PRINTER'S NO. 907
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
150
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY MURT, McCARTER, BIZZARRO, HILL-EVANS, KINSEY,
BROWN, HENNESSEY, PICKETT, BURNS, MILLARD, RYAN, STAATS,
DiGIROLAMO, LONGIETTI, JAMES, MACKENZIE, SCHLOSSBERG, SONNEY,
READSHAW, PASHINSKI, B. MILLER, BARRAR, ISAACSON, KORTZ,
THOMAS, OBERLANDER, HEFFLEY, CALTAGIRONE, NEILSON, FREEMAN,
CIRESI, MARKOSEK, MULLINS, SAINATO AND SAYLOR, MARCH 14, 2019
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 14, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of March 2019 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
WHEREAS, For more than a century, the American Red Cross has
been at the forefront of helping Americans prevent, prepare for
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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, Residents of this Commonwealth have 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, protect life
and health and ensure respect for each human being; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross has trained more than 261,811
people in many different programs across this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 186,000 individuals are trained in
first aid, the proper way to perform CPR or the use of an
automatic external defibrillator; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross has collected nearly 250,000
blood donations to meet the needs of individuals such as
accident victims, cancer patients, surgical candidates and
children with blood disorders; and
WHEREAS, More than 14,000 children participated in the
Pillowcase Project, a free interactive preparedness program
designed for children 8 to 11 years of age, that aims to
increase understanding of natural hazards and teach safety and
personal preparedness skills; and
WHEREAS, There were 6,600 American Red Cross volunteers
Statewide who donated time and energy to their communities; and
WHEREAS, Fiscal year 2017 saw more than 4,000 families
affected by a fire or flood disaster; and
WHEREAS, More than 11,500 residents received emergency
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assistance for lodging, food, clothing and more; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross has served thousands of
active duty military and veterans as well as their families with
more than 11,000 case services through their Service to Armed
Forces program; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross continues to work with local
fire departments to ensure that anyone who needs a working smoke
alarm can access one; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross has installed nearly 20,000
free lifesaving smoke alarms in nearly 9,000 homes across this
Commonwealth to help families escape in the event of a fire in
their home; and
WHEREAS, Since the start of the campaign in 2014, more than
75,000 free smoke alarms have been installed across this
Commonwealth in nearly 26,000 homes; and
WHEREAS, In the spring of 2019, the American Red Cross will
team up with local fire departments and community partners
across this Commonwealth to install thousands more smoke alarms
and teach families a home fire escape plan as part of its Sound
the Alarm and Save a Life campaign; and
WHEREAS, As the program continues, the American Red Cross's
goal is to have its 100,000th free smoke alarm installed in this
Commonwealth by the end of 2020; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross is working to educate and
equip community members with fire safety plans which help
families understand how to evacuate their homes in the event of
a fire; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross makes no discrimination as to
nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political
opinions; and
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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
during the 21st century; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of March 2019 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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