IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 198 

Expressing support for the designation of May 7 as National Information 

and Referral Services Day. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 26, 2009 

Mr. TERRY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of May 7 as National 

Information and Referral Services Day. 

Whereas information and referral (I&R) services link the consumer with a need or problem with the most appropriate 

service that can address that need or solve that problem; 

Whereas quality I&R services are the keystone point of entry 

to the entire human services structure delivery system; 

Whereas I&R services have been recognized in Federal legislation for more than 35 years since the 1973 reauthorization of the Older Americans Act of 1965 and subsequently included the establishment of the national 

Eldercare Locator and the development of the Aging and 

Disability Resource Center; 


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•HRES 198 IH 

Whereas the United States is currently served by information 

and referral through 2–1–1 programs, aging I&R services, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, child care 

resource and referral services, military family centers, 

and other specialty I&R services; 

Whereas informed individuals who understand the variety of 

services available are better equipped to make decisions; 

Whereas in 1997, the National 2–1–1 Initiative was established with the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, creating the first 24-hour telephone information and referral 

service using the easy-to-remember 2–1–1 dialing code 

for access; 

Whereas in 2000, the Federal Communications Commission 

reserved the 2–1–1 dialing code for community information and referral services, intended as an easy-to-remember and universally recognizable number that would act 

as a vital connection between individuals and families in 

need and appropriate community-based organizations and 

government agencies, including in times of disaster; 

Whereas the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems 

has been providing professional standards and 

credentialing programs for those operating I&R services; 

Whereas expanding access to information about and referrals 

to services provides individuals with lower-cost and safer 

options for managing their needs, and is likely to reduce 

confusion, frustration, and inaccessibility to services; and 

Whereas requests for assistance through Information and Referral and 2–1–1’s have increased across the country due 

to the economic crisis: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


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•HRES 198 IH 

1 (1) expresses support for the designation of a 

2 National Information and Referral Services Day to 

3 raise public awareness about the existence and im4 portance of information and referral services avail5 able to all Americans and to more effectively target 

6 these services to reach those most in need; 

7 (2) supports activities in communities across 

8 the Nation involving schools, nonprofit organiza9 tions, businesses, and other entities to ensure infor10 mation and referral services are part of everyday 

11 life, including emergency preparedness; and 

12 (3) reaffirms the importance of clear and con13 sistent professional standards to govern every aspect 

14 of quality information and referral services. 

Æ 


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