IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 311 
Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the goals and 
ideals of Red Cross Month. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 31, 2009 
Ms. WATSON (for herself, Mr. MICHAUD, Ms. BORDALLO, Ms. LORETTA 
SANCHEZ of California, Ms. MATSUI, Mr. CAO, Mrs. MCMORRIS ROD-
GERS, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. 
STUPAK, and Mr. BISHOP of Georgia) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for 
the goals and ideals of Red Cross Month. 
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 con-
gressional charter in 1905 setting forth the purposes of 
the organization, which include giving relief to and serv-
ing as a medium of communication between members of 
the Armed Forces of the United States and their fami-
lies, and providing national and international disaster re-
lief and mitigation; 
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•HRES 311 IH 
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, pre-
pare 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 nat-
ural 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 encour-
ages 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 rep-
resents 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 
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•HRES 311 IH 
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 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’’. 
Æ 
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