[House Report 107-606]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



107th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     107-606

======================================================================



 
   FOCUSING ATTENTION ON NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY 
POLICING AND COORDINATING FEDERAL EFFORTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ``NATIONAL 
                              NIGHT OUT''

                                _______
                                

   July 23, 2002.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Sensenbrenner, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 437]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the 
resolution (H. Res. 437) requesting that the President focus 
appropriate attention on neighborhood crime prevention and 
community policing, and coordinate certain Federal efforts to 
participate in ``National Night Out'', including by supporting 
local efforts and neighborhood watches and by supporting local 
officials to provide homeland security, and for other purposes, 
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without 
amendment and recommends that the resolution be agreed to.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose and Summary..............................................     2
Background and Need for the Legislation..........................     2
Hearings.........................................................     2
Committee Consideration..........................................     3
Vote of the Committee............................................     3
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     3
Performance Goals and Objectives.................................     3
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures........................     3
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................     3
Constitutional Authority Statement...............................     4
Section-by-Section Analysis and Discussion.......................     4
Markup Transcript................................................     5

                          Purpose and Summary

    H. Res. 437 expresses the House of Representatives support 
for the goals and ideals of National Night Out (NNO), an event 
intended to demonstrate the importance and effectiveness of 
community participation in crime prevention efforts by having 
people spend the period from 7 to 10 o'clock p.m. on August 6, 
2002, with their neighbors in front of their homes with their 
lights on.
    Additionally, it requests that the President issue a 
proclamation calling for appropriate ceremonies, activities, 
and programs and focus appropriate attention on neighborhood 
crime prevention, community policing, and reduction of school 
crime by delivering speeches, convening meetings, and directing 
the administration to make crime reduction an important 
priority. Finally, it requests that the President coordinate 
the efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the USA 
Freedom Corps, the Citizen Corps, the National Senior Service 
Corps, and AmeriCorps to participate by supporting local 
efforts, neighborhood watches, and local officials, including 
law enforcement personnel, to provide homeland security and 
combat terrorism in the United States.

                Background and Need for the Legislation

    H. Res. 437 supports National Night Out, a nationally 
coordinated community event which attempts to combat crime 
elements through education, planning, and outreach. National 
Night Out began in 1984, with 400 communities and 2.5 million 
people involved. This figure expanded yearly, reaching over 33 
million people in 9,700 communities from all 50 States, U.S. 
territories, cities, and military bases worldwide in 2001. 
National Night Out provides information, educational materials, 
and technical assistance for the development of year-long 
community-police partnerships that can reduce crime, violence, 
and substance abuse at the community level. Coordinated by 
local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night 
Out events are designed to engage neighborhoods in local crime 
and drug-abuse prevention activities through a multitude of 
local events, such as block parties, cookouts, parades, 
contests, youth events, and seminars. In addition, as part of 
National Night Out, individuals participate in Project 365, a 
program that includes the cleanup of local parks, the removal 
and prevention of graffiti, the establishment of domestic 
violence and homeless prevention initiatives, and an increase 
in the number of Neighborhood Watch groups and crime prevention 
programming in multifamily housing areas. Through these 
activities, National Night Out generates community support for 
crime and drug-abuse prevention activities, as well as a high 
level of community participation. This opportunity helps to 
establish a much needed relationship among neighborhood 
residents and local law enforcement personnel.

                                Hearings

    No hearings were held on H. Res. 437.

                        Committee Consideration

    On July 17, 2002, the Committee met in open session and 
ordered favorably reported the resolution H. Res. 437 without 
amendment by voice vote, a quorum being present.

                         Vote of the Committee

    There were no recorded votes on H. Res. 437.

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee reports that the 
findings and recommendations of the Committee, based on 
oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the 
descriptive portions of this report.

                    Performance Goals and Objectives

    H. Res. 437 does not authorize funding. Therefore, clause 
3(c) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives 
is inapplicable.

