Recognizing August 5, National Night Out, the national coming together of Americans all over the Nation to unite and promote public safety.

Bill Number

H.Res. 621

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2025-09-09T14:06:55Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This House Resolution (H. Res. 621) aims to officially recognize August 5 as National Night Out, an annual event that brings together communities and local law enforcement to build relationships, foster unity, and raise awareness about public safety. It highlights the event's role in strengthening ties between residents and those who protect them.

Key Provisions

• Encouragement for Law Enforcement: Urges police departments to use National Night Out to improve connections with the communities they serve.
• Public Safety Education: Encourages public safety agencies (like emergency services) to educate communities on:
• Effective ways to contact 911 responders and emergency providers.
• How these agencies perform their roles and responsibilities.
• Recognition of Impact: Acknowledges National Night Out's 40+ years of success, involving over 38 million participants in more than 17,000 U.S. communities, including territories and military bases, in promoting community building and safety awareness.

The resolution is structured with "Whereas" clauses providing background on the event's history and benefits, followed by a "Resolved" section outlining the House's supportive actions.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This is a non-binding resolution, not a law or bill that amends statutes. It introduces no legal changes, obligations, or enforceable requirements; instead, it expresses the House of Representatives' support for an existing voluntary community event.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens and Communities: May increase participation in National Night Out by raising its visibility, leading to stronger neighborhood bonds, better understanding of local safety resources, and heightened public safety awareness without direct mandates.
• On Government Agencies: Encourages (but does not require) law enforcement and public safety departments to engage more actively with residents, potentially improving trust and cooperation at the local level.
• On International Relations: No direct impact, as the resolution focuses solely on domestic U.S. communities, including territories but not foreign affairs.

Overall, effects are symbolic and promotional, likely boosting morale and voluntary initiatives rather than creating new programs or funding.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Local Law Enforcement and Public Safety Agencies: Beneficiaries of encouraged outreach efforts to build community trust.
• Community Residents and Neighbors: Directly involved as participants in events that promote safety education and unity.
• National Night Out Organizers: Gain congressional recognition, which could enhance event promotion and participation.
• U.S. Territories and Military Bases: Explicitly included to ensure broad national involvement.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: As a simple resolution, it has no force of law and does not require presidential approval or Senate concurrence. It cannot compel action from agencies or individuals.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's broad authority to express policy preferences (under Article I), but raises no constitutional issues like free speech or federalism concerns, given its voluntary and local focus.
• Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (introduced by representatives from California and Pennsylvania) for community policing and public safety initiatives. It could signal congressional endorsement of grassroots efforts to address social issues like trust in law enforcement, potentially influencing future funding or related legislation without binding commitments.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-07-29: Submitted in House
• 2025-07-29: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Recognizing August 5, National Night Out, the national coming together of Americans all over the Nation to unite and promote public safety. — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (2 pages)