Designating April 2019 as National 911 Education Month.

Designating April 2019 as National 911 Education Month Whereas 911 is recognized throughout the United States as the number to call in an emergency to receive immediate help from law enforcement agencies, fire services, emergency medical services, and other appropriate emergency response entities; Whereas, in 1967, the Presidents Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice recommended that a single number should be established Whereas, in 1968, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (commonly known as AT&T Whereas Congress designated 911 as the national emergency call number in the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999 ( 47 U.S.C. 615 Whereas section 102 of the ENHANCE 911 Act of 2004 ( 47 U.S.C. 942 a high national priority our Nations homeland security and public safety Whereas it is important that policymakers at all levels of government understand the importance of 911, how the 911 system works, and the steps that are needed to modernize the 911 system; Whereas the 911 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 911 a significant homeland security asset; Whereas nearly 6,000 911 public safety answering points serve more than 3,000 counties and parishes throughout the United States; Whereas telecommunicators at public safety answering points answer more than 200,000,000 911 calls each year in the United States; Whereas a growing number of 911 calls are made using wireless and Internet Protocol-based communications services; Whereas a growing segment of the population of the United States, including individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing or who suffer from speech or language disorders, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, or anxiety, is increasingly communicating with nontraditional text, video, and instant messaging communications services and expects those services to be able to connect directly to 911; Whereas Next Generation 911 promises enhanced accessibility, interoperability, flexibility, and features, as well as network resiliency and reliability; Whereas the growth in usage and diversification of means of communication to 911 services, including mobile and Internet Protocol-based systems, impose unique challenges for accessing 911 and, thus, require increased education and awareness about the emergency communications capabilities of these different methods of communication; Whereas numerous other N11 Whereas international visitors and immigrants make up an increasing percentage of the population of the United States each year, and visitors and immigrants may have limited knowledge of the emergency calling system in the United States; Whereas people of all ages use 911, and it is critical to educate people on the proper use of 911; Whereas senior citizens are highly likely to need to access 911, and many senior citizens are learning to use new technology; Whereas thousands of 911 calls are made every year by children properly trained in the use of 911, which saves lives and underscores the critical importance of training children early in life about 911; Whereas the 911 system is often misused, including by the placement of prank and nonemergency calls; Whereas misuse of the 911 system results in costly and inefficient use of 911 and emergency response resources and needs to be reduced; Whereas parents, teachers, and all other caregivers need to play an active role in 911 education for children, but can do so only after first being educated themselves; Whereas there are many avenues for 911 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 make vital contributions to the education of children about the importance of 911 through targeted outreach efforts to public and private school systems; Whereas the United States Government should strive to host at least 1 educational event regarding the proper use of 911 in every school in the country each year; Whereas programs to promote proper use of 911 during National 911 Education Month could include (1) public awareness events, including conferences, media outreach, and 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 911 system designed to educate people of all ages on the importance and proper use of 911; and Whereas the people of the United States deserve the best education regarding the use of 911: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate (1) designates April 2019 as National 911 Education Month (2) urges governmental 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.

Summary: This resolution designates April 2019 as National 9-1-1 Education Month.