III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 468 

Designating April 2008 as ‘‘National 9–1–1 Education Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 3, 2008 

Mrs. CLINTON (for herself and Mr. STEVENS) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

APRIL 3, 2008 

Reported by Mr. LEAHY, without amendment 

RESOLUTION 

Designating April 2008 as ‘‘National 9–1–1 Education 

Month’’. 

Whereas 9–1–1 is nationally recognized as the number to call 

in an emergency to receive immediate help from police, 

fire, emergency medical services, or 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 other Federal 

Government agencies and various governmental officials 

also supported and encouraged the recommendation; 


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SRES 468 IS 

Whereas, in 1968, the American Telephone and Telegraph 

Company (AT&T) announced that it would establish the 

digits 9–1–1 as the emergency code throughout the 

United States; 

Whereas 9–1–1 was designated by Congress as the national 

emergency call number under the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999 (Public Law 106– 

81; 113 Stat. 1286); 

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 policy makers at all levels of 

government understand the importance of 9–1–1, how 

the system works today, 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 more than 6,000 9–1–1 public safety answering 

points serve more than 3,000 counties and parishes 

throughout the United States; 

Whereas dispatchers 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; 


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SRES 468 IS 

Whereas a growing segment of the population, including the 

deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind, and individuals 

with speech disabilities, are increasingly communicating 

with nontraditional text, video, and instant messaging 

communications services and expect those services to be 

able to connect directly to 9–1–1; 

Whereas the growth and variety of means of communication, 

including mobile and Internet Protocol-based systems, 

impose challenges for accessing 9–1–1 and implementing 

an enhanced 9–1–1 system and require increased education and awareness about the capabilities of different 

means 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 United States population 

each year, and visitors and immigrants may have limited 

knowledge of our emergency calling system; 

Whereas people of all ages use 9–1–1 and it is critical to educate those people on the proper use of 9–1–1; 

Whereas senior citizens are at high risk for needing to access 

to 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; 


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SRES 468 IS 

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 

will do so only after being first 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 contribute importantly to the education of children about the importance of 9–1–1 through 

targeted outreach efforts to public and private school systems; 

Whereas we as a Nation should strive to host at least 1 educational event regarding the proper use of 9–1–1 in every 

school in the country every 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 

and media outreach, training activities for parents, teachers, school administrators, other caregivers and businesses; 

(2) educational events in schools and other appropriate venues; and 


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SRES 468 IS 

(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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates April 2008 as ‘‘National 9–1–1 

3 Education Month’’; and 

4 (2) urges Government officials, parents, teach5 ers, school administrators, caregivers, businesses, 

6 nonprofit organizations, and the people of the 

7 United States to observe the month with appropriate 

8 ceremonies, training events, and activities. 

Æ 


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