[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 213 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 213

  Concerning the urgent need to improve the living standards of those 
   South Asians living in the Ganges and the Brahmaputra River Basin.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 12, 1996

   Mr. Bereuter (for himself and Mr. Berman) submitted the following 
     concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
 International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Banking 
 and Financial Services, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Concerning the urgent need to improve the living standards of those 
   South Asians living in the Ganges and the Brahmaputra River Basin.

Whereas some 400,000,000 people live in Bangladesh, northern India, and Nepal 
        near the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers and their tributaries;
Whereas these people comprise the largest concentration of poor people in the 
        world;
Whereas this region lacks the resources, especially the infrastructure, that can 
        pull its residents out of poverty;
Whereas almost every year flooding by the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers produces 
        death and destruction, sometimes on a vast scale;
Whereas during the dry seasons, water supplies do not meet the needs of the 
        region's people, especially farmers;
Whereas despite these problems, the region has great potential for development;
Whereas Bangladesh, India, and Nepal have recognized for many years that the 
        water resources of the region, if properly managed, could contribute 
        greatly to the welfare of millions of people in the region; and
Whereas recent elections in India and Bangladesh, and recent treaties signed 
        between India and Nepal, appear to offer new opportunities for all three 
        countries to make progress in addressing this issue: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) urges the Governments of Bangladesh, India, and Nepal 
        to redouble their efforts to devise development projects that 
        could relieve the poverty of those people living in the Ganges 
        and Brahmaputra River Basin and address the critical problems 
        of flooding and drought; and
            (2) encourages international financial institutions, such 
        as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, and the 
        international community to offer whatever advice, 
        encouragement, and assistance is appropriate to help in this 
        effort.
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