IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 537 

Expressing support for the designation and goals of ‘‘National 9–1–1 

Education Month’’, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 11, 2007 

Ms. ESHOO (for herself, Mr. SHIMKUS, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, 

Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. MILLER of North Carolina, Mr. 

WELLER of Illinois, Mr. TERRY, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. GILLMOR, Mr. GORDON of Tennessee, Mrs. MYRICK, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, Mr. 

COBLE, Mr. TURNER, Mr. KENNEDY, and Mr. PRICE of North Carolina) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation and goals of 

‘‘National 9–1–1 Education Month’’, and for other purposes. 

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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•HRES 537 IH 

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); 

Whereas the ENHANCE 911 Act of 2004 (Public Law 108– 

494) established enhanced 9–1–1 as ‘‘a high national priority’’ as 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 to know 

of emergencies of all magnitudes, making 9–1–1 a significant homeland security asset; 

Whereas there are over 6,000 9–1–1 public safety answering 

points (PSAPs) serving more than 3,000 counties and 

parishes throughout the United States; 

Whereas public safety answering points answer more than 

200,000,000 9–1–1 calls each year in the United States 

and 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 


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•HRES 537 IH 

with speech disabilities, are increasingly communicating 

with nontraditional text, video, and instant messaging 

communications services and expect these services to be 

able to connect directly to 9–1–1; 

Whereas the growth and variety of means of communications, 

including mobile and Internet Protocol-based systems, 

impose challenges for accessing 9–1–1 and implementing 

enhanced 9–1–1 and require increased education and 

awareness about their capabilities; 

Whereas numerous other N–1–1 and 800 number services 

exist for non-emergency 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 these services in addition to or instead of 9–1–1; 

Whereas, international visitors and individuals immigrating 

to the United States make up an increasing part of the 

United States population in any given year, and such 

visitors and individuals may have limited knowledge of 

our emergency calling system; 

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

Whereas senior citizens are at high risk for needing access 

to 9–1–1 and a large segment of this population is learning to use new technology; 

Whereas thousands of 9–1–1 calls are made every year by 

children properly trained on the use of 9–1–1 resulting 

in lives saved which underscores the critical importance 

of training children early in life about 9–1–1; 

Whereas there is widespread misuse of the 9–1–1 system, including prank and non-emergency calls, which can result 


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•HRES 537 IH 

in costly and inefficient use of 9–1–1 and emergency response resources and a need to reduce this practice; 

Whereas parents, teachers, and all other care givers 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 educations 

such as safety fairs, school presentations, libraries, 

churches, businesses, public safety answering point tours 

or open houses, civic organizations and senior citizen centers; 

Whereas children, parents, the National Parent Teachers Association, and teachers are important groups to educate 

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 annually host at 

least one educational event in every school in the country 

every year regarding the proper use of 9–1–1; 

Whereas an established National 9–1–1 Education Month 

could include public awareness events, including conferences and media outreach, training activities for parents, teachers, school administrators, other care givers 

and businesses; educational events in schools and other 

appropriate venues; and production and distribution of 

educational content on 9–1–1 designed to educate people 

of all ages on the importance and proper use of 9–1–1; 

and 

Whereas Americans deserve the finest education we can offer 

regarding 9–1–1 education: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


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•HRES 537 IH 

1 (1) supports the designation of an appropriate 

2 month as ‘‘National 9–1–1 Education Month’’ and 

3 the goals of such designation; and 

4 (2) requests that the President issue a procla5 mation— 

6 (A) designating a month as ‘‘National 9– 

7 1–1 Education Month’’; and 

8 (B) calling upon Government officials, par9 ents, teachers, school administrators, care 

10 givers, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and 

11 the people of the United States to observe such 

12 month with appropriate ceremonies, training 

13 events, and activities. 

Æ 


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