[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 91 (Thursday, July 13, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1411]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE AMERICAN RED CROSS OF GREATER CHICAGO'S ``READY WHEN THE 
                          TIME COMES'' PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2006

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of 
the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago's ``Ready When the Time 
Comes'' program. This program partners the Red Cross with corporate and 
community organizations to respond to disasters such as fires, storms, 
floods, and tornadoes. I would like to acknowledge Grainger, an 
Illinois-based company which has been the lead corporate sponsor of the 
Ready When the Time Comes program.
  The Ready When the Time Comes program allows Chicago area 
organizations and businesses to help their community before, during and 
after a disaster by supplying the Red Cross with volunteers. At the 
time of a disaster, the Red Cross will notify the company or 
organization and inform them of the role volunteers will have in the 
relief effort.
  Through Ready When the Time Comes, corporations allow their employees 
to receive free Red Cross training in disaster relief functions. In 
return, corporate partners commit to making their trained employees 
available for disaster service at least one day each year. During a 
large scale disaster, with a single phone call the Red Cross can deploy 
as many volunteers as needed. Throughout Chicago, Ready When the Time 
Comes volunteers have put their training to work responding to 
flooding, massive fires, heat emergencies, and even the terrorist 
attacks of September 11.
  Since February 2001, Grainger has provided the Chicago Red Cross with 
almost 200 volunteers for the Ready When the Time Comes program. 
Following Hurricane Katrina, corporate employees were called upon to 
staff phone centers in Chicago to answer questions from those seeking 
support and information. These volunteers also participated in the 
Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications disaster 
preparedness drill in August 2005.
  Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me to honor and recognize the 
American Red Cross of Greater Chicago's ``Ready When the Time Comes'' 
program. This program is a model on how easily partnerships can be 
developed to help safeguard our communities. I support the Red Cross's 
efforts to afford other organizations the opportunity to partner with 
them to actively contribute to recovery efforts.

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