[House Report 109-194]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
109th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 109-194
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REQUESTING THAT THE PRESIDENT FOCUS APPROPRIATE ATTENTION ON
NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY POLICING, AND COORDINATE
CERTAIN FEDERAL EFFORTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ``NATIONAL NIGHT OUT'', WHICH
OCCURS THE FIRST TUESDAY OF AUGUST EACH YEAR, INCLUDING BY SUPPORTING
LOCAL EFFORTS AND COMMUNITY WATCH GROUPS AND BY SUPPORTING LOCAL
OFFICIALS, TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND HELP PROVIDE HOMELAND
SECURITY
_______
July 27, 2005.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed
_______
Mr. Sensenbrenner, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H. Res. 336]
The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the
resolution (H. Res. 336) requesting that the President focus
appropriate attention on neighborhood crime prevention and
community policing, and coordinate certain Federal efforts to
participate in ``National Night Out'', which occurs the first
Tuesday of August each year, including by supporting local
efforts and community watch groups and by supporting local
officials, to promote community safety and help provide
homeland security, having considered the same, report favorably
thereon without amendment and recommend that the resolution be
agreed to.
PURPOSE AND SUMMARY
H. Res. 336 expresses the sense of the House of
Representatives that the President focus attention on the
issues of neighborhood crime prevention, community policing,
and reduction of school crime by delivering speeches, convening
meetings, and directing his Administration to make reducing
crime an important priority, specifically by issuing a
proclamation calling on the people of the United States to
conduct appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to
demonstrate support for National Night Out (NNO). H. Res. 336
affirms that Congress supports the goals and ideas of NNO.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION
The National Association of Town Watch (NATW) is a
nonprofit, crime prevention organization which works in
cooperation with thousands of crime watch groups and law
enforcement agencies throughout the country. NNO, ``America's
Night Out Against Crime,'' was introduced by NATW in 1984. NNO
is an effort to heighten awareness and strengthen participation
in local anti-crime efforts, by providing a high-profile, high-
impact crime prevention event nationally.
In its first year, 400 communities in 23 states
participated in NNO. Nationwide, 2.5 million Americans took
part in 1984. Since that time, the event has since grown to
involve more than 34 million people in over 10,000 communities
from all 50 States, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and
military bases worldwide. NNO 2005 will occur on August 2nd,
2005.
While the traditional ``lights on'' and front porch vigils
remain a part of NNO, activities have expanded considerably
over the years to include block parties, cookouts, parades,
visits from police, festivals, neighborhood walks, safety
fairs, contests, rallies and meetings.
HEARINGS
No hearings were held on H. Res. 336.
COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
On July 27, 2005, the Committee met in open session and
ordered favorably reported the resolution H. Res. 336 without
amendment by voice vote, a quorum being present.
VOTE OF THE COMMITTEE
In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the Committee notes that there
were no recorded votes during the Committee consideration of H.
Res. 336.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee reports that the
findings and recommendations of the Committee, based on
oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the
descriptive portions of this report.
NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY AND TAX EXPENDITURES
Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives is inapplicable because this legislation does
not provide new budgetary authority or increased tax
expenditures.
COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE
In compliance with clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee believes that
the resolution will have no cost for the current fiscal year
2006, or for any of the next five fiscal years.
PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Committee states that pursuant clause 3(c)(4) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H. Res. 336
does not authorize funding. H. Res. 336 provides that the
President focus attention on the issues of neighborhood crime
prevention, community policing, and reduction of school crime
by delivering speeches, convening meetings, and directing his
Administration to make reducing crime and important priority,
specifically by issuing a proclamation calling on the people of
the United States to conduct appropriate ceremonies,
activities, and programs to demonstrate support for National
Night Out.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee finds the authority for
this legislation in article I, section 8, clause 18 of the
Constitution.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
The first preambular clause provides that neighborhood
crime is continuing concern to the American people;
The second preambular clause provides that child safety is
a growing concern for parents and communities, as evidenced by
several cases of missing and abducted children;
The third preambular clause provides that homeland security
remain an important priority for communities and the Nation;
The fourth preambular clause provides that crime, drugs,
and violence in schools is of continuing concern to the
American people due to the recent high-profile incidents that
have resulted in fatalities at several schools in the United
States;
The fifth preambular clause provides that the fight against
neighborhood crime requires people to work together in
cooperation with law enforcement personnel;
The sixth preambular clause provides that neighborhood
crime watch organizations effectively promote awareness about,
and the participation of volunteers in, crime prevention
activities at the local level;
The seventh preambular clause provides that neighborhood
crime watch groups can contribute to the Nation's war on drugs
by helping to prevent communities from becoming markets for
drug dealers;
The eighth preambular clause provides the neighborhood
crime watch programs play an integral role in combating
domestic terrorism by increasing vigilance and awareness and
encouraging citizen participation in community safety and
homeland security;
The ninth preambular clause provides that community-based
programs involving law enforcement, school administrators,
teachers, parents, and local communities work effectively to
reduce school violence and crime and promote the safety of
children;
The tenth preambular clause provides that citizens
throughout the United States will soon take part in ``National
Night Out,'' a unique crime prevention event that will
demonstrate the importance and effectiveness of community
participation in crime prevention efforts;
The eleventh preambular clause provides that National Night
Out will celebrate its 22nd anniversary on Tuesday, August 2,
2005, when citizens, businesses, local law enforcement
officers, mayors, State and Federal officials, and others will
celebrate ``America's Night Out Against Crime'' and participate
in events to support community crime prevention;
The twelfth preambular clause provides that National Night
Out is supporting the Department of Homeland Security's Ready
campaign by handing out materials and educating and empowering
the public on how to prepare for, and respond to, potential
terrorist attacks or other emergencies;
The thirteenth preambular clause provides that National
Night Out is supporting the National Child Identification
Program, a joint partnership between the American Football
Coaches Association and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to
provide identification kits to parents to help locate missing
children;
The fourteenth preambular clause provides that the National
Sheriffs Association, the United States Conference of Mayors,
and the National League of Cities have officially expressed
support for National Night Out; and
The fifteenth preambular clause provides that citizens and
communities that participate on August 2, 2005, will send a
positive message to other communities and the Nation, showing
their commitment to reduce crime and promote homeland security;
The resolved clause provides that it is the sense of the
House of Representatives--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of ``National Night
Out''; and
(2) requests that the President--
(A) issue a proclamation calling on the
people of the United States to conduct
appropriate ceremonies, activities, and
programs to demonstrate support for `National
Night Out';
(B) focus appropriate attention on
neighborhood crime prevention, community
policing, and reduction of school crime by
delivering speeches, convening meetings, and
directing the Administration to make crime
reduction an important priority; and
(C) coordinate the efforts of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, the USA Freedom
Corps, the Citizen Corps, the National Senior
Service Corps, and AmeriCorps to participate in
`National Night Out' by supporting local
efforts and neighborhood watches and by
supporting local officials, including law
enforcement personnel, to provide homeland
security and combat terrorism in the United
States.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the Committee notes H. Res. 336
makes no changes to existing law.