PRINTER'S NO. 580
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
106
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY MURT, BAKER, BARRAR, BENNINGHOFF, BIZZARRO,
BOBACK, BROWNLEE, BURNS, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, CONKLIN,
D. COSTA, CUTLER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, DUSH, EVERETT,
FARINA, FREEMAN, GABLER, GIBBONS, GILLEN, GODSHALL, GOODMAN,
GRELL, HAHN, HARHAI, HARHART, A. HARRIS, HENNESSEY,
HICKERNELL, KAUFFMAN, KILLION, KIM, KINSEY, KORTZ, LONGIETTI,
MACKENZIE, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MARSICO, McCARTER, MENTZER,
MILLARD, O'NEILL, PASHINSKI, PETRI, PICKETT, READSHAW, ROSS,
ROZZI, SAMUELSON, SANTARSIERO, SCHLOSSBERG, SONNEY, TALLMAN,
THOMAS, VEREB, WATSON, WHEELAND AND MARSHALL,
FEBRUARY 23, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
FEBRUARY 23, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Designating March 2015 as "American Red Cross Month" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, On May 21, 1881, Clara Barton founded the American
Association of the Red Cross; and
WHEREAS, In 1900, the Congress of the United States granted
the American Red Cross a charter, making the volunteer
organization responsible for providing services to members of
the armed forces of the United States and relief to disaster
victims domestically and abroad; and
WHEREAS, Today's American Red Cross is a humanitarian
organization led by volunteers that provides relief to victims
of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond
to emergencies; and
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WHEREAS, For more than a century, the American Red Cross has
been at the forefront of helping Americans prevent, prepare for
and respond to large and small disasters; and
WHEREAS, Just as families and communities depend on the
American Red Cross in times of need, the American Red Cross
depends on the support of the American people to help sustain
the foundation; and
WHEREAS, In fiscal year 2014, volunteers and staff from the
American Red Cross responded to approximately 3,000 disasters
throughout this Commonwealth, providing relief for at least as
many families; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross partnered with the
Pennsylvania State Police to support three feeding sites, 24
hours a day for 48 days, providing more than 65,000 meals and
more than 1.3 million snacks for the first responders during the
Commonwealth's largest manhunt ever; and
WHEREAS, There were 7,355 Pennsylvanians who served as
volunteers for the American Red Cross in 2014; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, the American Red Cross responded and
provided assistance to families impacted by disaster in 67
counties in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, In fiscal year 2014, the American Red Cross
financially assisted 4,151 families across this Commonwealth;
and
WHEREAS, Residents of Pennsylvania donated hundreds of
thousands of units of blood to help save the lives of their
neighbors and provide for their needs; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross strives to prevent and
alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found, to protect
life and health and to ensure respect for each human being; and
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WHEREAS, The American Red Cross trained more than 215,000
people in many different programs Statewide; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 100,000 individuals were trained in
first aid, the proper way to perform CPR or the use of an
automatic external defibrillator; and
WHEREAS, Thirty-five thousand individuals received training
in aquatic/water safety and more than 75,000 were trained in
emergency preparedness; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross has teams responding to a
disaster every eight minutes, with most of them being fires; and
WHEREAS, The current prolonged and extremely cold and snowy
winter has led to an increase in home fires; and
WHEREAS, The United States Fire Administration reports that
there are almost 365,000 residential fires reported in the
United States every year, killing more than 2,400 Americans and
causing more than $6 billion in property damage annually; and
WHEREAS, Home fires are mostly preventable and the American
Red Cross recommends installing smoke alarms on every level of a
home outside each sleeping area and in each bedroom; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross further recommends each
family develop a fire escape plan and to practice the plan at
least twice a year; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross makes no discrimination as to
nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political
opinions; and
WHEREAS, Services provided by the American Red Cross promote
mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace
among all people; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross continues to play a valuable
role in catastrophe relief, humanitarianism and volunteerism
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during the 21st century; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate March
2015 as "American Red Cross Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
American Red Cross, its employees and its volunteers for their
dedication, service and sacrifice to the communities and
residents of this Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the American Red Cross, 2221 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
19103.
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