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.

Mr. Speaker. I support this resolution and encourage my colleagues to do the same. This resolution is important today as Americans are desirous of making America a better, safer place. This resolution recognizes the importance of community policing and crime prevention.

Because the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne- JAG) Program at fiscal year have been severely cut in America, we must be vigilant and ensure that America and our neighborhoods remain safe. The Byrne-JAG monies are supposed to be used to make America a safer place.

Byrne-JAG allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and to improve the criminal justice system, which states and local governments have come to rely on to ensure public safety. They support: law enforcement, prosecution and court programs, prevention and education, corrections and community programs, drug treatment, planning, evaluation, technology improvement programs, and crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation). In short, they are an indispensable resource that states use to combat crime.

Unfortunately, in fiscal year 2008 the Byrne-JAG program was cut by two-thirds. Although Congress authorized over $1 billion, only $520 million were appropriated for fiscal year 2007. The appropriation was then drastically reduced to $170.4 million in fiscal year 2008, and the President has proposed further cuts for the fiscal year 2009 budget.

The continuing cuts seem to indicate that information regarding the success of the program has not been brought to the attention of members of Congress or to the Administration. Therefore, H. Res. 1324, recognizes that the President should focus on neighborhood crime prevention.

The trend to reduce the grant funding may result, in part, from instances where Byrne-JAG funding has been abused. For example, in 1999 Byrne-JAG funding was used in the infamous Tulia outrage in which a rogue police narcotics officer in Texas set up dozens of people, most of them African-American, in false cocaine trafficking charges. In other instances, jurisdictions used the funding to fund task forces focused solely on ineffective, low-level drug arrests, which has put the task force concept-and the diminished standards of drug enforcement that it has come to represent-in the national spotlight.

The most well-known Byrne-funded scandal occurred in Tulia, Texas where dozens of African American residents (representing 16 percent of the town's black population) were arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to decades in prison, even though the only evidence against them was the uncorroborated testimony of one white undercover officer with a history of lying and racism. The undercover officer worked alone, and had no audiotapes, video surveillance, or eyewitnesses to collaborate his allegations. Suspicions eventually arose after two of the accused defendants were able to produce firm evidence showing they were out of state or at work at the time of the alleged drug buys. Texas Governor Rick Perry eventually pardoned the Tulia defendants (after four years of imprisonment), but these kinds of scandals continue to plague the Byrne grant program.

These scandals are not the result of a few ``bad apples'' in law enforcement; they are the result of a fundamentally flawed bureaucracy that is prone to corruption by its very structure. Byrne-funded regional anti-drug task forces are federally funded, state managed, and locally staffed, which means they do not really have to answer to anyone. In fact, their ability to perpetuate themselves through asset forfeiture and federal funding makes them unaccountable to local taxpayers and governing bodies.

But, reducing the funding is not the answer. Instead, we should encourage the President to invest in America and keep our neighborhoods safe, H. Res. 1324 does just that. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself so much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, on August 5, 2008, thousands of communities and millions of individuals will once again participate in National Night Out. It's an annual event created to raise community awareness of and participation in local crime-fighting programs and organizations.

H. Res. 1324 calls on the administration to coordinate Federal efforts to participate in this nation-wide campaign as well as other community crime-prevention initiatives.

In 1984, the National Association of Town Watch, NATW, decided the 5 to 7 percent of neighborhood residents actively involved in their local crime watch and prevention programs was just not enough. It was out of that concern that a National Night Out was born. Since then, it has been the mission of the National Association of Town Watch and National Night Out to promote and increase the membership of these local crime- fighting initiatives and organizations, to strengthen police community relationships, and to send a message to criminals that neighborhoods and communities are united in their fight against crime.

This year's event will celebrate a National Night Out's 25th anniversary. Since its creation, the event, which began with 2.5 million Americans in 23 States illuminating their homes, has expanded its participation to 35.4 million in all 50 States. And the traditional ``lights on'' has grown to include block parties, neighborhood walks, police meetings, cookouts, and parades.

Unfortunately, crime has found its way into even the safest of neighborhoods. And while our law enforcement officials play a tremendous role in fighting this criminal activity, united communities committed to crime-prevention awareness is essential to this ongoing fight.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself so much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the remarks made by the gentleman that came to the floor. As I listened to Mr. Poe and his remarks, I come from an entirely different environment. I do a little inventory, and within a mile radius of my house there are four houses, and that's all, perhaps, in limit of a mile. Not only do we know who drives down our road and where they're going, if the ambulance comes by, we know who's in it. It's a very thinly populated rural area, but we have a neighborhood.

