH

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 177) raising the awareness of the 
need for crime prevention in communities across the country and 
expressing support for designation of October 1, 2009, through October 
3, 2009, as ``Celebrate Safe Communities'' Week, and October as ``Crime 
Prevention Month''.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 177

       Whereas communities across the country face localized 
     increases in violence and other crime;
       Whereas local law enforcement-community partnerships are an 
     effective tool for crime prevention and addressing the fear 
     of crime;
       Whereas the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) and the 
     National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) are leading national 
     resources providing community safety and crime prevention 
     tools tested and valued by local law enforcement agencies and 
     communities nationwide;
       Whereas the NSA and the NCPC have joined together to create 
     the ``Celebrate Safe Communities'' (CSC) initiative in 
     partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of 
     Justice Programs, Department of Justice;
       Whereas in its premiere year, 153 communities in over 32 
     States and the District of Columbia participated in 
     ``Celebrate Safe Communities'';
       Whereas ``Celebrate Safe Communities'' will take place the 
     first week of October 2009 to help kickoff recognition of 
     October as ``Crime Prevention Month'';
       Whereas ``Crime Prevention Month'' was established 25 years 
     ago to encourage public education on being alert to criminal 
     activity within their communities;
       Whereas ``Celebrate Safe Communities'' is designated to 
     help local communities highlight the importance of law 
     enforcement-community partnerships to keep communities safe 
     places to live, learn, work, and play;
       Whereas ``Celebrate Safe Communities'' will enhance the 
     public awareness of vital crime prevention and safety 
     messages and motivate people in the United States of all ages 
     to learn what they can do to stay safe from crime;
       Whereas ``Celebrate Safe Communities'' will help promote 
     year-round support for locally based and law enforcement-led 
     community safety initiatives that help keep families, 
     neighborhoods, schools, and businesses from crime;
       Whereas the week of October 1, 2009, through October 3, 
     2009, would be an appropriate week to designate as 
     ``Celebrate Safe Communities'' Week; and
       Whereas the month of October is designated as ``Crime 
     Prevention Month'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) supports the designation of ``Celebrate Safe 
     Communities'' Week;
       (2) supports ``Crime Prevention Month'';
       (3) commends the efforts of the thousands of local law 
     enforcement agencies and their countless community partners 
     educating and engaging residents of all ages in the fight 
     against crime;
       (4) asks communities across the country to consider how 
     ``Celebrate Safe Communities'' can help them highlight local 
     successes in the fight against crime;
       (5) encourages the National Sheriffs' Association and the 
     National Crime Prevention Council to continue to promote 
     through ``Celebrate Safe Communities'' and year-round, 
     individual and collective action, in collaboration with law 
     enforcement and other supporting local agencies, to reduce 
     crime and build safer communities throughout the United 
     States; and
       (6) encourages government agencies, civic groups, schools, 
     businesses, and youth organizations to educate the public, 
     showcase their accomplishments, and explore new partnerships 
     during ``Crime Prevention Month''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.


                             General Leave

  Mr. COHEN. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 
legislative

[[Page H12005]]

