[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 44 (Friday, March 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S3024]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S3024]]
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
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             TRIBUTE TO HUMANITARIAN AID IN CENTRAL AMERICA

 Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise to offer a personal tribute 
to the countless Americans who personify the finest traditions of 
charity by giving much-needed humanitarian supplies to the storm-
ravaged people of Central America.
  We are a generous people. For centuries, we have responded to human 
needs, to end suffering and to help those who were afflicted by the 
wrath of nature.
  I have just returned from Central America, where the devastation of 
Hurricane Mitch is still felt by millions, many of whom are children. 
In communities throughout this neighboring region, storm victims 
continue to lack basic food, shelter, clothing and medical care. Damage 
to roads and bridges hampers the ability to move goods to market, and 
to transport emergency supplies.
  As a repeat visitor to Central America since Hurricane Mitch, I can 
personally attest to the widespread human suffering caused by this 
fierce storm. But I have also witnessed the outpouring of humanitarian 
assistance from the United States and its impact in Central America.
  By any measure, the myriad acts of kindness by the American people to 
our neighbors in need have been inspirational to all those who deplore 
the hunger of a child or the suffering of the sick. The list of 
examples of the humanitarian response to Hurricane Mitch is indeed 
lengthy, but I would like to cite a few examples.
  As we paused last fall to celebrate Thanksgiving, a young Floridian 
named Abhishek Gupta read news accounts of the poor and needy at home 
and abroad. This high school student, along with other young people, 
raised thousands of dollars for charities in Florida and to help the 
victims of Hurricane Mitch in Central America.
  During the period between Christmas and New Year's Abhishek joined a 
medical mission to Honduras and Nicaragua, taking food, clothing and 
medical supplies.
  Meanwhile, for years the American Nicaraguan Foundation has helped 
distribute donations in Nicaragua through local outlets, including 
Catholic relief groups. In response to Hurricane Mitch, the foundation 
purchased and received food and medicine for victims.
  With transport help from the U.S. military, these supplies were part 
of the immediate response in November to hurricane devastation.
  Rebuilding the hard-hit communities of Central America will be a 
long-term process, and much work remains to be done. But as we re-
commit ourselves this year to continue to help victims of last year's 
hurricane, we should applaud the multitudes of kind-hearted and 
dedicated people who have given time and resources to assist our 
neighbors.

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