[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 148 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE SAFE COMMUNITIES AMERICA PROGRAM AND THE INAUGURAL SAFE 
                   COMMUNITIES AMERICA DAY IN DALLAS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 28, 2016

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in 
recognition of the Safe Communities America program and the inaugural 
Safe Communities America Day, which will take place in Dallas on 
October 5th. Safe Communities America is a program of the National 
Safety Council which recognizes communities that prioritize safety and 
take deliberate steps to improve the health and safety of its citizens. 
I am proud to say that the first Safe Communities Day will be 
celebrated in Dallas, which was the first U.S. city--and first urban 
city worldwide--to be accredited as an International Safe Community. In 
fact, the City of Dallas has proudly retained its accreditation since 
1996.
  The City of Dallas and its local partners have worked tremendously 
hard to improve the safety and security of our communities in Texas. 
For over 20 years, the City of Dallas has been implementing Operation 
Installation, a residential fire safety program. The Injury Prevention 
Center of Greater Dallas has teamed up with the Dallas Fire Rescue 
Department to go door-to-door, installing smoke alarms at homes in 
neighborhoods most impacted by fire-related deaths, resulting in a 74 
percent decrease in fire deaths. Since its inception, this partnership 
has installed more than 30,000 smoke alarms, covering 42,000 residents.
  More recently, Dallas Safe Communities has implemented PHOTOVOICE, a 
project that teaches middle school students how to use a camera and 
photographs to improve pedestrian safety in the Vickery Meadow area. 
Students are getting involved in their communities by taking 
photographs of broken sidewalks, absent sidewalks, damaged pedestrian 
signals and share their ``story'' with city officials to advocate for 
improved safety.
  Our neighboring City of Fort Worth has also been an accredited Safe 
Community since 2013. A variety of services are being offered around 
the city in order to have a comprehensive approach to fall prevention, 
including free home safety evaluations to seniors via the local fire 
department, education to first-responders on home safety hazard 
recognition, Matter of Balance classes, an evidence based-approach to 
falls prevention, offered to older adults through multiple community 
partners, STEADI (fall screening and intervention) training for local 
physicians and medication management via pharmacists and Meals on 
Wheels. With one of the fastest growing elder populations in Texas, the 
Ft. Worth coalition is committed to keeping older adults injury free.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud that the Cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, in 
conjunction with local organizations, are taking the lead to promote 
safety within our communities. I would also like to reiterate my 
support for the Safe Communities America program, which has proven to 
be a tremendous initiative led by the National Safety Council. This 
program has helped to create safer environments in our neighborhoods 
while engaging local citizens and encouraging individuals of all ages 
to become active members of their communities.

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