[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 16, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1474-H1476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             SUPPORTING GOALS AND IDEALS OF RED CROSS MONTH

  Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 311) expressing the support of the House of 
Representatives for the goals and ideals of Red Cross Month.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 311

       Whereas the American National Red Cross, one of the most 
     well-known humanitarian organizations in the world, was 
     founded by Clara Barton in Washington, DC, on May 21, 1881;
       Whereas the American National Red Cross received a 
     congressional charter in 1905 setting forth the purposes of 
     the organization, which include giving relief to and serving 
     as a medium of communication between members of the Armed 
     Forces of the United States and their families, and providing 
     national and international disaster relief and mitigation;
       Whereas the American National Red Cross depends on the 
     support of the people of the United States to accomplish the 
     mission of the organization;
       Whereas the American National Red Cross has been at the 
     forefront of helping individuals and families prevent, 
     prepare for, and respond to disasters for more than 127 
     years, including more than 70,000 disasters annually, ranging 
     from apartment and single-family home fires, the most common 
     type of disaster, to hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, 
     wildfires, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, 
     transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural and 
     human-caused disasters;
       Whereas, when a disaster strikes or is imminent, 
     communities throughout the United States depend on the 
     American National Red Cross to help meet the basic and urgent 
     needs of affected individuals, including shelter, food, 
     healthcare, and mental health services;
       Whereas the ``Be Red Cross Ready'' safety program 
     encourages the people of the United States to take the 3 
     actions that will help them ``Be Red Cross Ready'' for a 
     disaster: ``Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed'';
       Whereas the ``Be Red Cross Ready'' safety program 
     represents a major effort by the American National Red Cross 
     to encourage the people of the United States to be more 
     prepared for a disaster or other emergency;
       Whereas, since 1943, every President of the United States 
     has proclaimed March to be ``Red Cross Month''; and
       Whereas the American National Red Cross uses Red Cross 
     Month as an opportunity to promote the services and programs 
     the organization provides to the people of the United States: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of Red Cross Month;
       (2) recognizes the contributions of American National Red 
     Cross volunteers in times

[[Page H1475]]

     of natural and human-caused disasters, and in times of armed 
     conflict; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to ``Get a 
     Kit, Make a Plan, and Be Informed''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Watson) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak today and 
to vote on H. Res. 311, a bill I introduced to honor one of the most 
well-known humanitarian organizations in the world, the American 
National Red Cross. This bill expresses the support of the House of 
Representatives for the work of this important institution by honoring 
March as Red Cross Month.
  Since the American National Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton on 
May 21, 1881, the organization has been at the forefront of providing 
relief to individuals around the world during times of great crisis. 
The American National Red Cross provides relief for more than 70,000 
disasters annually, ranging from small home fires to hurricanes, 
floods, tornados, conflicts, and earthquakes, such as those that 
recently struck in Haiti and Chile. And I understand there was a 4.4 
earthquake today in the Los Angeles area.
  The American National Red Cross has had a presence in Haiti since 
2004, supporting local disaster preparedness, HIV education, malaria 
prevention, and measles immunization programs.
  In the 2 months since the devastating earthquake struck on January 
12, the American National Red Cross has allocated $106.4 million for 
Haitian relief and development and efforts to provide both short-term 
and long-term assistance to the survivors. In just 2 months, the global 
Red Cross network has provided relief items for 400,000 people, 
including 99,000 tarps, tents, shelter tool kits, and meals for more 
than 1 million people, 40 million liters of clean drinking water, built 
more than 1,100 latrines, helped vaccinate more than 125 people, 
treated more than 55,000 people at Red Cross hospitals or mobile 
clinics, and assisted more than 25,000 people who arrived in the United 
States following the earthquake.
  With an estimated 1.3 million Haitians left homeless by the 
earthquake, the difficult and noble work the American National Red 
Cross has undertaken in Haiti is an effort that each and every American 
can be proud of. However, the relief they bring to Haiti is only one 
example in over 129 years of exemplary humanitarian service.
  This institution represents the best aspect of the American spirit to 
people all around the world. When a disaster strikes, the sign of the 
Red Cross is a source of comfort and hope, and a reminder of the 
generosity and the caring nature of the United States and its citizens.
  Since 1943, every President of the United States has proclaimed March 
as Red Cross Month, and I urge my colleagues to continue this tradition 
and support H. Res. 311.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1600

