III 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 356 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 27, 2006 Ms. Mikulski (for herself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Biden, and Mr. Harkin) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Urging a commitment by the United States and the international community to continue relief efforts in response to the earthquake in South Asia and to help rebuild critical infrastructure in the affected areas.

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, approximately 60 miles north-northeast of Islamabad, with aftershocks and landslides continuing to affect the area; Whereas more than 75,000 people have died, including approximately 17,000 children, nearly 70,000 people are injured and approximately 3,000,000 people are homeless as a result of the earthquake; Whereas the United States has pledged a total of $510,000,000 in assistance to the affected areas, including $300,000,000 for relief and reconstruction, $110,000,000 to support Department of Defense relief operations, and at least $100,000,000 in anticipated contributions from private entities in the United States; Whereas, as of January 25, 2006, the total amount of humanitarian assistance provided to Pakistan by the United States Agency for International Development is more than $66,500,000; 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 more than 3,200 missions, evacuated approximately 3,800 people, and delivered nearly 15,000,000 pounds of supplies; Whereas the cost of rebuilding the affected areas could be more than $5,000,000,000; Whereas Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during her October 12, 2005 visit to Pakistan, said the United States would support the efforts of the Government of Pakistan over the long-term to provide assistance to the victims of the earthquake and rebuild areas of the country devastated by the earthquake; Whereas the robust humanitarian response of the Government of the United States to the earthquake disaster has made an impact on the Government and people of Pakistan and demonstrates the United States commitment to Pakistan and the well-being of its residents; Whereas the United States humanitarian mission in Pakistan may impact positively on the way Americans are viewed, especially in areas where the population may oppose United States counterterrrorism policies and where radical groups and affiliates of known terrorist organizations are conducting high-profile relief efforts; and Whereas the results of a poll taken by the nonprofit organization Terror Free Tomorrow show that, at the end of November 2005, more than 46 percent of Pakistanis had a favorable view of the United States, double the percentage of Pakistanis that held that view in May 2005: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (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 their swift and sustained efforts to assist the victims of the earthquake in South Asia that occurred on October 8, 2005; (2)commends the Governments of Pakistan and India for working together to save lives and provide humanitarian relief in the affected areas and encourages them to continue in this spirit of cooperation; (3)commends the international community, including nongovernmental organizations, private corporations, and individual citizens, for responding swiftly and generously to the relief and recovery effort; (4)urges continued attention by international donors and relief agencies to the needs of vulnerable populations in the stricken areas, particularly the thousands of children who have been left parentless and homeless by the disaster; and (5)urges the Government of the United States to take the lead in encouraging the international community to commit to continue relief efforts in response to the earthquake in South Asia and to help rebuild critical infrastructure in the affected areas.