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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For more than a century, the American Red Cross has |
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made vital contributions to the people of the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, Established more than 137 years ago, the Red Cross |
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is one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the world; its |
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four regions in Texas are represented by 17 chapters and more than |
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7,000 volunteers; in 2018, these men and women contributed nearly |
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580,000 hours of their time and sweat equity to the welfare of their |
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fellow citizens; and |
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WHEREAS, In recent history, the Red Cross responded to the |
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tragic mass shootings at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs |
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in 2017 and Santa Fe High School in 2018 by setting up canteens for |
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first responders and opening family reunification and family |
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assistance centers; the organization also provided support to law |
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enforcement and emergency personnel during the series of Austin |
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package bombings in 2018; and |
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WHEREAS, All four regions of the Red Cross opened |
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mega-shelters across the state for displaced families in the |
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aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and offered long-term recovery |
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assistance for hundreds of thousands of Texans; following the |
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devastating tornadoes in North Texas in 2015, the organization |
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supplied food and shelter as well as case workers who helped |
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families connect with needed resources, and it regularly responds |
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to floods in Central, South, and West Texas by providing shelter and |
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cleaning kits to families whose homes were damaged by high water; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to its efforts during emergencies and |
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natural disasters, the Red Cross works every day to benefit Texans; |
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in 2018, it delivered 168,000 units of blood to hospitals, trained |
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more than 205,000 people in first aid and CPR, helped over 6,900 |
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families after local emergencies such as house fires, installed |
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more than 17,800 free smoke alarms in homes, and offered nearly |
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44,000 services to veterans, serving military personnel, and their |
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families; and |
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WHEREAS, Every day, across our state, the American Red Cross |
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endeavors to prevent and alleviate the suffering of those in |
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crisis, and the skill and compassion of its dedicated volunteers |
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are truly deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend the American Red Cross for its |
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contributions to the people of Texas and extend to its staff and |
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volunteers sincere best wishes for continued success in their |
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important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the American Red Cross as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |