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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 985 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 985

     Expressing support for the designation of March 7 as National 
                 Information and Referral Services Day.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 13, 2008

Mr. Terry submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
     Expressing support for the designation of March 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 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;
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 center, 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; and
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: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses support for the designation of a National 
        Information and Referral Services Day to raise public awareness 
        about the existence and importance of information and referral 
        services available to all Americans and to more effectively 
        target these services to reach those most in need;
            (2) supports activities in communities across the Nation 
        involving schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and 
        other entities to ensure information and referral services are 
        part of everyday life, including emergency preparedness; and
            (3) reaffirms the importance of clear and consistent 
        professional standards to govern every aspect of quality 
        information and referral services.
                                 <all>
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