[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 642 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 642

 Expressing sympathy to and support for the people and governments of 
the countries of Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico which have 
suffered from Hurricanes Felix, Dean, and Henriette and whose complete 
             economic and fatality toll are still unknown.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 7, 2007

 Ms. Solis (for herself, Mr. Engel, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Burton of Indiana, 
    Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Honda, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart of 
Florida, Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida, Mr. Hare, and Mr. Hastings 
 of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing sympathy to and support for the people and governments of 
the countries of Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico which have 
suffered from Hurricanes Felix, Dean, and Henriette and whose complete 
             economic and fatality toll are still unknown.

Whereas on September 4, 2007, Hurricane Felix, a Category 5 storm, hit the 
        Nicaragua-Honduras border, causing over 40,000 people in Nicaragua and 
        Honduras to be evacuated, and killing at least 100 people;
Whereas just weeks before, Hurricane Dean, a Category 5 storm, hit Mexico and 
        the Caribbean coast, killed 27 persons, displaced over 260,000 persons, 
        and destroyed over 36,000 homes;
Whereas Hurricane Henriette, a Category 1 storm, made landfall along the Baja 
        California peninsula of Mexico hours after Hurricane Felix made 
        landfall, the first time since 1949 that two Atlantic and Pacific 
        hurricanes hit land on the same day;
Whereas for the first time in the recorded history of hurricanes, two Category 5 
        storms, Hurricanes Dean and Felix, made landfall during the same year;
Whereas Hurricane Henriette, though less powerful than Hurricane Felix, killed 7 
        people;
Whereas the homes of at least 5,000 Central Americans were damaged or destroyed 
        by Hurricanes Felix and Henriette;
Whereas thousands more individuals were unable to be evacuated and forced to 
        endure these hurricanes in the shelter of their own homes;
Whereas Hurricane Felix obtained wind speeds of over 160 miles-an-hour, causing 
        widespread destruction with heavy rains and subsequent mudslides and 
        floods expected to follow;
Whereas Hurricane Felix hit the Miskito Coast, home to the Miskito Indians, an 
        indigenous population of Central America;
Whereas relief organizations have reported that thousands of Miskito Indians 
        were stranded on the coast and unable to travel to safer regions;
Whereas the poorest civilians of Honduras and Guatemala who live in hillside 
        villages will be most susceptible to mudslides due to their inland 
        location;
Whereas Honduras and Nicaragua, the poorest countries of Central America, have 
        economies that rely heavily on limited agricultural exports, which make 
        both countries extremely vulnerable to natural disasters;
Whereas major tourist destinations, including Cabo San Lucas, the Mayan Riviera, 
        Cancun, Acapulco, and a host of Caribbean islands, were forced to 
        evacuate due to the hurricanes, thus harming the tourist industry on 
        which these areas depend; and
Whereas Honduras and Nicaragua were still rebuilding after the devastating 
        effects of Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which killed nearly 11,000 people 
        and left more than 8,000 people missing, destroyed the infrastructures 
        and economies of both countries, and caused billions of dollars in 
        damage: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses its sympathy to and support for the people 
        and governments of the countries of Central America, the 
        Caribbean, and Mexico in this time of devastation;
            (2) vows its continued friendship and support for our 
        neighbors in Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico;
            (3) urges all parties to continue their efforts in 
        evacuating and providing aid to those individuals displaced by 
        the hurricanes;
            (4) recognizes the United States Government's initial 
        efforts to provide assistance to populations affected by the 
        hurricanes and urges increased and continued assistance as the 
        effects of the hurricanes continue to unfold;
            (5) encourages public institutions, specialized agencies, 
        as well as private citizens, to offer their resources; and
            (6) recognizes the efforts of relief organizations, 
        including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red 
        Crescent Societies, and the international community, in aiding 
        the people and governments involved.
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