[House Report 109-194]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



109th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    109-194

======================================================================
 
     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'', WHICH 
 OCCURS THE FIRST TUESDAY OF AUGUST EACH YEAR, INCLUDING BY SUPPORTING 
   LOCAL EFFORTS AND COMMUNITY WATCH GROUPS AND BY SUPPORTING LOCAL 
   OFFICIALS, TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND HELP PROVIDE HOMELAND 
                                SECURITY

                                _______
                                

   July 27, 2005.--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. 336]

      The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the 
resolution (H. Res. 336) 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'', which occurs the first 
Tuesday of August each year, including by supporting local 
efforts and community watch groups and by supporting local 
officials, to promote community safety and help provide 
homeland security, having considered the same, report favorably 
thereon without amendment and recommend that the resolution be 
agreed to.

                          PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

    H. Res. 336 expresses the sense of the House of 
Representatives that the President focus attention on the 
issues of neighborhood crime prevention, community policing, 
and reduction of school crime by delivering speeches, convening 
meetings, and directing his Administration to make reducing 
crime an important priority, specifically by issuing a 
proclamation calling on the people of the United States to 
conduct appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to 
demonstrate support for National Night Out (NNO). H. Res. 336 
affirms that Congress supports the goals and ideas of NNO.

                BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION

    The National Association of Town Watch (NATW) is a 
nonprofit, crime prevention organization which works in 
cooperation with thousands of crime watch groups and law 
enforcement agencies throughout the country. NNO, ``America's 
Night Out Against Crime,'' was introduced by NATW in 1984. NNO 
is an effort to heighten awareness and strengthen participation 
in local anti-crime efforts, by providing a high-profile, high-
impact crime prevention event nationally.
    In its first year, 400 communities in 23 states 
participated in NNO. Nationwide, 2.5 million Americans took 
part in 1984. Since that time, the event has since grown to 
involve more than 34 million people in over 10,000 communities 
from all 50 States, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and 
military bases worldwide. NNO 2005 will occur on August 2nd, 
2005.
    While the traditional ``lights on'' and front porch vigils 
remain a part of NNO, activities have expanded considerably 
over the years to include block parties, cookouts, parades, 
visits from police, festivals, neighborhood walks, safety 
fairs, contests, rallies and meetings.

                                HEARINGS

    No hearings were held on H. Res. 336.

                        COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    On July 27, 2005, the Committee met in open session and 
ordered favorably reported the resolution H. Res. 336 without 
amendment by voice vote, a quorum being present.

                         VOTE OF THE COMMITTEE

    In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the Committee notes that there 
were no recorded votes during the Committee consideration of H. 
Res. 336.

                      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.

               NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY AND TAX EXPENDITURES

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

                        COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE

    In compliance with clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee believes that 
the resolution will have no cost for the current fiscal year 
2006, or for any of the next five fiscal years.

                    PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

    The Committee states that pursuant clause 3(c)(4) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H. Res. 336 
does not authorize funding. H. Res. 336 provides that the 
President focus attention on the issues of neighborhood crime 
prevention, community policing, and reduction of school crime 
by delivering speeches, convening meetings, and directing his 
Administration to make reducing crime and important priority, 
specifically by issuing a proclamation calling on the people of 
the United States to conduct appropriate ceremonies, 
activities, and programs to demonstrate support for National 
Night Out.

                   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 I, section 8, clause 18 of the 
Constitution.

               SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

    The first preambular clause provides that neighborhood 
crime is continuing concern to the American people;
    The second preambular clause provides that child safety is 
a growing concern for parents and communities, as evidenced by 
several cases of missing and abducted children;
    The third preambular clause provides that homeland security 
remain an important priority for communities and the Nation;
    The fourth preambular clause provides that crime, drugs, 
and violence in schools is of continuing concern to the 
American people due to the recent high-profile incidents that 
have resulted in fatalities at several schools in the United 
States;
    The fifth preambular clause provides that the fight against 
neighborhood crime requires people to work together in 
cooperation with law enforcement personnel;
    The sixth 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 seventh 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 eighth preambular clause provides the 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 ninth 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 and promote the safety of 
children;
    The tenth preambular clause provides that citizens 
throughout the United States will soon take part in ``National 
Night Out,'' a unique crime prevention event that will 
demonstrate the importance and effectiveness of community 
participation in crime prevention efforts;
    The eleventh preambular clause provides that National Night 
Out will celebrate its 22nd anniversary on Tuesday, August 2, 
2005, when citizens, businesses, local law enforcement 
officers, mayors, State and Federal officials, and others will 
celebrate ``America's Night Out Against Crime'' and participate 
in events to support community crime prevention;
    The twelfth preambular clause provides that National Night 
Out is supporting the Department of Homeland Security's Ready 
campaign by handing out materials and educating and empowering 
the public on how to prepare for, and respond to, potential 
terrorist attacks or other emergencies;
    The thirteenth preambular clause provides that National 
Night Out is supporting the National Child Identification 
Program, a joint partnership between the American Football 
Coaches Association and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to 
provide identification kits to parents to help locate missing 
children;
    The fourteenth preambular clause provides that the National 
Sheriffs Association, the United States Conference of Mayors, 
and the National League of Cities have officially expressed 
support for National Night Out; and
    The fifteenth preambular clause provides that citizens and 
communities that participate on August 2, 2005, will send a 
positive message to other communities and the Nation, showing 
their commitment to reduce crime and promote homeland security;
    The resolved clause provides that it is the sense of 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 `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 the Administration to make crime 
                reduction an important priority; and
                  (C) 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 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.

            CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

    In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the Committee notes H. Res. 336 
makes no changes to existing law.

                                  
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