39–006

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 

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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 anticrime 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 atVerDate Aug 04 2004 07:00 Aug 05, 2005 Jkt 039006 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR194.XXX HR194
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tention 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; 

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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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