[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1160 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1160

 Commending Sewa International USA and all its volunteers in chapters 
   across America for their critical role in combating the COVID-19 
   pandemic in the United States, India, and several other countries.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 8, 2022

Mr. Fitzpatrick submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on 
     Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Commending Sewa International USA and all its volunteers in chapters 
   across America for their critical role in combating the COVID-19 
   pandemic in the United States, India, and several other countries.

Whereas Sewa International USA is a leading Hindu faith-based, humanitarian, 
        nonprofit service organization that serves local communities 
        irrespective of race, color, religion, gender, nationality, or sexual 
        orientation with extensive experience in disaster rescue, relief, and 
        rehabilitation operations;
Whereas the mission of Sewa International USA is to serve humanity in distress, 
        aid local communities, run developmental projects for the underserved, 
        and assist people in transformational change through the power of 
        innovation by mobilizing partners, donors, and volunteers;
Whereas Sewa International USA serves local communities in the field of 
        education through the ASPIRE educational program for underprivileged and 
        underserved communities, case management, and family services, the LEAD 
        internship for high school students, and their partnership with 
        AmeriCorps;
Whereas Sewa International USA has active volunteers in 43 chapters across 
        America, including in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, 
        Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, 
        Texas, and Washington D.C.;
Whereas Sewa International USA has played a critical role in combating the 
        COVID-19 pandemic here in the United States, in India, and in many other 
        countries around the world;
Whereas Sewa International USA has provided COVID-19 related assistance to more 
        than 750,000 Americans, including--

    (1) serving more than 100,000 hot meals and food kits;

    (2) distributing more than 5,500,000 pounds of food and groceries;

    (3) donating more than 786,500 N95, KN95, and surgical masks (including 
over 100,000 homemade masks at the outset of the pandemic);

    (4) delivering more than 200,000 COVID-19 vaccinations; and

    (5) offering 75 blood plasma donations;

Whereas Sewa International USA responding to food insecurity in the United 
        States, served more than 250,000 families offering food and groceries 
        and donated more than $260,000 to food pantries;
Whereas Sewa International USA volunteers in 17 chapters actively participated 
        in FEMA-led or in State, city, or county level vaccination drives and 
        over 800 volunteers have assisted with FEMA as well as State, city, or 
        countywide vaccination drives in both medical and nonmedical capacities;
Whereas, on August 23, 2021, President Biden offered his thanks to Sewa 
        International USA for their COVID-19 relief work, saying their ``efforts 
        are not just saving lives--they are helping us get our lives back'';
Whereas Sewa International USA is playing a critical role in support of Afghan 
        refugees arriving in the United States, including providing clothing to 
        Afghan women and after-school intervention for Afghan children;
Whereas Sewa International USA has been the leading American nonprofit 
        organization supporting COVID-19 relief efforts in India, including--

    (1) establishing 714 care centers throughout India;

    (2) donating 25 ambulances and multipurpose vehicles for COVID-19 
emergency care;

    (3) raising more than $32,000,000 for COVID-19 relief efforts; and

    (4) donating more than $22,000,000 in equipment and essential kits;

Whereas Sewa International USA has helped more than 1,000,000 households in 
        India weather the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas Sewa International USA has played a leading role in COVID-19 relief 
        efforts in other countries, including Bangladesh, Guyana, Iraq, Nepal, 
        Pakistan, South Africa, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago;
Whereas Sewa International USA has helped vaccinate 85,000 people in Trinidad 
        and Tobago, more than 10 percent of the entire vaccinated population in 
        the country; and
Whereas the volunteers who contribute time and resources to support Sewa 
        International USA represent the very best of the American spirit: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends Sewa International USA and all its volunteers 
        in chapters across America for their critical role in combating 
        the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, India, and several 
        other countries; and
            (2) commends Sewa International USA and all its volunteers 
        for their enduring support for refugee assistance in the United 
        States, particularly their support for Afghan refugees arriving 
        in the United States.
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