               New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures

    Clause 3(c)(2) of House rule XIII is inapplicable because 
this legislation does not provide new budgetary authority or 
increased tax expenditures.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee sets forth, with 
respect to the resolution, H. Res. 437, the following estimate 
and comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional 
Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act 
of 1974:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                     Washington, DC, July 23, 2002.
Hon. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., Chairman,
Committee on the Judiciary,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H. Res. 437, requesting 
that the President focus appropriate attention on neighborhood 
crime prevention and community policing, and coordinate certain 
Federal efforts to participate in ``National Night Out,'' 
including by supporting local efforts and neighborhood watches 
and by supporting local officials to provide homeland security, 
and for other purposes.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Lanette 
J.Walker, who can be reached at 226-2860.
            Sincerely,
                                  Dan L. Crippen, Director.

Enclosure

cc:
        Honorable John Conyers, Jr.
        Ranking Member
H. Res. 437--Requesting that the President focus appropriate attention 
        on neighborhood crime prevention and community policing, and 
        coordinate certain Federal efforts to participate in ``National 
        Night Out,'' including by supporting local efforts and 
        neighborhood watches and by supporting local officials to 
        provide homeland security, and for other purposes.
    H. Res. 437 would express Congressional support for the 
National Night Out program and request that the President 
coordinate the efforts of certain agencies to participate in 
supporting local crime prevention efforts. CBO estimates that 
H. Res. 437 would have no impact on the Federal budget. The 
resolution would not affect receipts or direct spending; 
therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Lanette J. 
Walker, who can be reached at 226-2860. This estimate was 
approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for 
Budget Analysis.

                   Constitutional Authority Statement

    Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee finds the authority for 
this legislation in article 1, section 8, clause 18 of the 
Constitution.

               Section-by-Section Analysis and Discussion

    The first preambular clause provides that neighborhood 
crime is of continuing concern to the American People.
    The second preambular clause provides that the fight 
against neighborhood crime requires people to work together in 
cooperation with law enforcement personnel.
    The third preambular clause provides that neighborhood 
crime watch organizations effectively promote awareness about, 
and the participation of volunteers in, crime prevention 
activities at the local level.
    The fourth preambular clause provides that neighborhood 
crime watch groups can contribute to the Nation's war on drugs 
by helping to prevent communities from becoming markets for 
drug dealers.
    The fifth preambular clause provides that neighborhood 
crime watch programs play an integral role in combating 
domestic terrorism by increasing vigilance and awareness and 
encouraging citizen participation in community safety and 
homeland security.
    The sixth preambular clause provides that crime and 
violence in schools are of continuing concern to the American 
people due to the recent high-profile incidents that have 
resulted in fatalities at several schools across the United 
States.
    The seventh preambular clause provides that community-based 
programs involving law enforcement, school administrators, 
teachers, parents, and local communities work effectively to 
reduce school violence and crime.
    The eighth preambular clause provides that citizens across 
the United States will soon take part in ``National Night 
Out,'' a unique crime prevention event which will demonstrate 
the importance and effectiveness of community participation in 
crime prevention efforts by having people spend the period from 
7 to 10 o'clock p.m. on August 6, 2002, with their neighbors in 
front of their homes with their lights on.
    The ninth preambular clause provides that schools that turn 
their lights on from 7 to 10 o'clock p.m. on August 6, 2002, 
will send a positive message to the participants of ``National 
Night Out'' and show their commitment to reduce crime and 
violence in schools.
    The resolved clause provides that it is the sense of the 
House of Representatives that the House of Representatives

        (1) supports the goals and ideals of ``National Night 
        Out;'' and

        (2) requests that the President--

            (A) issue a proclamation calling on the people of 
        the United States to conduct appropriate ceremonies, 
        activities, and programs to demonstrate support for the 
        ``National Night Out;''

            (B) focus appropriate attention on neighborhood 
        crime prevention, community policing, and reduction of 
        school crime by delivering speeches, convening 
        meetings, and directing his administration to make 
        crime reduction and important priority; and

            (C) coordinate the efforts of the Federal 
        Emergency Management Agency, the USA Freedom Corps, the 
        Citizens Corps, the National Senior Service Corps, and 
        AmeriCorps to participate in ``National Night Out'' by 
        supporting local efforts and neighborhood watches and 
        by supporting local officials, including law 
        enforcement personnel, to provide homeland security and 
        combat terrorism in the United States.

