III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 482 

Designating April 2010 as ‘‘National 9–1–1 Education Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 14, 2010 

Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Mr. BURR) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating April 2010 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 


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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, deaf-blind, and individuals 


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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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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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(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 2010 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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