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of House Resolution 311, introduced by my 
good friend from California, Ambassador Watson. For the past 129 years, 
the American Red Cross has been providing material and emotional 
support to victims of disasters and to our military families. Many of 
us know the story of the founding of the national organization by Clara 
Barton in the aftermath of her service during the Civil War. But, my 
colleagues may be less familiar with the fact that 93 years ago this 
week, Miami philanthropist Harriet Parsons James convened a group of 
local residents to begin the southeastern Florida chapter of the 
American Red Cross. A month later, Mrs. Florence Spottswood of Key West 
gathered a group of local leaders in the Keys to start what soon became 
the Key West chapter of the American Red Cross. Madam Speaker, the 
Spottswood family name is still associated with philanthropy and 
altruistic good works in the Florida Keys.
  After several years of humanitarian service, those organizations 
merged in May of 1987, and today the South Florida Region American Red 
Cross continues to be an indispensable neighbor to the people of my 
congressional district. In the past year, it has responded to 556 local 
emergencies, delivered nearly 1,000 emergency messages to and from 
military families, and trained more than 19,000 people in lifesaving 
skills in our community. Whether it is in response to hurricanes, in 
response to house fires, the volunteers and supporters of the South 
Florida Region continue to provide critical aid, for which we are 
deeply grateful.
  Mr. Speaker, in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, the 
American Red Cross in Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe, and Palm Beach 
counties assisted more than 13,000 U.S. citizens who were flown to 
south Florida by the U.S. Government. They served nearly 10,000 meals. 
They provided mental health support to nearly 2,000 people. Nationwide, 
the American Red Cross has raised over $350 million for earthquake 
relief and development efforts. It has already used more than $100 
million to provide food, water, relief supplies, shelter, and health 
services to the people of Haiti.
  I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting the ideals of Red 
Cross Month. Whether it is providing disaster relief, safe blood, or 
communications between our military members and their families, the 
American Red Cross is one of the most enduring and successful examples 
of the volunteer spirit at the heart of our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, if I could inform Ambassador Watson 
that I have some more remarks to make, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I want to take a moment to highlight an unfortunate absurdity that we 
are confronted with today, Mr. Speaker. I'm proud to support the 
resolution before us, but all of us recognize that dedicated people of 
the American Red Cross will continue to do their good work regardless 
of whether they are congratulated by this body. Yet the Democratic 
leadership has taken care to ensure that this symbolic resolution will 
receive a vote today--something that they may deny to the trillion-
dollar Senate health care bill.
  To recap, we're able to debate and vote on this nonbinding 
resolution. That is well and good. Yet we are denied the chance to vote 
on this huge, expensive Senate health care bill. The procedure being 
discussed in the press attempts to get around the basic requirements of 
the Constitution--that both Houses of Congress must pass the same bill 
text before it is presented to the President and signed into law.
  As the director of the Constitutional Law Center at Stanford Law 
School, former Federal Circuit Court Judge Michael McConnell wrote in 
yesterday's Wall Street Journal: ``Under Article I, section 7, passage 
of one bill cannot be deemed to be enactment of another.'' I'm sorry if 
the Democratic leadership feels that the burdens of representative 
government outlined by our Constitution are too great a burden for 
their agenda to bear. But that momentous bill deserves at least as much 
consideration as we are giving to the wide range of nonbinding 
resolutions that we are considering this week.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
support of H. Res. 311 to recognize the American National Red Cross and 
to express my support for the Goals and Ideals of Red Cross Month.
  The Red Cross is one of the most effective and important disaster 
relief organizations in the world, and since its founding in 1881, the 
Red Cross has worked diligently to prevent and relieve suffering. As a 
non-practicing Registered Nurse, I am still moved by the lifesaving 
work that the Red Cross does in some

[[Page H1476]]

of the most difficult places on the planet, and I am proud to recognize 
this organization and all of their efforts. Additionally, every 
President of the United States since 1943 has proclaimed March to be 
Red Cross Month and because of this, I am happy to join people across 
the county in supporting this remarkable organization.
  Mr. Speaker, the American National Red Cross is one of our country's 
greatest treasures, and the work that they do is unmatched across the 
globe. I encourage my fellow colleagues to join me today in supporting 
this resolution to recognize this organization and support the goals 
and ideals of Red Cross Month.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, so I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gutierrez). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 311.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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