This resolution supports the goals of National Safe Digging Month by encouraging everyone to call 811 before digging to prevent damage to underground utility lines.
Todd Young
Senator
IN
This resolution supports the goals and ideals of National Safe Digging Month by encouraging all Americans to call 811 before breaking ground. It highlights the ongoing danger of striking underground utility lines when excavation occurs without prior notification. The bill urges homeowners and professionals alike to utilize the 811 service to ensure utility lines are marked, preventing service outages, injuries, and fatalities.
Congress Backs 'Call 811 Before You Dig' Campaign to Prevent Utility Strikes and Service Outages
This Congressional resolution is essentially a formal thumbs-up for the goals and ideals of National Safe Digging Month, which happens every April. It’s a legislative reminder about a simple, crucial safety step: calling 811 before you put a shovel in the ground. The core purpose here is to cut down on accidental strikes of underground utility lines—think gas pipes, electric cables, and fiber optic lines—which cause service outages, environmental damage, and serious injuries.
The Real Cost of Skipping the Call
Why the big push? Because skipping the call to 811 is still the number one reason utility lines get damaged. The bill text highlights that even in 2024, a significant portion of all utility line damages happened because people failed to notify 811 before digging. These aren't just big construction sites; sometimes it’s just a homeowner putting in a new fence post or a landscaper planting trees. When you hit a line, it’s not just a minor inconvenience; it can mean your entire neighborhood loses internet, heat, or power, or worse, someone gets hurt.
Encouraging Everyone to Get Marked
The resolution strongly encourages every homeowner and professional excavator across the country to contact 811—either by phone or online—before starting a project. This service is free and sends professionals out to mark the location of buried lines with paint or flags. For the average person, this means if you’re planning a backyard renovation this spring, you need to make that call first. For a general contractor, it reinforces existing safety protocols that keep their crews and the public safe. This simple step prevents the kind of costly, hours-long service outages that impact everyone from remote workers to small business owners relying on reliable utilities.
Asking Stakeholders to Step Up Awareness
Beyond encouraging individuals, the resolution asks all stakeholders—utility companies, safety groups, and state agencies—to increase their educational outreach. This is the part that might lead to more widespread public service announcements or better training materials. The idea is to make the "Contact 811 Before You Dig" message as commonplace as "Stop at a red light." Since this is a resolution, it doesn't create new laws or fines; it just puts the weight of Congress behind a critical public safety campaign that benefits literally everyone who relies on modern infrastructure.