[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 54 (Thursday, March 28, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2093-S2094]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 131--DESIGNATING APRIL 2019 AS ``NATIONAL 9-1-1 
                           EDUCATION MONTH''

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Mr. Burr) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 131

       Whereas 9-1-1 is recognized throughout the United States as 
     the number to call in an emergency to receive immediate help 
     from law enforcement agencies, fire services, emergency 
     medical services, and 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 various Federal 
     Government agencies and governmental officials supported and 
     encouraged the recommendation;
       Whereas, in 1968, the American Telephone and Telegraph 
     Company (commonly known as ``AT&T'') announced that it would 
     establish the digits 9-1-1 as the emergency code throughout 
     the United States;
       Whereas Congress designated 9-1-1 as the national emergency 
     call number in the Wireless Communications and Public Safety 
     Act of 1999 (47 U.S.C. 615 et seq.);
       Whereas section 102 of the ENHANCE 911 Act of 2004 (47 
     U.S.C. 942 note) declared an enhanced 9-1-1 system to be ``a 
     high national priority'' and part of ``our Nation's homeland 
     security and public safety'';
       Whereas it is important that policymakers at all levels of 
     government understand the importance of 9-1-1, how the 9-1-1 
     system works, 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 the emergency response system in 
     the United States and is often the first place emergencies of 
     all magnitudes are reported, making 9-1-1 a significant 
     homeland security asset;
       Whereas nearly 6,000 9-1-1 public safety answering points 
     serve more than 3,000 counties and parishes throughout the 
     United States;
       Whereas telecommunicators at public safety answering points 
     answer more than 200,000,000 9-1-1 calls each year in the 
     United States;
       Whereas 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 of the United 
     States, including individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing 
     or who suffer from speech or language disorders, autism 
     spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, or anxiety, is 
     increasingly communicating with nontraditional text, video, 
     and instant messaging communications services and expects 
     those services to be able to connect directly to 9-1-1;
       Whereas Next Generation 9-1-1 promises enhanced 
     accessibility, interoperability, flexibility, and features, 
     as well as network resiliency and reliability;
       Whereas the growth in usage and diversification of means of 
     communication to 9-1-1 services, including mobile and 
     Internet Protocol-based systems, impose unique challenges for 
     accessing 9-1-1 and, thus, require increased education and 
     awareness about the emergency communications capabilities of 
     these different methods of communication;
       Whereas numerous other ``N-1-1'' and 800 number services 
     exist for nonemergency situations, including 2-1-1, 3-1-1, 5-
     1-1, 7-1-1, 8-1-1, poison control centers, and mental

[[Page S2094]]

     health hotlines, and the public needs to be educated on when 
     to use those services in addition to or instead of 9-1-1;
       Whereas international visitors and immigrants make up an 
     increasing percentage of the population of the United States 
     each year, and visitors and immigrants may have limited 
     knowledge of the emergency calling system in the United 
     States;
       Whereas people of all ages use 9-1-1, and it is critical to 
     educate people on the proper use of 9-1-1;
       Whereas senior citizens are highly likely to need to access 
     9-1-1, and many senior citizens are learning to use new 
     technology;
       Whereas thousands of 9-1-1 calls are made every year by 
     children properly trained in the use of 9-1-1, which saves 
     lives and underscores the critical importance of training 
     children early in life about 9-1-1;
       Whereas the 9-1-1 system is often misused, including by the 
     placement of prank and nonemergency calls;
       Whereas misuse of the 9-1-1 system results in costly and 
     inefficient use of 9-1-1 and emergency response resources and 
     needs to be reduced;
       Whereas parents, teachers, and all other caregivers need to 
     play an active role in 9-1-1 education for children, but can 
     do so only after first being educated themselves;
       Whereas there are many avenues for 9-1-1 public education, 
     including safety fairs, school presentations, libraries, 
     churches, businesses, public safety answering point tours or 
     open houses, civic organizations, and senior citizen centers;
       Whereas children, parents, teachers, and the National 
     Parent Teacher Association make vital contributions to the 
     education of children about the importance of 9-1-1 through 
     targeted outreach efforts to public and private school 
     systems;
       Whereas the United States Government should strive to host 
     at least 1 educational event regarding the proper use of 9-1-
     1 in every school in the country each year;
       Whereas programs to promote proper use of 9-1-1 during 
     National 9-1-1 Education Month could include--
       (1) public awareness events, including conferences, media 
     outreach, and training activities for parents, teachers, 
     school administrators, other caregivers, and businesses;
       (2) educational events in schools and other appropriate 
     venues; and
       (3) production and distribution of information about the 9-
     1-1 system designed to educate people of all ages on the 
     importance and proper use of 9-1-1; and
       Whereas the people of the United States deserve the best 
     education regarding the use of 9-1-1: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates April 2019 as ``National 9-1-1 Education 
     Month''; and
       (2) urges governmental officials, parents, teachers, school 
     administrators, caregivers, businesses, nonprofit 
     organizations, and the people of the United States to observe 
     the month with appropriate ceremonies, training events, and 
     activities.

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