The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“SUPPORTING NATIONAL NIGHT OUT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1701 on Aug. 1, 2008.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SUPPORTING NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
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speech of
HON. BOBBY L. RUSH
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Mr. RUSH. 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.
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