[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 28, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H8887-H8889]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[[Page H8887]]
EXPRESSING SYMPATHY FOR VICTIMS OF DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE IN TAIWAN
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 297) expressing sympathy for the victims of the
devastating earthquake that struck Taiwan on September 21, 1999, as
amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 297
Whereas on the morning of September 21, 1999, a devastating
and deadly earthquake shook the counties of Nantou and
Taichung, Taiwan, killing more that 1,700 people, injuring
more than 4,000, and leaving more than 100,000 homeless;
Whereas the earthquake of January 21, 1999, has left
thousands of buildings in ruin, caused widespread fires, and
destroyed highways and other infrastructure;
Whereas the strength, courage, and determination of the
people of Taiwan has been displayed since the earthquake;
Whereas the people of the United States and Taiwan share
strong friendship and mutual interests and respect;
Whereas the United States has offered whatever technical
assistance might be needed and has dispatched the Urban
Search and Rescue Team of Fairfax County, Virginia; and
Whereas offers of assistance have come from the Governments
of Japan, Singapore, the People's Republic of China, Turkey,
and others: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) expresses its deepest sympathies to the citizens of
Nantou and Taichung and all of Taiwan for the tragic losses
suffered as a result of the earthquake of September 21, 1999;
(2) expresses its support for the people of Taiwan as they
continue their efforts to rebuild their cities and their
lives;
(3) expresses support for disaster assistance being
provided by the United States Agency for International
Development and other relief agencies; and
(4) recognizes and encourages the important assistance that
also could be provided by other nations to alleviate the
suffering of the people of Taiwan.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).
General Leave
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on H. Res. 297.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in support of House
Resolution 297, expressing sympathy by the Congress for the victims of
the devastating earthquake in Taiwan on September 21.
I thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), the distinguished
chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, for responding
expeditiously to the tragic earthquake in Taiwan by drafting this
resolution I am proud to be a cosponsor of.
I personally want to express my deepest sadness about the devastating
earthquake that unexpectedly struck Taiwan one week ago and that we
convey to the citizens of Taiwan who recently warmly hosted our
Congressional delegation during our visit to Taipei our profoundest
sympathies about their tragic loss of life and property.
By this resolution, we in the Congress are calling upon the Clinton
administration and other members of the international community to do
everything possible to assist Taiwan to recover from this unfortunate
act of nature.
Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of our colleagues in the House
to join with us in expressing our deepest sympathies to the people of
Taiwan in their time of need and to express our willingness to support
them.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, let me first commend my good friend, the gentleman from
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), for introducing this resolution and commend,
also, the gentleman from New York (Chairman Gilman) and the gentleman
from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson) and all of our other colleagues who
have seen fit to join us in cosponsoring this legislation.
I rise in strong support of the resolution. This resolution properly
expresses the deepest sympathies of this body to the citizens of Taiwan
for the tragic losses suffered as a result of the earthquake of
September 21.
{time} 1115
The devastation caused by this earthquake on Taiwan is unspeakable.
And as one, Mr. Speaker, who represents San Francisco in this body, I
want to remind my colleagues that the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco,
which is remembered even a century after it occurred, resulted in a
number of deaths directly attributable to the earthquake. That is about
the same number that the people of Taiwan suffered during the course of
the last week.
There are about 8,000 Taiwanese who are injured and well over 2,000
who lost their lives. There are 100,000 Taiwanese citizens, 1 percent
of the population of Taiwan, who are homeless, and thousands and
thousands of buildings are in ruin. Throughout all this tragedy, Mr.
Speaker, the people of Taiwan have shown tremendous strength and
courage and determination. We were delighted, all of us, to see over
the weekend that two young men were pulled alive from a collapsed
building 5 days after the tragedy.
Our resolution expresses support for the disaster assistance which is
being provided by our government and specifically for the urban search
and rescue teams from Virginia and Florida.
Now, Taiwan is a model of what used to be a developing nation. Not
many years ago, Mr. Speaker, Taiwan was economically destitute and a
political dictatorship. Taiwan today is one of the most highly
developed economies on the face of this planet and is a political
democracy. This is truly our dream for all developing nations. And I
think this incredible achievement, which was brought about by the hard
work of the people of Taiwan, should make us profoundly sympathetic to
their current crisis.
