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[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 131 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>

116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 131

     Designating April 2019 as ``National 9-1-1 Education Month''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 28, 2019

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

                             April 11, 2019

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
     Designating April 2019 as ``National 9-1-1 Education Month''.

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 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.
                                 <all>
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