[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23528]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       CELEBRATE SAFE COMMUNITIES WEEK AND CRIME PREVENTION MONTH

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 302, submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 302) 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 7, 2009 as ``Celebrate Safe Communities 
     Week'' and October as ``Crime Prevention Month.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate, and any statements related to the resolution be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 302) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 302

       Whereas communities across the country face localized 
     increases in violence and other crime;
       Whereas local law enforcement-community partnerships are an 
     effective tool for prevention crime 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 Americans 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 7, 
     2009, would be an appropriate week to designate as 
     ``Celebrate Safe Communities'' Week; and
       Whereas the month of October is designated ``Crime 
     Prevention Month'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate
       (1) supports the designation of October 1 through October 
     7, 2009 as ``Celebrate Safe Communities Week'';
       (2) supports the designation of October 2009 as ``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''.

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