107TH CONGRESS REPORT " HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ! 2d Session 107–606

FOCUSING ATTENTION ON NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME PREVENTION AND 

COMMUNITY POLICING AND COORDINATING FEDERAL EFFORTS TO 

PARTICIPATE IN ‘‘NATIONAL NIGHT OUT’’

JULY 23, 2002.—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. 437] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the 

resolution (H. Res. 437) 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’’, including by supporting local efforts and 

neighborhood watches and by supporting local officials to provide 

homeland security, and for other purposes, having considered the 

same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the resolution be agreed to.

CONTENTS 

Page 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................................ 2

Background and Need for the Legislation ............................................................. 2

Hearings ................................................................................................................... 2

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 3

Vote of the Committee ............................................................................................. 3

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 3

Performance Goals and Objectives ......................................................................... 3

New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures ...................................................... 3

Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate .......................................................... 3

Constitutional Authority Statement ...................................................................... 4

Section-by-Section Analysis and Discussion .......................................................... 4

Markup Transcript .................................................................................................. 5

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PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

H. Res. 437 expresses the House of Representatives support for 

the goals and ideals of National Night Out (NNO), an event intended to demonstrate the importance and effectiveness of community participation in crime prevention efforts by having people 

spend the period from 7 to 10 o’clock p.m. on August 6, 2002, with 

their neighbors in front of their homes with their lights on. 

Additionally, it requests that the President issue a proclamation 

calling for appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs and 

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. Finally, it requests that the 

President 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 by supporting local efforts, neighborhood watches, and local officials, including law enforcement personnel, to provide homeland security 

and combat terrorism in the United States. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION

H. Res. 437 supports National Night Out, a nationally coordinated community event which attempts to combat crime elements 

through education, planning, and outreach. National Night Out 

began in 1984, with 400 communities and 2.5 million people involved. This figure expanded yearly, reaching over 33 million people in 9,700 communities from all 50 States, U.S. territories, cities, 

and military bases worldwide in 2001. National Night Out provides 

information, educational materials, and technical assistance for the 

development of year-long community-police partnerships that can 

reduce crime, violence, and substance abuse at the community 

level. Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, 

National Night Out events are designed to engage neighborhoods 

in local crime and drug-abuse prevention activities through a multitude of local events, such as block parties, cookouts, parades, contests, youth events, and seminars. In addition, as part of National 

Night Out, individuals participate in Project 365, a program that 

includes the cleanup of local parks, the removal and prevention of 

graffiti, the establishment of domestic violence and homeless prevention initiatives, and an increase in the number of Neighborhood 

Watch groups and crime prevention programming in multifamily 

housing areas. Through these activities, National Night Out generates community support for crime and drug-abuse prevention activities, as well as a high level of community participation. This opportunity helps to establish a much needed relationship among 

neighborhood residents and local law enforcement personnel. 

HEARINGS

No hearings were held on H. Res. 437. 

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COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On July 17, 2002, the Committee met in open session and ordered favorably reported the resolution H. Res. 437 without amendment by voice vote, a quorum being present. 

VOTE OF THE COMMITTEE

There were no recorded votes on H. Res. 437. 

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. 

PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

H. Res. 437 does not authorize funding. Therefore, clause 3(c) of 

rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives is inapplicable. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY AND TAX EXPENDITURES

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

expenditures. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

In compliance with clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee sets forth, with respect to 

the resolution, H. Res. 437, the following estimate and comparison 

prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under 

section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974:

U.S. CONGRESS, 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, 

Washington, DC, July 23, 2002. 

Hon. F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, Jr., Chairman, 

Committee on the Judiciary, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H. Res. 437, 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,’’ including by supporting local efforts and neighborhood watches and by supporting 

local officials to provide homeland security, and for other purposes. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Lanette J.Walker, who 

can be reached at 226–2860. 

Sincerely, 

DAN L. CRIPPEN, Director.

Enclosure

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cc: Honorable John Conyers, Jr. 

Ranking Member 

H. Res. 437—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,’’ including by supporting local efforts and 

neighborhood watches and by supporting local officials to provide homeland security, and for other purposes. 

H. Res. 437 would express Congressional support for the National Night Out program and request that the President coordinate the efforts of certain agencies to participate in supporting 

local crime prevention efforts. CBO estimates that H. Res. 437 

would have no impact on the Federal budget. The resolution would 

not affect receipts or direct spending; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Lanette J. Walker, 

who can be reached at 226–2860. This estimate was approved by 

Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

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 1, section 8, clause 18 of the Constitution. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

The first preambular clause provides that neighborhood crime is 

of continuing concern to the American People. 

The second preambular clause provides that the fight against 

neighborhood crime requires people to work together in cooperation 

with law enforcement personnel. 

The third 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 fourth 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 fifth preambular clause provides that 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 sixth preambular clause provides that crime and violence in 

schools are of continuing concern to the American people due to the 

recent high-profile incidents that have resulted in fatalities at several schools across the United States. 

The seventh 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. 

