(Washington, DC) - At a press conference today on Capitol Hill with United Way, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) announced that she has reintroduced legislation along with Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) to bring 2-1-1 service nationwide. The service provides individuals and families who need non-emergency assistance with a link to appropriate non-profit and government agencies to find and give help without disrupting emergency phone lines.
"We learned first-hand after 9/11 and in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita how critical 2-1-1 is to helping people in crisis find and connect to needed services. Too often people who need help accessing services don't know where to turn. The 2-1-1 system provides an easy-to-remember and universally available phone number that links individuals and families in need and should be made available in all fifty states," said Senator Clinton.
The Calling for 2-1-1 Act helps people find and give help by providing information on job training, schools, volunteer opportunities, elder care housing, and countless other community needs and resources. In addition, the service provides an effective way to access information during a crisis when often people do not know where to turn for help. It was critical in the immediate aftermath of September 11th in helping people trying to find loved ones, connecting frightened children with their parents, linking ready volunteers with coordinated efforts, helping people access job placement, mental health and health care services, finding support groups and locating information on bioterrorism for those concerned about future attacks. The devastation of natural disasters like Hurricanes Katrina and Rita has further demonstrated the need to have a one-stop resource to connect people to services quickly in a time of crisis, especially when communications ability is limited.
The Federal Communications Commission laid the groundwork for a 2-1-1 number in 2000 when it directed that telephone number to be reserved for information and referral to social- and human-services agencies. Senators Clinton and Senator Dole first introduced this Calling for 2-1-1 Act in the 108th Congress and reintroduced their bill in the 109th Congress.
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