[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 11 (Thursday, January 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page E135]]
           ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE NORTHRIDGE EARTHQUAKE

                                 ______


                       HON. ANTHONY C. BEILENSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 19, 1995

  Mr. BEILENSON. Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago, the Nation's costliest 
disaster struck the Los Angeles area. The Northridge earthquake, the 
epicenter of which was in the end found to be in the 24th Congressional 
District that I represent, changed forever the lives of those of us who 
experienced the 6.7-magnitude quake.
  The extraordinarily quick response of my colleagues in Congress in 
passing legislation to ensure the delivery of urgently needed Federal 
funds to help the victims of this natural disaster was one of the most 
generous and gratifying that I have experienced. Despite the debate 
over the size of the Federal budget deficit, and the anxiety in 
Congress--an apprehension that is not entirely misplaced--about adding 
to that serious problem, Congress approved quickly the $8.6 billion in 
earthquake relief that was so urgently needed. For my constituents and 
those of other Members whose districts were hit so hard by this 
disaster, I remain extremely grateful to my colleagues for their 
support and compassion.
  Mr. Speaker, even now, we find it difficult to explain to those who 
live outside the area the disruption in the lives of so many people in 
southern California caused by this devastating earthquake. It not only 
destroyed homes and schools and roads, but also caused permanent job 
losses in an area that was already racked by a severe recession.
  Yet, we have made remarkable progress in recovering from a disaster 
that caused nearly 60 deaths, left thousands homeless, and caused 
property damage estimated at more than $20 billion. The Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, which so splendidly coordinated the 
network of some 13 Federal agencies and 3,600 employees in responding 
to the damage caused by the quake, estimated that 92,000 buildings were 
damaged and 20,000 dwelling units had to be vacated. So far, over 
500,000 individuals and businesses have received in excess of $5 
billion in Federal aid, a figure that surpasses Federal assistance 
after any previous U.S. disaster.
  I cannot adequately describe for my colleagues what a magnificent job 
FEMA and other Federal, State, and local agencies have done overall in 
responding to this disaster. At a time when Government is so often 
criticized, we should be extremely proud of all these Government 
agencies, programs, and employees. As the Los Angeles Times recently 
said, Government agencies responded ``with the most splendid emergency 
assistance program in U.S. history.'' It marked a first for disaster 
officials who had never been called upon to provide emergency 
assistance to so many people. In fact, the over 20,000 dwellings that 
were made uninhabitable by the quake were the equivalent of an entire 
mid-size American city being wiped out.

  And, while the Federal Government responded efficiently to the 
mounting challenges caused by the earthquake to help rebuild a region 
that is so crucial to the entire Nation, we were all especially 
impressed by the volunteers from all over the country who came to our 
area in the San Fernando Valley and in Ventura County to help. 
Individuals from the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and from many 
religious organizations in every region of the country provided food, 
shelter, clothes, day care, and help in cleaning up. All Members should 
be proud of the response of their own constituents to our constituents 
in their time of need.
  Mr. Speaker, Federal aid was urgently needed to ensure that victims 
of this massive earthquake were able to recover--and the great majority 
of individuals and businesses have been able to do so, or at least make 
a very good beginning, within the year since the quake hit. We have 
been able to rebuild our badly damaged transportation infrastructure, 
repair our schools and homes, and revive the economic health of our 
area.
  Of course, much work remains to be done. But the words most often 
used to describe the residents of the area are resilience and 
confidence. Even as another natural disaster--the third that has 
affected my district within 15 months--struck our area, my constituents 
have rebounded; they are helping each other, just as they did following 
the firestorms and the earthquake, because as we all know, the 
Government simply cannot rescue everyone. This is one of the most 
significant lessons of this major disaster.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleagues, the thousands of volunteers 
from all over the country, the local, State, and Federal governments, 
and most of all, the residents of the San Fernando Valley and Ventura 
County for every effort made to rebuild and reconstruct our area and 
bring us back from the costliest natural disaster ever in North 
America.

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