The eighth preambular clause provides that citizens across the 

United States will soon take part in ‘‘National Night Out,’’ a 

unique crime prevention event which will demonstrate the imporVerDate Jul 19 2002 21:52 Jul 23, 2002 Jkt 099006 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6601 E:\HR\OC\HR606.XXX pfrm17 PsN: HR606
5

tance and effectiveness of community participation in crime prevention efforts by having people spend the period from 7 to 10 o’clock 

p.m. on August 6, 2002, with their neighbors in front of their 

homes with their lights on. 

The ninth preambular clause provides that schools that turn 

their lights on from 7 to 10 o’clock p.m. on August 6, 2002, will 

send a positive message to the participants of ‘‘National Night Out’’

and show their commitment to reduce crime and violence in 

schools. 

The resolved clause provides that it is the sense of the House of 

Representatives that 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 the 

‘‘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 his administration to make crime reduction 

and important priority; and

(C) coordinate the efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the USA Freedom Corps, the Citizens 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.

MARKUP TRANSCRIPT

BUSINESS MEETING 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2002

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 

COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, 

Washington, DC. 

The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:05 a.m., in Room 

2141, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. [Chairman of the Committee] presiding. 

Chairman SENSENBRENNER. The Committee will be in order. 

* * * * * * *

Now, pursuant to notice, I call up the resolution, House Resolution 437, for purposes of markup and move its favorable recommendation to the House. And without objection, the resolution 

will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point. 

[The resolution, H. Res. 437, follows:]

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437A.eps
7


437B.eps
8


437C.eps
9


437D.eps
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Chairman SENSENBRENNER. The Chair recognizes himself for 5 

minutes for purposes of a quick statement. 

For the past 18 years, the National Association of Town Watch 

has held its National Night Out in an effort to heighten awareness 

and strengthen participation in local anti-crime efforts. On August 

6th of this year, citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, 

businesses, neighborhood organizations, and local officials from 

across the country will participate in the 19th Annual National 

Night Out. 

Over the last 2 years, Congress has supported two resolutions 

which recognized the efforts of the National Night Out. This resolution was introduced earlier this year, and like previous resolutions, 

it again supports the Night Out and its goal of fighting neighborhood crime. 

In addition, the resolution calls on the President to actively support and coordinate local crime-fighting efforts. In light of the 

events of September 11th, H. Res. 437 incorporates new language 

this year reflecting the importance of the President in coordinating 

the local community efforts to secure our Nation against acts of domestic terrorism. This language echoes much of what the President 

has already said under the goals of the newly established Citizens 

Corps. 

I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan resolution and 

yield back the balance of my time. 

The gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Scott? 

Mr. SCOTT. Move to strike the last word. 

Chairman SENSENBRENNER. The gentleman’s recognized for 5 

minutes. 

Mr. SCOTT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The National Night Out 

is an annual event that gives communities across the United States 

the opportunity to work with local law enforcement on strategies 

to fight crime, drugs, and violence. On August 6, 2002, from 7 

o’clock to 10 o’clock p.m., people are asked to spend this time with 

their neighbors in front of their houses with their lights on to demonstrate the importance and effectiveness of community participation in crime prevention efforts. Schools are also asked to turn 

their lights on during this period. 

H. Res. 437 expresses the sense of Congress in support of National Night Out and asks the President to issue a proclamation 

calling upon the people of the United States to observe the 19th 

Annual National Night Out. This resolution also requests that the 

President focus attention on neighborhood crime prevention and 

community policing and coordinate Federal efforts, such as the 

USA Freedom Corps, to participate in National Night out. Neighborhood Crime Watch Programs can also play an invaluable role in 

combating domestic terrorism by increasing vigilance and awareness and encouraging citizens—encouraging citizen participation in 

community safety and homeland security. 

So this year’s National Night Out has even more significance as 

our communities come together to show unity and resolve in the 

face of these new terroristic threats. I am pleased to be a cosponsor 

of the resolution with over 90 of our colleagues. I urge the Committee to support this national focus on crime prevention, and, Mr. 

Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time. 

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Chairman SENSENBRENNER. Without objection, further opening 

statements will be placed in the record at this point. 

Are there amendments to the resolution? 

Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Chairman? 

Chairman SENSENBRENNER. The gentleman from Virginia. 

Mr. SCOTT. I understand that the gentleman from New York will 

have an amendment when he arrives. 

Chairman SENSENBRENNER. Well, are there amendments? If 

there are no amendments, without objection, the previous question 

is ordered. 

Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Chairman, reserving the right to object. 

Chairman SENSENBRENNER. The gentleman from Virginia. 

Mr. SCOTT. I will object to the previous question being called. 

Chairman SENSENBRENNER. Well, that puts us in somewhat of a 

conundrum because the resolution is still before the Committee and 

the Committee has no business. 

I would move the previous question on reporting the bill favorably. The question is on ordering the previous question on reporting the bill favorably. Those in favor will say aye? Opposed, no? 

The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it, and the previous 

question is ordered on reporting the bill favorably. 

[Intervening business.] 

The Committee now returns to the pending unfinished business 

upon which the previous question was ordered on House Resolution 

437. The Chair notes the presence of a reporting quorum. The 

question is on the motion to report favorably the resolution. Those 

in favor will say aye? Opposed, no? 

The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it. The motion to report favorably is agreed to. Without objection, the staff is directed 

to make any technical and conforming changes, and all Members 

will be given 2 days, as provided by House rules, in which to submit additional dissenting, supplemental, or minority views.

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