[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1324 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1324

Expressing condolences and sympathies for the people of China following 
 the tragic earthquake in the Qinghai province of the Peoples Republic 
                      of China on April 14, 2010.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 4, 2010

Mr. McMahon (for himself, Mr. Manzullo, Ms. Richardson, Ms. Speier, Ms. 
Lee of California, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Honda, Mr. Schiff, and Mr. Wilson 
   of South Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing condolences and sympathies for the people of China following 
 the tragic earthquake in the Qinghai province of the Peoples Republic 
                      of China on April 14, 2010.

Whereas, on April 14, 2010, an earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale 
        struck the Qinghai province of southwest China;
Whereas the China Earthquake Networks Administration confirmed the earthquake 
        struck in Yushu County, a remote and mountainous area sparsely populated 
        by farmers and herdsmen;
Whereas the population of Yushu County is overwhelmingly poor, with rural 
        residents earning an average of $342 a year, largely from agriculture;
Whereas at least 18 aftershocks measuring more than 6.0 on the Richter scale 
        followed the quake throughout the day in the seismically active zone;
Whereas over 2,000 people have been killed and over 10,000 injured, numbers that 
        are feared to climb;
Whereas an unknown number of individuals remain buried in debris as soldiers 
        work around the clock to dig them out by hand;
Whereas at least 40 people remain trapped under a collapsed office building that 
        houses the local Departments of Commerce and Industry of the Peoples 
        Republic of China and many children and young adults still lie beneath 
        the rubble of collapsed primary and vocational schools;
Whereas officials expect the death toll will rise because rescue efforts are 
        stymied by a lack of heavy equipment and the mountainous terrain;
Whereas medical supplies and tents are also in short supply;
Whereas China Central Television and the Red Cross Society of China estimate 
        that 90 percent of homes and 70 percent of schools in the region have 
        been destroyed;
Whereas the region that includes Yushu County is located on the Tibetan plateau, 
        and many villages sit well above 16,000 feet, with freezing temperatures 
        not uncommon in mid-April;
Whereas by the evening of April 14, 2010, temperatures in the county seat had 
        already reached 27 degrees Fahrenheit;
Whereas thousands of Tibetan monks, many of whom traveled long distances from 
        other Tibetan areas, have played a vital role in relief efforts, 
        providing food and assistance, and tending to the basic and spiritual 
        needs of the victims;
Whereas in order to prevent a flood, workers are racing to release water from a 
        reservoir in the disaster area after discovering that a crack had formed 
        in the dam due to the earthquake;
Whereas many survivors have already fled to the surrounding mountains, amid 
        fears that a nearby dam could be ruptured by the aftershocks hitting the 
        area;
Whereas news media reported that 700 paramilitary officers are already working 
        in the quake zone and that more than 4,000 others will be sent to assist 
        in search and rescue efforts;
Whereas the Civil Affairs Ministry said it would also send 5,000 tents and 
        100,000 coats and blankets; and
Whereas the international community is sending much needed supplies and 
        supporting local Chinese relief efforts: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses its deepest condolences and sympathies for 
        the loss of life and the physical and psychological damage 
        caused by the earthquake of April 14, 2010;
            (2) expresses solidarity with the people of the Qinghai 
        province, Tibetan-Americans, Chinese-Americans, and all those 
        who have lost loved ones or have otherwise been affected by the 
        tragedy, including rescue and humanitarian workers;
            (3) reaffirms the United States pledge, issued by Secretary 
        of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, to stand ready to assist the 
        people of China during this difficult period; and
            (4) expresses support for the recovery and long-term 
        reconstruction needs of the residents of the areas affected by 
        the earthquake, including the restoration of monasteries and 
        other Tibetan Buddhist sites that are integral to the 
        preservation of Tibetan culture and religious traditions.
                                 <all>