                           Markup Transcript



                            BUSINESS MEETING

                        WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2002

                  House of Representatives,
                                Committee on the Judiciary,
                                                    Washington, DC.
    The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:05 a.m., in 
Room 2141, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. F. James 
Sensenbrenner, Jr. [Chairman of the Committee] presiding.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The Committee will be in order.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    Now, pursuant to notice, I call up the resolution, House 
Resolution 437, for purposes of markup and move its favorable 
recommendation to the House. And without objection, the 
resolution will be considered as read and open for amendment at 
any point.
    [The resolution, H. Res. 437, follows:]
    
    
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The Chair recognizes himself for 5 
minutes for purposes of a quick statement.
    For the past 18 years, the National Association of Town 
Watch has held its National Night Out in an effort to heighten 
awareness and strengthen participation in local anti-crime 
efforts. On August 6th of this year, citizens, law enforcement 
agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations, 
and local officials from across the country will participate in 
the 19th Annual National Night Out.
    Over the last 2 years, Congress has supported two 
resolutions which recognized the efforts of the National Night 
Out. This resolution was introduced earlier this year, and like 
previous resolutions, it again supports the Night Out and its 
goal of fighting neighborhood crime.
    In addition, the resolution calls on the President to 
actively support and coordinate local crime-fighting efforts. 
In light of the events of September 11th, H. Res. 437 
incorporates new language this year reflecting the importance 
of the President in coordinating the local community efforts to 
secure our Nation against acts of domestic terrorism. This 
language echoes much of what the President has already said 
under the goals of the newly established Citizens Corps.
    I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan resolution 
and yield back the balance of my time.
    The gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Scott?
    Mr. Scott. Move to strike the last word.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentleman's recognized for 5 
minutes.
    Mr. Scott. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The National Night Out 
is an annual event that gives communities across the United 
States the opportunity to work with local law enforcement on 
strategies to fight crime, drugs, and violence. On August 6, 
2002, from 7 o'clock to 10 o'clock p.m., people are asked to 
spend this time with their neighbors in front of their houses 
with their lights on to demonstrate the importance and 
effectiveness of community participation in crime prevention 
efforts. Schools are also asked to turn their lights on during 
this period.
    H. Res. 437 expresses the sense of Congress in support of 
National Night Out and asks the President to issue a 
proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to 
observe the 19th Annual National Night Out. This resolution 
also requests that the President focus attention on 
neighborhood crime prevention and community policing and 
coordinate Federal efforts, such as the USA Freedom Corps, to 
participate in National Night out. Neighborhood Crime Watch 
Programs can also play an invaluable role in combating domestic 
terrorism by increasing vigilance and awareness and encouraging 
citizens--encouraging citizen participation in community safety 
and homeland security.
    So this year's National Night Out has even more 
significance as our communities come together to show unity and 
resolve in the face of these new terroristic threats. I am 
pleased to be a cosponsor of the resolution with over 90 of our 
colleagues. I urge the Committee to support this national focus 
on crime prevention, and, Mr. Chairman, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Without objection, further opening 
statements will be placed in the record at this point.
    Are there amendments to the resolution?
    Mr. Scott. Mr. Chairman?
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentleman from Virginia.
    Mr. Scott. I understand that the gentleman from New York 
will have an amendment when he arrives.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Well, are there amendments? If 
there are no amendments, without objection, the previous 
question is ordered.
    Mr. Scott. Mr. Chairman, reserving the right to object.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentleman from Virginia.
    Mr. Scott. I will object to the previous question being 
called.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Well, that puts us in somewhat of a 
conundrum because the resolution is still before the Committee 
and the Committee has no business.
    I would move the previous question on reporting the bill 
favorably. The question is on ordering the previous question on 
reporting the bill favorably. Those in favor will say aye? 
Opposed, no? The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it, and 
the previous question is ordered on reporting the bill 
favorably.
    [Intervening business.]
    The Committee now returns to the pending unfinished 
business upon which the previous question was ordered on House 
Resolution 437. The Chair notes the presence of a reporting 
quorum. The question is on the motion to report favorably the 
resolution. Those in favor will say aye? Opposed, no?
    The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it. The motion to 
report favorably is agreed to. Without objection, the staff is 
directed to make any technical and conforming changes, and all 
Members will be given 2 days, as provided by House rules, in 
which to submit additional dissenting, supplemental, or 
minority views.

                                
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