They are not asking for financial assistance. Taiwan is a wealthy
country. But I want to call on all of my fellow citizens on a voluntary
basis to make a contribution to the needs of the tens of thousands of
Taiwanese families who have lost everything in this disaster. It was my
pleasure yesterday to welcome to my office the distinguished ambassador
of Taiwan and to give him my check for $1,000 as my contribution to
help alleviate the pain and suffering which permeates that small
country.
I found it remarkable, Mr. Speaker, that even in this moment of
Taiwan's tragedy, the government in Beijing insisted that all
assistance to Taiwan be directed through China and be approved by China
in Beijing. That, of course, clearly is not what is happening. We have
provided our aid and assistance, private and public, directly to the
free people of Taiwan, and we intend to continue to do so in the coming
weeks.
This tragedy underscores our determination to see to it that Taiwan
assumes its proper role in various international organizations, and the
people of Taiwan should rest assured that the American people stand
with them as they have built a viable democratic society and as they
are now undergoing the impact of a major natural disaster.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. LANTOS. I yield to the gentleman from New York.
Mr. GILMAN. First of all I want to compliment the gentleman for his
humanitarian effort on behalf of Taiwan. When the gentleman said that
all assistance had to go through Beijing, I read in I think today's
wire service that indicated that even the Red Cross had to appeal to
Beijing before they could go into Taiwan. If that is the case, of
course, that is abominable. We would hope that that would be
straightened out. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. LANTOS. I thank my friend for his contribution and underscore the
absurdity of the unrealistic demands of the government of Beijing. The
Red Cross, the International Red Cross, should be able to help the
people of Taiwan without going through the phony process of applying to
Beijing to provide aid to the suffering people of that island.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H8888]]
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from San Dimas, California (Mr. Dreier), the distinguished
chairman of the Committee on Rules.
(Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution.
I would like to commend my colleagues the gentleman from California
(Mr. Lantos) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and the
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and others who have worked on
this. Obviously as a Californian, the gentleman from California and I
know full well of the devastation of earthquakes. His area suffered the
Loma Prieta quake in 1989. I remember that day very well, October 16,
1989. We on January 17 of 1994 suffered the terrible Northridge quake
in southern California. The gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) is
from northern California, I am from southern California. Obviously we
in our State have many Chinese Americans, people who are both from the
mainland and from Taiwan. So I just would like to say especially as a
Californian that my heart goes out to those who have been impacted, of
course, the families of those who were killed and also to those who, we
are happy to say, have survived.
I just heard as I entered the Chamber the gentleman from California
refer to the incredible and heroic mission that was embarked upon by
several of those seeking to rescue the people where they found two
young men who after several days were still alive. I would just like to
say that it is important for us to do everything that we can to
encourage private support that will be going through organizations
directly to the people. I am frankly happy that we have seen an
indication of support coming from the People's Republic of China to
provide assistance and that statement I know was made by Jiang Zemin at
the very outset immediately following the quake.
I just want to do everything that we possibly can to assist the
people of Taiwan as they go through what obviously is a very
challenging time. One of the things that again the gentleman from
California and I know very well is that it is one thing to go through
the quake itself but the rebuilding process itself is a real challenge.
It is going to be important for us to continue to provide whatever
assistance we possibly can.
I again thank both of my colleagues for authoring this important
resolution.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my
good friend, the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz).
(Mr. ORTIZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution
expressing sympathy for the victims of the earthquake in Taiwan. I
would like to echo what has been said by my good friends the gentleman
from California (Mr. Lantos), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman)
and the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier).
I have a great many friends and acquaintances in Taiwan, having
traveled there often on trade missions to seek jobs for my south Texas
district. I was there just last month on such a mission. I appreciate
those countries who have offered emergency aid to Taiwan in the
aftermath of this earthquake. Taiwan is an emerging democracy on the
Pacific Rim, and they are a valuable and important player in our
international global economy. Taiwan has been enormously forthcoming
and helpful when there has been similar natural disasters and
emergencies in other countries. It is appropriate and honorable for
those countries to return that favor to Taiwan now in Taiwan's hour of
need.
The American people and people of all faiths are praying today for
the victims and the country as well as the rescuers who are working
very, very hard. We are waiting to hear from Taiwan what their specific
needs are in the aftermath of this earthquake.
I hope that what my good friend, the gentleman from California (Mr.
Lantos) has requested is that those of us that can contribute, to make
contributions to the government of Taiwan so that they can help the
local people who are in dire need.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), the
distinguished chairman of our Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support, of course, of H.
Res. 297, a resolution addressing the devastating earthquake that
occurred last week in Taiwan and literally decimated major parts of the
island. I want to thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. It has
become an all too familiar sight: many thousands of casualties, an
unknown number missing, hundreds of thousands of homeless, buildings
collapsed, roads destroyed, village-destroying mud slides, dams cracked
and in danger of failing. The people of Taiwan will no doubt persevere.
They are strong and they are courageous. They have faced adversity
before. But it is only appropriate that this body comment on this
tragic natural catastrophe and pledge our concern and empathy and
assistance.
This does extend the sympathy of the House of Representatives and the
American people to the people of Taiwan. It notes with approval the
assistance being provided under the auspices of the Agency for
International Development. Within a few hours of the earthquake, U.S.
rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Miami, Florida, for
example--I am sure there are many others--were en route to provide
assistance. I noticed last night the people returning to Dulles Airport
met by families and friends, and the Taiwanese-American community was
out there to greet them at Dulles, thanking them for their special
assistance. These teams have had dogs trained to discover those trapped
in buildings that had collapsed and these teams quickly attacked the
rubble. Such assistance, I think, sends an important message of moral
support for people in the midst of suffering and the executive branch
should be commended for their prompt action.
The resolution also notes with approval the willingness of other
countries to come to the assistance of Taiwan in its time of need.
Japan, Singapore, the People's Republic of China, and I want to
emphasize Turkey, which recently also experienced its own very similar
catastrophe. Even if such aid is modest, and I hope it will be more
than modest, it tells the people of Taiwan that they are not alone.
Mr. Speaker, this is a genuinely bipartisan expression of concern.
This Member is joined in cosponsoring, for example, by the chairman of
the committee, the distinguished gentleman from New York; the ranking
Democrat, the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut; and the
distinguished ranking Democrat of the Subcommittee on Asia and the
Pacific who helped with the crafting and moving of this legislation,
the gentleman from California. The list of cosponsors, of course, goes
on, and every one, I think, of our colleagues if they knew about the
movement of this legislation would like to be there as a cosponsor. I
urge adoption of the resolution.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to my good
friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley).
(Mr. CROWLEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House
Resolution 297, a resolution expressing sympathy for the victims of the
devastating earthquake that struck Taiwan on September 21 of this year.
On that date, Mr. Speaker, an earthquake registering 7.6 on the Richter
scale hit the Nantou and Taichung counties of Taiwan. Thousands were
killed and even more were left homeless.
Mr. Speaker, I have the honor of representing Flushing-Queens, New
York. Many of my constituents have family and friends living in Taiwan.
The prayers and thoughts of my constituents and myself are with the
Taiwanese people at this time.
The United States Agency for International Development has responded
to Taiwan's call for international assistance by sending technical
experts from their office of foreign disaster assistance and the
Fairfax, Virginia search and rescue team. I would like to thank these
brave men and women who participated in this international rescue
operation as well as the other nations which lent their assistance.
[[Page H8889]]
Although the earthquake crippled Taiwan's infrastructure in the
hardest hit areas where phone, power and water lines were knocked out,
I have confidence that Taiwan will be able to rebuild quickly and
continue to play an important role in the Asian and world economies.
{time} 1130
Mr. Speaker, as a Member of the House Committee on International
Relations, I stand ready to assist Taiwan with its rebuilding efforts.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this worthy
resolution to express the House's sympathy for this terrible, terrible
disaster.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Cox), chairman of our
Republican Policy Committee.
Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding this time to
me.
I think all of us here in this chamber and, in fact, anyone in the
world with a television set watched in awe and horror and ultimately
relief as 6 year-old boy whose faint cries were heard beneath the
rubble was extracted alive after several days following the earthquake.
His first words were: Why am I here, and where is my family? But his
parents and his sisters were all killed in that same building in that
same earthquake. It tore my heart out.
Mr. Speaker, I have a 6 year-old son, and just to imagine the human
loss, the tragedy of that earthquake, is almost beyond our individual
capacities.
