[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 65 (Monday, April 23, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4863-S4864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS GOVERNANCE MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2007

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 1681, which was 
received from the House.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 1681) to amend the Congressional Charter of 
     The American National Red Cross.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I am pleased the Senate is considering 
H.R. 1681, the American National Red Cross Governance Modernization Act 
of 2007. The Judiciary Committee approved and the Senate passed our 
version of this bill last month, and I look forward to approving the 
Red Cross Governance bill again with the House-passed language. I want 
to thank my colleagues, Senator Grassley and Senator Kennedy, for their 
hard work on this issue and for introducing this important bill. I also 
want to congratulate the American Red Cross on appointing a new 
President and CEO last week. Mark W. Everson, currently the 
Commissioner of Internal Revenue was approved unanimously by the Board 
of Governors to head the American Red Cross, effective next month. I 
congratulate him on his appointment and thank current Chairwoman, 
Bonnie McElveen-Hunter for her dedicated leadership.
  Just last week we had the opportunity to see the importance of the 
Red Cross and the good work they are doing on behalf of our citizens. 
In response to the horrific shootings on Virginia Tech's campus, the 
American Red Cross mobilized their local chapter and provided 200-300 
hot meals to rescue workers and police officers and ensured that Red 
Cross mental health workers were available to students, faculty and 
family members. I am glad the Senate and House have worked together to 
pass this bill to enhance the American Red Cross' governance structure 
so they can better provide these crucial services in all emergencies.
  Since its founding by Clara Barton in 1881, the American Red Cross 
has provided essential relief services to those affected by famine, 
floods and natural and manmade disasters. Last year alone, the American 
Red Cross responded to approximately 75,000 disasters with the help of 
more than one million volunteers and thirty-five thousand employees. As 
a key participant in the United States' disaster relief plan, the 
American Red Cross is charged with helping the United States prevent, 
prepare and respond to national emergencies. Over the past several 
years, however, the American Red Cross has been strained by disasters 
of an unparalleled scope; the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, 
the December 2004 Asian tsunami and the 2005 hurricane season that 
included the enormously destructive hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. 
These events all challenged the Red Cross's ability to respond to 
disasters quickly and effectively.
  In order to improve its disaster relief services, the American Red 
Cross's Board of Governors unanimously voted

[[Page S4864]]

to accept recommendations given by an independent advisory board, which 
examined the American Red Cross's governance structure and practices. 
H.R. 1681 reflects these recommendations and would improve the American 
Red Cross's governance structure by centralizing and reorganizing its 
infrastructure. Some notable enhancements include reducing its board 
size from 50 members to 20 in order to facilitate emergency action, 
giving the board all the powers in governing and managing the American 
Red Cross, and establishing a Presidential Advisory Council composed of 
eight to ten principal officers of the executive departments and senior 
officers of the Armed Forces to provide governmental input and support. 
Additionally, the modernized charter would enhance congressional 
oversight and transparency by creating an Ombudsman who would provide 
an annual report to Congress articulating any concerns of volunteers, 
employees, donors, clients and the public. The House adopted two 
amendments to the Senate-passed language that would clarify and ensure 
that the chapters of the American Red Cross are geographically and 
regionally diverse and that the American Red Cross will reach out to 
local charitable and faith-based organizations when providing relief 
services in local communities. These improvements to the bill make no 
statutory changes and I hope my colleagues will support them.
  According to the American Red Cross's end of the year report, 
Hurricane Katrina created a record of 1.4 million families, or around 4 
million people, who needed emergency assistance such as food, clothing 
and other necessities. My wife, Marcelle, was one of hundreds of 
thousands of volunteers dedicated to providing these essential relief 
services to victims of Katrina. No one knows when the next disaster 
will strike. Congress must do everything in our power to ensure that 
the American Red Cross can continue and improve upon the essential 
humanitarian work on which the United States and the world relies. I 
commend the Red Cross for taking important action to reform itself and 
I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill 
be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on 
the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in 
the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 1681) was ordered to a third reading, was read the 
third time, and passed.

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