days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material 
on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. COHEN. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution, H. Con. Res. 177, recognizes the 
importance of citizen and community involvement in an effort to prevent 
crime and express support for the designation of October 1 through 
October 3 as Crime Prevention Week and October as National Crime 
Prevention Month.
  Celebrate Safe Communities is a relatively recent crime prevention 
initiative of the Justice Department in partnership with the National 
Sheriffs' Association and the National Crime Prevention Council.
  The goal of this initiative is to strengthen the partnership between 
citizens and law enforcement. In Memphis, my hometown, Stevie Morris 
formed a group called FFUNN, which works with young people to prevent 
crime. There are neighborhood associations. Neighborhood Watch is an 
effective group that works in the community, and so are Crime Stoppers 
programs.
  During the first week in October, communities throughout the country 
held events, educating the public about crime prevention and public 
safety programs. Not only do these events highlight crime prevention, 
but they encourage citizens to become personally involved in these 
programs. That's what the FFUNN group in Memphis and Stevie Moore did.
  Similarly, during the month of October, communities and law 
enforcement organizations commemorate Crime Prevention Month, promoting 
awareness of important issues such as victimization, volunteerism, and 
creating safer, more caring communities. The monthlong celebration 
highlights successful crime prevention efforts at the local, State, and 
national levels, all of which are important in our communities.
  I thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Reichert) for introducing 
this resolution. I urge my colleagues to support it.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak) and the 
gentleman from Washington, Sheriff Reichert, for introducing this 
legislation.
  H. Con. Res. 177, which is Celebrate Safe Communities Week, supports 
the designation of October 1, 2009, through October 3 as Celebrate Safe 
Communities Week and October as Crime Prevention Month. H. Con. Res. 
177 also calls attention to the need for crime prevention in 
communities across the country.
  In 1984, the National Crime Prevention Council established Crime 
Prevention Month to encourage public education on awareness and 
prevention of criminal activity within communities and neighborhoods. 
Every year since then, government agencies, volunteer groups, schools 
and businesses have reached out to the public to do just that.
  In conjunction with the ninth National Crime Prevention Month, the 
National Sheriffs' Association and the National Crime Prevention 
Council, in partnership with the Department of Justice, they all came 
together to create the Celebrate Safe Communities initiative. In its 
very first year, the program recruited 153 communities in 32 States as 
well as the District of Columbia to participate in the weeklong event.
  This year, from October 1 through October 3, Celebrate Safe 
Communities Week kicked off their recognition of October as Crime 
Prevention Month. Crime Prevention Month and Celebrate Safe Communities 
Week strive to enhance the public's awareness of local law enforcement-
led community safe initiatives, thus motivating people in the United 
States to learn what they can do to stay safe from criminal conduct in 
their communities.
  While Celebrate Safe Communities Week highlights the importance of 
citizens protecting themselves through crime prevention, initiatives 
also stress the importance of community participation with local law 
enforcement agencies after a crime has taken place.

                              {time}  1245

  Volunteer organizations have proven to be invaluable in their 
coordination with law enforcement officials and with other community 
leaders. After all, a partnership of those who have firsthand knowledge 
of their neighborhoods is, without a doubt, the most effective way of 
attacking crime head on.
  This resolution reminds us that prevention is critical to the fight 
against crime in our society. This resolution also reminds us that 
crime is a local problem. There is no better time than Crime Prevention 
Month and Celebrate Safe Communities Week for citizens to start 
learning how they can take control in protecting their families and 
their communities.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 177.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman 
from Louisiana (Mr. Cao).
  Mr. CAO. I would like to thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 
177 to raise awareness of the need for crime prevention in communities 
across the country. The fight to reduce crime remains a top issue for 
my constituents in the Second Congressional District. Unfortunately, 
New Orleans, like any other great city in this country, is struggling 
to fight the issue of violent crime, and this has been the case for 9 
straight years.
  Last month in New Orleans, an innocent 3-year-old girl was shot 
following a violent 11-hour stretch that saw 12 people shot and two 
people fatally wounded. Last week, an unsuspecting man was shot just 
two blocks away from a New Orleans school, and just this weekend, New 
Orleans was hit by a spate of eight armed robberies.
  That is why we must work to require local and Federal law enforcement 
agencies to coordinate their efforts in cities like New Orleans. We 
should provide resources for drug and violent crime sweeps, funding for 
additional prosecutors, and we should help create a police and court 
system database to help track and prosecute criminals.
  This resolution to designate October 1, 2009-October 3, 2009, as 
Celebrate Safe Communities Week and October as Crime Prevention Month 
will be an important step in fighting crime not only in my district but 
around the country.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to join the national fight 
against crime and to support House Concurrent Resolution 177.
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he wishes to 
consume on this resolution to the author of the resolution, the 
gentleman from Washington, Sheriff Reichert.
  Mr. REICHERT. I stand here today, Mr. Speaker, as a former sheriff. I 
also stand here today as a former member of the law enforcement 
community for 33 years. This is a new world for me, and it's a proud 
moment for me to be here to introduce this bill and to have the support 
that we have here today from both sides of the aisle.
  I know from firsthand experience the challenges associated with our 
communities and with keeping them safe. The truth is that safety and 
security are the business of every citizen. We all have to work 
together to make this country safe, to make our communities safe, to 
keep our neighborhoods safe. We always have to remain vigilant, and we 
always have to watch out for our neighbors' homes and for our own homes 
to keep them safe. Together, we will raise awareness about crime 
prevention and about what we can do to keep our own homes safe and our 
entire communities safe.
  So I am pleased today to support my resolution to designate the first 
week of October as Celebrate Safe Communities Week and recognize 
October as Crime Prevention Month.
  I want to thank my colleagues from across the aisle--Mr. Stupak from 
Michigan--for joining me in sponsoring this important effort.
  Crime affects everyday decisions--where we go in public, where we 
travel,

