A resolution recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Forensic Science Week.

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 320 Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Forensic Science Week. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 Mr. CRAPO (for himself, Mr. RISCH, and Mrs. FEINSTEIN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Forensic Science Week. Whereas the Senate is committed to the use of forensic science in the investigation of crimes, the prosecution and conviction of the correct perpetrators of crimes, and the exoneration of innocent individuals falsely accused of crimes in the United States; Whereas forensic science service providers address critical criminal and civil questions in the United States, includ- ing by providing scientific conclusions relating to forensic evidence; Whereas forensic science service providers partner with— (1) Federal agencies to build and maintain criminal databases relating to latent prints, DNA, and other infor- mation relevant to criminal cases; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:50 Sep 19, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR320.ATS SR320 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •SRES 320 ATS (2) Federal, State, and local agencies to ensure pub- lic safety; Whereas forensic science service providers serve a vital role in the criminal justice system by providing scientific in- formation to investigators and officers of the court; and Whereas the third week in September is recognized as ‘‘Na- tional Forensic Science Week’’: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That— 1 (1) it is the sense of the Senate that National 2 Forensic Science Week provides a special oppor- 3 tunity for— 4 (A) forensic service providers to— 5 (i) recognize the contributions of fo- 6 rensic scientists in the laboratories in 7 which those individuals work; 8 (ii) organize community events to en- 9 courage a better understanding of forensic 10 science; 11 (iii) provide tours to Federal, State, 12 and local policymakers to assist those indi- 13 viduals in gaining better insight into the 14 current capabilities of forensic service pro- 15 viders and future demands that forensic 16 service providers will face; and 17 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:50 Sep 19, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR320.ATS SR320 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •SRES 320 ATS (iv) contact local media outlets and in- 1 vite those groups to cover events hosted 2 during National Forensic Science Week; 3 (B) local policymakers to— 4 (i) recognize, through formal com- 5 mendation or resolution, the contributions 6 of local forensic science laboratories to the 7 communities of those policymakers; 8 (ii) formally declare the third week of 9 September to be ‘‘Forensic Science Week’’ 10 by proclamation; 11 (iii) visit local forensic science labora- 12 tories to gain an understanding of the ca- 13 pabilities and needs of those laboratories; 14 and 15 (iv) discuss the operational needs of 16 State and local forensic science labora- 17 tories; 18 (C) members of communities in the United 19 States, including members of the media, to— 20 (i) attend community events spon- 21 sored by local forensic science laboratories; 22 (ii) take tours of local forensic science 23 laboratories; and 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:50 Sep 19, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR320.ATS SR320 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 •SRES 320 ATS (iii) ask local forensic science labora- 1 tories about the operational and legislative 2 needs of those laboratories; 3 (D) members of the media to highlight 4 local news stories that focus on the work of 5 local forensic science laboratories in the commu- 6 nities that those laboratories serve; and 7 (E) public safety officers, law enforcement 8 officers, and officers of the court to— 9 (i) attend community events spon- 10 sored by local forensic science laboratories; 11 (ii) take tours of local forensic science 12 laboratories; 13 (iii) discuss the operational needs of 14 State and local forensic science labora- 15 tories; and 16 (iv) engage local forensic science lab- 17 oratories regarding working together more 18 effectively; and 19 (2) the Senate supports the goals and ideals of 20 National Forensic Science Week. 21 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:50 Sep 19, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR320.ATS SR320 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS