[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 733 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 733

Expressing condolences to the people and government of the Republic of 
China (Taiwan) in the aftermath of the devastating typhoon that struck 
   the central and southern regions of the island on August 8, 2009.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 10, 2009

  Mr. Gingrey of Georgia (for himself, Ms. Berkley, Mr. Lincoln Diaz-
  Balart of Florida, Mr. Wexler, Mr. Price of Georgia, Mr. Mario Diaz-
   Balart of Florida, Mr. Coble, Mr. Poe of Texas, Mr. Bartlett, Mr. 
 Pitts, Mr. Broun of Georgia, Mr. Daniel E. Lungren of California, Mr. 
 Cole, Mr. Kline of Minnesota, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Lamborn, Mrs. Lummis, 
     Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Akin, Mr. McClintock, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr. 
  Neugebauer, Mr. Brown of South Carolina, Mr. Inglis, Ms. Markey of 
Colorado, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. Wu, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Minnick, 
   Mr. Sam Johnson of Texas, Mr. Carney, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. 
Duncan, Mr. Markey of Massachusetts, Mr. Coffman of Colorado, Mr. King 
    of Iowa, Mr. Holt, Mr. Klein of Florida, Mr. Gary G. Miller of 
   California, Mr. Ortiz, Mr. Davis of Tennessee, Mr. Jones, and Mr. 
 Towns) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing condolences to the people and government of the Republic of 
China (Taiwan) in the aftermath of the devastating typhoon that struck 
   the central and southern regions of the island on August 8, 2009.

Whereas Typhoon Morakot hit the island of Taiwan on August 8, 2009, dropping 
        approximately 2.6 meters or 102 inches of rain, more than half the 
        average annual rainfall in many places;
Whereas central and southern Taiwan were hardest hit by the storm;
Whereas mudslides overwhelmed some places in south Taiwan, including the village 
        of Hsiaolin, where 247 homes were lost;
Whereas floods or mudslides damaged more than 191,936 homes;
Whereas infrastructure and farm losses alone have totaled approximately 
        $46,500,000,000 in Taiwanese dollars to date;
Whereas the devastation left by Typhoon Morakot is the worst the island has seen 
        in 50 years;
Whereas as of late August 2009, the official death toll reached 602 with an 
        additional 81 missing, where many of those are believed to be buried by 
        mud in the village of Hsiaolin, which was almost completely covered in a 
        mudslide triggered by several days of extremely heavy rainfall;
Whereas beginning on August 22, 2009, Taiwan held a three-day mourning period in 
        memory of those who were killed in mudslides and floods after Typhoon 
        Morakot;
Whereas the United States assisted efforts by providing Marine Corps C-130 
        aircraft from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Okinawa to deliver 
        humanitarian relief supplies in addition to KC-130 aircraft and MH 53 
        and MH 60 helicopters from strategic United States bases located in 
        Japan;
Whereas on March 24, 2009, the House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res. 55 
        to mark the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations 
        Act (Public Law 96-8), codifying in law the basis for continued 
        commercial, cultural, and other relations between the United States and 
        the Republic of China (Taiwan); and
Whereas Taiwan has been a steadfast ally of the United States and a responsible 
        and compassionate member of the world community: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) mourns the terrible loss of life caused by Typhoon 
        Morakot that occurred on August 8, 2009, in the Republic of 
        China (Taiwan);
            (2) expresses its deepest condolences to the families of 
        the many victims;
            (3) recognizes the deep ties between the United States and 
        Taiwan and expresses continued solidarity with its people 
        during this time of crisis; and
            (4) expresses gratitude to the people of the United States 
        who have generously supported those humanitarian aid agencies 
        working to assist the people of Taiwan in this time of need.
                                 <all>