And when I come to Washington, D.C., where my wife and I maintain a residence, we live in a neighborhood. And neighborhoods are similar whether they're in the city or whether they're in the country because you need to get to know each other. And a National Night Out is a way to do that. And when we get to know each other, that opens up our communications. And when we open up our communications, we provide the intelligence that supports our law enforcement so that we can fight crime in a direct effective fashion. That's the essence of the reason that I support this resolution, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1324) 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.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1324, which will press the President to focus appropriate attention on neighborhood crime prevention and community policing. The resolution also asks the President to coordinate certain Federal efforts to participate in National Night Out.

Neighborhood crime is a major concern for many Americans across our Nation. While our police departments are generally as professional and responsive as they can be, preventing neighborhood crimes comes from the efforts of us all.

Community-based programs involving law enforcement, school administrators, teachers, parents, and other citizens are among the most effective ways to reduce violence and crime in our neighborhoods.

Neighborhood Crime Watch groups and Citizens on Patrol groups, for example, can be an integral part of a police department's effectiveness in making our neighborhoods safe. The presence of concerned citizens walking their neighborhoods, in contact with police, help prevent communities from becoming targets for drug dealers. Just as patrol is the great deterrent that police use, patrol can be a deterrent that citizens use. With more potential witnesses on the streets, citizens are much less likely to be robbery victims.

National Night Out is a unique crime prevention event that helps to highlight the importance and effectiveness of community participation in crime prevention efforts. This special event allows citizens, businesses, and local law enforcement officers, along with Federal, State and local officials, to participate in community crime prevention programs.

Last year, more than 35 million people in more than 11,000 communities across America participated in National Night Out. This year marks the 25th anniversary of this special event.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Stupak for leadership on this issue. And I ask my colleagues to support National Night Out.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Stupak/ Ramstad resolution, House Resolution 1324. Our resolution would commemorate the 25th annual National Night Out event, which is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch.

I would like to thank my Law Enforcement Caucus Co-Chair, Congressman Jim Ramstad, for introducing this legislation with me once again this year, and all members of the Law Enforcement Caucus who co-sponsored this resolution.

This bipartisan resolution has had strong Congressional support for several years running and I am pleased we have another opportunity to highlight this important event again this year.

National Night Out, an annual nationwide grassroots crime prevention event, will take place on Tuesday, August 5th.

The event brings together involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, and civic groups throughout the United States to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness and to strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.

Since its inception in 1984, National Night Out has become a crime prevention fixture that is enthusiastically supported by citizens, law enforcement and local officials.

It is the Nation's largest, most cost-effective crime prevention campaign. By building community watch groups and police partnerships at an average cost of about $27 per community, National Night Out allows local law enforcement to extend its reach without incurring additional costs.

Whether it is stopping illegal drug sales, making schools safer, locating missing children, or remaining vigilant against terrorism, local law enforcement officials depend on the support of community networks to succeed.

The active involvement of citizens and the presence of local law enforcement in communities is a winning combination that makes and keeps neighborhoods safe.

Last year's National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 11,130 communities in all 50 states, U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, and on U.S. military bases worldwide.

In all, over 35.4 million people participated in National Night Out 2007.

National Night Out is an integral part of America's grassroots efforts to fight crime and create safer neighborhoods.

The Stupak/Ramstad resolution expresses Congress' support for community crime prevention and asks that the President focus Federal attention on the issue.

With this in mind, we hope that you will show your support for the community crime prevention efforts of citizens and police in your district, and across the Nation.

Vote for the Stupak/Ramstad National Night Out Resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to voice my full and enthusiastic support for H. Res. 1324. With violence on the rise in many communities, including my home district of Chicago, I have committed myself to raising the issue of gun violence within the U.S. Congress. We must effectively address this issue and begin to repair the devastation that it has caused for countless families, communities, and neighborhoods.

Since February, I have been speaking of the ``Daily 45s'', the number of casualties the Department of Justice reports that our Nation suffers every day due to gun violence. Though the number of gun shot fatalities that Americans endure here in our own communities dwarfs the number of daily casualties our troops suffer in two war zones combined, in Iraq and Afghanistan, it saddens and frustrates me that this issue is not being discussed more here in Congress.

As a country, we are not doing enough to address this deadly issue. That is why I proudly support H. Res. 1324, which asks the President to focus appropriate attention on neighborhood crime prevention and community policing, and to coordinate Federal efforts to participate in National Night Out on the first Tuesday in August.

Additionally, like my Communities in Action Neighborhood Defense and Opportunity (CAN DO) bill, which I will soon be introducing, H. Res. 1324 provides Federal support to assist local efforts in addressing the issue of violence. This bill assists community watch groups by supporting local officials in an effort to promote community safety and help secure our homeland.

It is past time for Americans of all races, classes, and geographic locations to come together and put an end to the senseless violence that is gripping our Nation. H. Res. 1324 goes a long way in bringing this deadly subject into the light and forcing all of us to deal with this devastating problem. I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure as well.