III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 656 

Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Forensic Science 

Week. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 27, 2018 

Mr. CRAPO (for himself, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, and Mr. ISAKSON) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National 

Forensic Science Week. 

Whereas the Senate is committed to the use of forensic 

science in the investigation of crimes, the prosecution and 

conviction of the correct perpetrators of crimes, and the 

exoneration of innocent individuals falsely accused of 

crimes in the United States; 

Whereas forensic science service providers address critical 

criminal and civil questions in the United States, including by providing scientific conclusions relating to forensic 

evidence; 

Whereas forensic science service providers partner with— 

(1) Federal agencies to build and maintain criminal 

databases relating to latent prints, DNA, and other information relevant to criminal cases; and 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 656 ATS 

(2) Federal, State, and local agencies to ensure public safety; 

Whereas forensic science service providers serve a vital role 

in the criminal justice system by providing scientific information to investigators and officers of the court; and 

Whereas the third week in September is recognized as ‘‘National Forensic Science Week’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) it is the sense of the Senate that National 

3 Forensic Science Week provides a special oppor4 tunity for— 

5 (A) forensic service providers to— 

6 (i) recognize the contributions of fo7 rensic scientists in the laboratories in 

8 which those individuals work; 

9 (ii) organize community events to en10 courage a better understanding of forensic 

11 science; 

12 (iii) provide tours to Federal, State, 

13 and local policymakers to assist those indi14 viduals in gaining better insight into the 

15 current capabilities of forensic service pro16 viders and future demands that forensic 

17 service providers will face; and 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 656 ATS 

1 (iv) contact local media outlets and in2 vite those groups to cover events hosted 

3 during National Forensic Science Week; 

4 (B) local policymakers to— 

5 (i) recognize, through formal com6 mendation or resolution, the contributions 

7 of local forensic science laboratories to the 

8 communities of those policymakers; 

9 (ii) formally declare the third week of 

10 September to be ‘‘Forensic Science Week’’ 

11 by proclamation; 

12 (iii) visit local forensic science labora13 tories to gain an understanding of the ca14 pabilities and needs of those laboratories; 

15 and 

16 (iv) discuss the operational needs of 

17 State and local forensic science labora18 tories; 

19 (C) members of communities in the United 

20 States, including members of the media, to— 

21 (i) attend community events spon22 sored by local forensic science laboratories; 

23 (ii) take tours of local forensic science 

24 laboratories; and 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 656 ATS 

1 (iii) ask local forensic science labora2 tories about the operational and legislative 

3 needs of those laboratories; 

4 (D) members of the media to highlight 

5 local news stories that focus on the work of 

6 local forensic science laboratories in the commu7 nities that those laboratories serve; and 

8 (E) public safety officers, law enforcement 

9 officers, and officers of the court to— 

10 (i) attend community events spon11 sored by local forensic science laboratories; 

12 (ii) take tours of local forensic science 

13 laboratories; 

14 (iii) discuss the operational needs of 

15 State and local forensic science labora16 tories; and 

17 (iv) engage local forensic science lab18 oratories regarding working together more 

19 effectively; and 

20 (2) the Senate supports the goals and ideals of 

21 National Forensic Science Week. 

Æ 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS