[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 16, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E388-E389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the 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.

[[Page E389]]

  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.

                          ____________________