Sometimes it takes an enormous tragedy such as this earthquake to
bring home how futile it is for us to maintain the political
differences that we do across the globe. I think everyone watching on
television saw that the people of Taiwan are not the dangerous
splitists so often derided by the Communist government in Beijing, but
men and women and children fighting for a better life, just like all of
us.
Mr. Speaker, that is why it is so tragically ironic that at this
time, when we should have set aside politics and put humanitarian
interests first, the government of Beijing literally got in the way as
Russian aid was trying to make its way immediately after the tragedy to
the victims. A Russian plane actually had to divert and take a
different, longer route in order to get to Taiwan because they did not
have clearance from the Beijing government. The American Red Cross, as
has been discussed previously in this debate, felt it necessary, even
though it is a nongovernmental organization based here, to check first
with Beijing, and that slowed down aid getting to people right when
they most needed it, when there is still a chance to save their lives.
This should never happen again.
The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), our Democratic colleague, has
offered legislation that I know the Chairman of the Committee on
International Relations supports that would permit Taiwan membership in
the World Health Organization, something that does not require the
status of statehood; so, this does not in any way interfere with our
United States China policy. But what it would do, Mr. Speaker, is cut
out the bureaucracy so that in the case of future medical emergencies
this could not happen again, these kinds of delays could not happen
again.
I think we also need legislation to make sure that every
nongovernmental organization in America, every charity in America
understands that if there ever is another medical emergency or natural
disaster in Taiwan, that they can get relief there right away without
having to check with Beijing first.
It is fortunate that so much good is now coming of the worldwide
attention that has been paid to this tragedy in Taiwan, so much money
is coming from our country to help people there. On Saturday night
last, I met with several hundred Taiwanese Americans who were gathered
in principle part to marshal their efforts behind earthquake relief in
Taiwan, and I personally am participating in those efforts, and I hope
that everyone here will because we do live in a small world, and we do
all have much more in common than we realize.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Guam
(Mr. Underwood), my good friend and distinguished colleague.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding
me the time, and for the reasons that have been outlined already by
many of the previous speakers, I stand in strong support of Resolution
297 expressing our sympathy and our concern for the people of Taiwan.
As a representative of an area that is the closest U.S. area to Taiwan,
we certainly have many important business, commercial and people-to-
people relationships with the people of Taiwan, and the people of
Taiwan have always been there for Guam and other parts of the United
States whenever we have problems. And so it is important that we
express directly and in this very highly symbolic and very important
way our sympathy for them. In our own relationships and between Guam
and Taiwan, whenever we had a very severe earthquake, about 4 years
ago, and we have had a number of typhoons where the people of Taiwan
have always come through. And I am pleased to report that back home in
Guam we are also engaged in many relief efforts to help the local
Chinese community in their efforts to gather support and provide needed
assistance to the people of Taiwan.
We have also experienced some of the obstacles that have been alluded
to earlier, and it is simply abominable that political considerations
are now confounding and have confounded and have found their way into
efforts to provide relief. And yet in a kind of interesting way, I
think the earthquake in Taiwan has pointed out the real success story
that is Taiwan, the fact that they do have very good and solid
relationships with people throughout the world who want to provide them
their needed assistance. Nothing is as a serious sign of our common
humanity than when we are most vulnerable, and certainly times of
natural disaster point that out. And it is very important that we
continue to express our support for Taiwan.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to personally participate in this.
Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of H. Res. 297, a resolution
expressing sympathy for the victims of the devastating earthquake that
struck Taiwan on September 21, 1999, I would like to express my strong
support for this important legislation. Had I been able to be in
Washington today, I would have enthusiastically cast my vote in the
affirmative.
As the first member of the U.S. House of Representatives born on
Taiwan, I would first like to express my deepest sympathy and
condolences to the people of Taiwan. I hope in these challenging times
that they find comfort in family and loved ones.
Since the earthquake shook Nantou and Taichung, Taiwan, thousands of
homes and families were damaged or destroyed. Thousands of individuals
lay dead, missing, and injured. I feel a great sense of sadness for all
that were affected by this tragic incident.
I commend the Taiwanese people for their display of strength,
courage, and determination. Indeed, the tasks of rebuilding homes and
comforting loved ones lay dauntingly ahead. I am confident that my
colleagues, the President, and the international community will provide
the necessary assistance to help the people of Taiwan rebuild their
homes and family.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 297, as amended.
The question was taken.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________