[[Page H12006]]

what neighborhoods we visit, and where we might stop to shop for 
services or goods. Although the national crime rate has gone down in 
recent years, many cities and communities have actually seen a rise in 
crime rates over the past year or so. I've seen the devastation that 
even perceived crimes can cause and the harmful effects on our 
communities, especially for our children.
  Children sometimes will feel threatened even going to school, and 
we've had to pass laws for school safety and school violence. It's a 
sad state of affairs today when we recognize that our children are 
sometimes not even safe on the school grounds or on the playgrounds of 
our schools across the country. Sometimes it causes them to even turn 
inward and to feel insecure and unsafe, and their schoolwork even 
suffers. They, themselves, may even turn to crime.
  People of all ages and of all walks of life can be affected by crime. 
As we know, increases in crime can harm the economy. Residents can stay 
away from local businesses in certain neighborhoods because they might 
feel it's unsafe to shop there and to do business there.
  Crime also affects the comfort and willingness of residents to work 
with law enforcement on community safety initiatives. Sometimes 
community policing efforts in working with a community will suffer if 
we don't all engage in ensuring our communities are safe. By engaging 
with communities in efforts such as Celebrate Safe Communities Week and 
Crime Prevention Month, connections to deter and to prevent violence 
can be made between members of law enforcement and their communities in 
order to serve and protect the public.
  This initiative spotlights communities' crime prevention efforts; it 
enhances public awareness of violent crime prevention and safety 
messages; and it recruits year-round support for ongoing prevention 
activities that help keep neighborhoods safe from crime. Crime 
Prevention Month highlights the positive effects that prevention 
efforts have on a community through community efforts events, public 
service organizations, public service announcements, and other 
coordinated activities.
  I am pleased that the House has chosen to recognize these important 
community efforts while respecting the work of our law enforcement 
officers in their responding without hesitation to every call that 
comes over the radio. We'd rather receive fewer calls and see less 
violence in our communities. It all starts with prevention.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, in Memphis, we've got 
many programs similar to these that have been discussed.
  The Freedom from Unnecessary Negatives with Stevie Moore is in the 
community, often visited by our sheriff, Mark Luttrell, who was named 
National Sheriff of the Year, with District Attorney General Bill 
Gibbons and with others, who visit and have cookouts, who talk about 
crime and who get the community oriented with their law enforcement 
officers--where they'll be wanting to report and work with the law 
enforcement officers. It has been a successful program.
  Crime Stoppers is a successful program where people get rewarded for 
turning in criminals. They get rewarded with financial incentives.
  The Neighborhood Watch programs are great programs where people work 
together to be aware of crime.
  These are all important, and this is an important effort to fight 
against crime, and that's why I ask everybody to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 177.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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