[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 561 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 561

  Commending the outstanding efforts by members of the United States 
Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of State and the 
 United States Agency for International Development in response to the 
       earthquake in South Asia that occurred on October 8, 2005.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 17, 2005

Mr. Burton of Indiana (for himself, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Ms. Linda 
T. Sanchez of California, Mr. Poe, Mr. McCaul of Texas, and Mr. Weldon 
of Pennsylvania) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
  to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the 
Committee on Armed 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Commending the outstanding efforts by members of the United States 
Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of State and the 
 United States Agency for International Development in response to the 
       earthquake in South Asia that occurred on October 8, 2005.

Whereas on October 8, 2005, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Pakistan, India, 
        and Afghanistan;
Whereas the epicenter of the earthquake was located near Muzaffarabad, the 
        capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, and approximately 60 miles 
        north-northeast of Islamabad, with aftershocks and landslides continuing 
        to affect the area;
Whereas the most affected areas are the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), 
        Northern Punjab, Pakistani-administered Kashmir, and Indian-administered 
        Kashmir;
Whereas over 75,000 people have died, almost 70,000 are injured and 
        approximately 2.9 million people are homeless as a result of the 
        earthquake, with 17,000 of the dead being children according to the 
        Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF);
Whereas the United States has pledged a total of $156,000,000: $50,000,000 for 
        humanitarian relief, $50,000,000 for reconstruction, and $56,000,000 to 
        support Department of Defense relief operations;
Whereas the total amount of humanitarian assistance committed to Pakistan by the 
        United States Agency for International Development is over $40,000,000;
Whereas the Department of Defense has deployed approximately 875 members of the 
        Armed Forces and 31 helicopters to aid in the earthquake relief efforts;
Whereas since October 8, 2005, United States helicopters have flown 885 
        missions, evacuated 3,400 people, and delivered almost 5.6 million 
        pounds of supplies;
Whereas the delivery of humanitarian assistance is constricted by the 
        mountainous area, cold weather, and damaged or collapsed infrastructure;
Whereas Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during her October 12, 2005, visit 
        to Pakistan, said the United States would support Pakistan over the 
        long-term in the Pakistani Government's efforts to provide assistance to 
        the victims of the earthquake and rebuild parts of the country 
        devastated by the earthquake;
Whereas the cost of rebuilding the affected areas could be in excess of 
        $1,000,000,000; and
Whereas the recovery and reconstruction of the devastated areas will require the 
        concerted leadership of the United States working with the governments 
        of the affected countries and the international community: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the members of the United States Armed Forces 
        and civilian employees of the Department of State and the 
        United States Agency for International Development for taking 
        swift action to assist the victims of the earthquake in South 
        Asia that occurred on October 8, 2005;
            (2) commends the ongoing international relief effort that 
        includes the work of individual countries, numerous 
        international organizations, and various relief and 
        nongovernmental entities;
            (3) commends the Governments of Pakistan and India for 
        their cooperation in the common cause of saving lives and 
        providing humanitarian relief to people on both sides of the 
        Line of Control;
            (4) encourages further cooperation between Pakistan and 
        India on relief operations and efforts to fortify and expand 
        peace and stability in the region as they cope with the impact 
        of the earthquake over the next several months and seek to 
        rehabilitate the lives of those affected;
            (5) urges the United States and the world community to 
        reaffirm their commitment to additional generous support for 
        relief and long-term reconstruction efforts in areas affected 
        by the earthquake; and
            (6) urges continued attention by international donors and 
        relief agencies to the needs of vulnerable populations in the 
        stricken countries, particularly the thousands of children who 
        have been left parentless and homeless by this disaster.
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