[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 3] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 3597] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]MARCH IS RED CROSS MONTH ______ HON. YVETTE D. CLARKE of new york in the house of representatives Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Ms. CLARKE. Madam Speaker, the American Red Cross has provided assistance and comfort to communities stricken by disasters large and small since it was founded in 1881 by Clara Barton. President Woodrow Wilson was the first to proclaim ``Red Cross Week'' in 1918, as a time for our citizens ``to give generously to the continuation of the important work of relieving distress.'' For over 100 years, the American Red Cross has continued to help ensure our communities are more ready and resilient in the face of future disasters. This March, I urge all Americans to not only recognize the depth and breadth of services offered by the American Red Cross, but to also join the effort and increase awareness of humanitarian work. From rebuilding former adversaries after World War II, to combating HIV/AIDS in Africa, to saving lives after the tragic earthquake in Haiti, the American people have an unmatched tradition of responding to challenges at home and abroad with compassion and generosity. The American Red Cross has had an ongoing presence in Haiti since 2004 supporting local disaster preparedness, HIV education, malaria prevention and measles immunization initiatives. In just over one month since the earthquake, the Red Cross has provided assistance to more than 1.3 million people and will continue to aid hundreds of thousands more in the months ahead. At home and abroad, one in five Americans is touched by the Red Cross every single year. The American Red Cross was instrumental in providing immediate response to the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in January of this year. Currently, more than 100 people are representing the American Red Cross in Haiti. This includes 30 specialists providing relief distribution and telecommunications support and 14 employees, who were permanently based in Haiti prior to the earthquake and are helping to guide the response, in addition to over 50 Creole-speaking interpreters on the USNS Comfort. The American Red Cross is also responding to the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Chile on February 27, making an initial $50,000 pledge from its International Response Fund for relief operations. In addition, the American Red Cross will continue to monitor the potential impacts of Saturday's tsunami and is prepared to help the people of Hawaii and the U.S. territories in the Pacific, if there is a need. In addition to deploying relief workers and other disaster management specialists, the American Red Cross is providing relief supplies for 130,000 Haitians including blankets, kitchen sets, hygiene kits, water containers and mosquito nets. The Red Cross has also provided three million pre-packaged meals to the United Nations World Food Programme in Haiti as well as funding to help feed an additional 1 million people for a month. The organization has also partnered with Population Services International to provide more than 1 million water- purification sachets, to ensure that Haitian families have access to clean drinking water. The Red Cross has also provided nearly 750 units of blood for Haiti earthquake survivors. As of early February, the American Red Cross has received over $225 million for the Haiti relief and recovery effort, and 91 cents of every dollar is going directly to critical humanitarian services and programs. That is why I partnered with the Red Cross of Greater New York to help with Haiti response efforts. Just one week after the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, the NY Red Cross, working in partnership with Local 1199SEIU, NAACP, Haitian Americans United for Progress, Councilman Mathieu Eugene and my office, was able to provide volunteer translators. The Red Cross of Greater New York has since deployed over forty Creole-speaking volunteers, to serve on the US Navy's hospital ship, the USNS Comfort anchored off the coast of Haiti. The Greater New York chapter has also helped thousands of Haitian Americans in my district connect with their family members in Haiti. Representing the second largest concentration for first and second generation Haitian immigrants, I applaud the Red Cross' Resorting Family Links programs, which has worked to register over 30,000 people affected by the earthquake. To date, the Red Cross of Greater New York has facilitated nearly 2,000 phone calls between earthquake survivors and their family abroad. Throughout the Greater New York region, the Red Cross provides invaluable services that protect the life and health of all New Yorkers. The American Red Cross of Greater New York is a key humanitarian partner providing immediate aid to as many as 100,000 New Yorkers affected by local disasters each year. When disaster strikes a densely populated urban area, the emergency-care needs are huge and immediate. Recently in my district, the Red Cross of Greater New York launched their ``March to 200'' campaign with the goal of training 200 Red Cross volunteers in shelter leadership roles. It is this dedication to service and preparedness which makes the Greater New York Red Cross a valuable asset to all New Yorkers. The Red Cross of Greater New York would not be what it is today without the priceless work of CEO Terry Bischoff. Her dedication and compassion have inspired us all, and her leadership has transformed the capacities of this organization. She will most certainly be missed, but the effects of her work will be lasting. Whether it is an earthquake or a single family home fire; a call for blood or a call for help, the American Red Cross is there. I ask all my colleagues join me today in applauding the hard work of the American Red Cross volunteers and celebrating March as American Red Cross Month. ____________________