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. GOR-
DON 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 En-
forcement 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 Communica-
tions 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 pri-
ority’’ 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 sys-
tem in the United States and is often the first to know 
of emergencies of all magnitudes, making 9–1–1 a signifi-
cant 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 edu-
cated on when to use these services in addition to or in-
stead 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 edu-
cate 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 learn-
ing 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, in-
cluding 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 re-
sponse 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 cen-
ters; 
Whereas children, parents, the National Parent Teachers As-
sociation, 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 con-
ferences and media outreach, training activities for par-
ents, 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 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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