DALLAS (AP) — A young girl's repeated attempts to dial 911 went unanswered as her mother lay dying from stab wounds in a Texas hotel room. She didn't know she had to dial 9 first to get an outside line.

Under a measure nearing final approval in Congress, businesses would be required to include direct-dial 911 on any new telephone system they install. That means there would be no need to dial an access code or additional digit to reach emergency assistance.

"Kari's Law" was named after Kari Hunt Dunn, who was slain in 2013 when her estranged husband stormed into her hotel room and stabbed her m...