[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 254 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 254

Encouraging people in the United States to join together in prayer for 
the victims of the destructive tornadoes and flooding in the South and 
  Midwest and the devastating drought and dangerous wildfires in the 
                          South and Southwest.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 5, 2011

Mr. Neugebauer (for himself, Mr. Pearce, and Mr. Bachus) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
                         and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Encouraging people in the United States to join together in prayer for 
the victims of the destructive tornadoes and flooding in the South and 
  Midwest and the devastating drought and dangerous wildfires in the 
                          South and Southwest.

Whereas the Southern Plains, lower Mississippi Valley, and Southwest have been 
        experiencing the worst drought conditions in decades;
Whereas the southern parts of Oklahoma and New Mexico, the western part of 
        Louisiana, and almost all of Texas are currently designated as either 
        extreme or exceptional drought conditions under the U.S. Drought Monitor 
        categories;
Whereas some of these areas have received no rainfall for three months and long-
        range forecasts indicate the drought could persist through May;
Whereas the exceptionally dry conditions and high winds have led to wildfires 
        that have burned nearly 2,000,000 acres of land in Texas, New Mexico, 
        Colorado, Oklahoma, and Kansas, destroying hundreds of homes and 
        businesses and taking many lives;
Whereas the drought has endangered agricultural crop production and livestock 
        health, resulting in a major financial crisis for the farmers and 
        ranchers of the region;
Whereas severe weather, including tornadoes, massive flooding, large hail, and 
        intense thunderstorms have had major effects on certain regions of the 
        United States, including the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, 
        Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee;
Whereas these storms have devastated communities, caused hundreds of deaths and 
        casualties, and resulted in long-term economic damage to the region;
Whereas the Southern United States has experienced some of the most severe 
        weather in its history;
Whereas hundreds are confirmed to have lost their lives as a result of these 
        storms, thousands have suffered injuries, and property damage could 
        reach into the billions of dollars; and
Whereas communities large and small throughout the South and lower Midwest have 
        been devastated by this disaster but have maintained a spirit of 
        resiliency, hope, and faith: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
                    (A) people in the United States should pray for the 
                victims of the destructive tornadoes and flooding in 
                the South and lower Midwest and the devastating drought 
                and dangerous wildfires in the South and Southwest; and
                    (B) people in the United States should join 
                together in prayer to humbly seek fair weather 
                conditions, including calm skies in the South and lower 
                Midwest where tornadoes have ravaged homes and uprooted 
                families, and for rain where rain is most needed in the 
                South and Southwest, where devastating drought and 
                dangerous wildfires have destroyed homes, businesses, 
                and lives; and
            (2) the House of Representatives prays for the safety of 
        those fire departments called to action and for those 
        firefighters heroically battling the blazes in the South and 
        Southwest, for fair weather in the South and lower Midwest, 
        where a respite from severe weather is most needed to allow the 
        region to recover and rebuild, for the families and communities 
        affected by the severe weather, and for those individuals who 
        were injured or killed.
                                 <all>