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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 468 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Schumer, and Mr. Nelson of 
Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

                             April 3, 2008

                Reported by Mr. Leahy, without amendment

                             April 9, 2008

                        Considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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;
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;
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;
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

    (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 2008 as ``National 9-1-1 Education 
        Month''; and
            (2) urges Government 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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