BILL NUMBER: ACR 38 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 12, 2014 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Cooley MARCH 20, 2013 Relative to American Red Cross Month. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 38, as amended, Cooley. American Red Cross Month. This measure would recognize the month of March20132014 as American Red Cross Month in California in order to raise awareness of the importance of the organization's help to those in need. Fiscal committee: no. WHEREAS, March is American Red Cross Month, a special time to recognize and thank our heroes-- those who volunteer, donate blood, take life-saving courses, or provide financial donations to support an organization whose mission is to help those in need; and WHEREAS, In California, the American Red Cross works tirelessly through its 435 employees and 27,245 volunteers to help when disaster strikes or when someone needs life-saving blood or the comfort of a helping hand; and WHEREAS, The American Red Cross provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans, and their families, and provides training in CPR, aquatic safety, and first aid; and WHEREAS, Across the country, the American Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year; and WHEREAS, Emergency communications, training, support to wounded warriors and veterans, and access to community resources help an average of 150,000 military families and veterans annually; and WHEREAS, The American Red Cross collects and distributes approximately 40 percent of the nation's blood supply and trains more than seven million people in first aid, water safety, and other life-saving skills every year; and WHEREAS, Our community depends on the American Red Cross, which relies on donations of time, money, and blood to fulfill its humanitarian mission. Despite these challenging economic times, the American Red Cross continues to offer help and comfort to those in need; and WHEREAS, The American Red Cross is the nation's leading provider of health and safety courses, including CPR, First Aid, and Lifeguard training, and each year more than nine million Americans participate in their training programs, including first responders, educators, babysitters, and people who want to be prepared to help others in an emergency; and WHEREAS, We would like to remember those who help all of us here in California by giving their time to help their neighbor, and thank our heroes-- our volunteers, blood donors, class participants, and financial supporters who help the American Red Cross assist those in need; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the month of March20132014 as American Red Cross Month in California, in order to raise awareness of the importance of the organization's help to those in need; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.