[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 14, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H946-H950]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO REPUBLIC OF
MOZAMBIQUE
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 431) expressing support for humanitarian assistance
to the Republic of Mozambique, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 431
Whereas in February 2000, the southern Africa nations of
Botswana, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and
Zimbabwe began to experience severe flooding caused by days
of heavy rain;
Whereas the Republic of Mozambique bore the brunt of the
torrential rains and experienced the worst flooding in 100
years;
Whereas roads, homes, bridges, the energy infrastructure,
and crops were destroyed;
Whereas many towns are without potable water and the
corresponding public health threat from water-borne diseases
is severe;
Whereas on February 22, 2000, tropical cyclone Eline blew
full force into Mozambique, exacerbating an already terrible
humanitarian crisis;
Whereas continued rainfall from swollen rivers in
neighboring southern African countries threatens to bring
more flood waters into Mozambique;
Whereas thousands of Mozambicans have lost everything and
are in desperate need of water, food, and shelter;
Whereas in 1992 Mozambique ended a bloody 16 year civil war
and has made substantial progress on democratic freedoms and
multi-party elections;
Whereas Mozambique is one of the world's poorest countries
where 27 percent of all babies born die before the age of 5;
Whereas the flooding has virtually wiped out the
significant economic recovery the Mozambican people have
worked hard to achieve over the last 8 years;
Whereas large segments of Mozambican crops were spared from
the cyclone and flooding and could be utilized to feed needy
citizens later this year;
Whereas the Government of Mozambique will require massive
international assistance over the next 90 days and the
growing international relief effort must remain on high alert
for the next several weeks;
Whereas prior to the flood disaster, Mozambique was one of
the first countries to qualify for benefits under the World
Bank/IMF Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative; and
Whereas the total amount of Mozambique's external debt is
$5.3 billion: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends the Government of the Republic of South Africa
for its quick response and assistance to the Mozambican
people;
(2) commends the Government of the United Kingdom for
announcing debt cancellation for Mozambique so that precious
financial resources may be dedicated to the national relief
and recovery effort;
(3) commends the Administration for its growing involvement
and leadership in coordinating America's disaster assistance
package to the Republic of Mozambique;
(4) supports the efforts of the United States Government to
assist in coordinating international efforts to help the
Republic of Mozambique salvage what remains of this year's
food crops and to provide seeds for rural agricultural
growers;
(5) encourages the international community to continue to
provide emergency relief, airlift capacity, and other
disaster assistance to the Republic of Mozambique for the
next 90 days;
(6) urges the international community to take all necessary
steps to locate and demarcate areas that may now harbor semi-
boyant plastic land mines transported to new locations by the
flooding in Mozambique;
(7) requests that the international community develop a
coordinated response to the Government of Mozambique's
request for recovery and reconstruction assistance for
buildings and transportation infrastructure;
(8) encourages the international community to assist the
nations of southern Africa to increase their capacity to
respond to national emergencies and natural disasters; and
(9) urges the International Monetary Fund and other
international creditors to fully accelerate debt reduction
efforts with respect to Mozambique's external debt in the
aftermath of the severe flooding.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) 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
and to include extraneous material on House Resolution 431.
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. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks and include extraneous material.)
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, the waters of southern Africa's worst
flooding in a century are slowly beginning to recede, but the flood
waters have left behind an altered landscape. Where there were homes,
there are now ruins. Where there were schools, there is now only
rubble. Throughout Mozambique, where there were signs of steady
economic progress, once again there is a spectre of hunger and disease.
We still do not know how many people have perished in Mozambique. We
believe that 40,000 cattle have drowned. A third of their onion crop
has been destroyed. We know that Mozambique and other nations in the
region need serious help. When a disaster this scope afflicts a wealthy
nation like our own Nation, it is an enormous challenge. But when it
happens to a country where the average annual per capita income is less
than what we might pay for a dinner for two in one of our favorite
restaurants, it is tragic.
Our Nation and other nations are already helping, but their work has
only just begun. I fully support this resolution introduced by our good
friend and colleague the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) because it
reiterates this Congressional commitment to help our brothers in
southern Africa in a time of need.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution.
Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the chairman, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Gilman), for his support on this piece of legislation, this
resolution.
Mr. Speaker, for the past 3 weeks, the world has watched with great
anguish as the people of the Republic of Mozambique clung to whatever
they could to escape raging flood waters. The storms that ravaged
Mozambique are the worst the southern African region has seen in more
than 100 years. The nations of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South
Africa have also experienced national emergencies from the rainy
flooding season.
However, Mozambique bore the brunt of the storms and is still
threatened by flood waters from neighboring countries who are forced to
open their dams to ease the pressure of these structures.
In the southern third of Mozambique, virtually all the primary roads,
bridges, electric grid facilities, and clean water wells have been
destroyed.
[[Page H947]]
Many buildings and homes that were built along the fertile flood
planes of the Save and Limpopo Rivers will need to be relocated or
rebuilt.
Mr. Speaker, it is ironic that a nation that has experienced much
success over the past 8 years to reform its Government and economy has
suffered the economic disaster caused by the floods.
Mozambique recently held its second multi-party elections in 1999 and
has privatized over 800 former government-owned enterprises.
{time} 1500
For the first time in as long as anyone can remember, Mozambique did
not request international food aid. Additionally, because the
Mozambique government's track record and economic performance was so
strong, the nation qualified for the World Bank and IMF Highly Indebted
Poor Countries program.
With the flood waters comes the threat of waterborne diseases and
other public health problems. Another problem comes from land mines.
Mozambique has thousands of semi-buoyant plastic land mines that may
have been uncovered by the rising waters. These new areas must be
located and demarcated to avoid the unnecessary damage they can do to
the population.
In the midst of destruction and great human tragedy, we witnessed the
miracle of life above the flood water as a mother gave birth to a child
while clinging to a tree.
Additionally, a vast quantity of the country's crops was spared from
the flood waters. If the international community can get seeds and
tools to the right areas, Mozambique's 2000 harvest yield should be
available to help the emergency food shortages.
The Clinton administration has announced its intention to draw down
$37.6 million of DOD funds to assist the Mozambicans. The
administration's package also includes the relocation of military
assets, small boats and helicopters, to the region to assist.
The Clinton administration has also announced today that it will
cancel Mozambique's bilateral debt. We must be prepared to do all we
can to assist Mozambique and to help it get back on track so that her
hard-fought economic and political reforms are not washed away with the
flood waters.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the distinguished chairman of
our Subcommittee on Africa.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Gilman) for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to state my support for this resolution put
forward by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks), a member of the
Subcommittee on Africa. This resolution is a strong statement of
support for humanitarian aid efforts in Mozambique; and as we have seen
in news reports, Mozambique has borne the brunt of the destructive
torrential rains and tropical cyclones. Unbelievably, Mozambique has
been hit with over 500 percent of its average annual rainfall over the
course of a couple of weeks.
Flooding has also hit South Africa and Zambia and Zimbabwe,
Mozambique's neighbors and partners in the Southern Africa Development
Community.
This resolution commends South Africa, for one, for helping
Mozambique. Special recognition should be given to the tireless efforts
of the South African helicopter teams who saved an estimated 14,000
stranded Mozambicans from their homes, from the roof tops of their now-
destroyed homes.
These were heroic efforts which saved innumerable lives, and some
quarter of a million Mozambicans are now living in relief camps. Food,
tents, medicine, and blankets are desperately needed. I applaud the
U.S. military units now involved in rescue and relief efforts in
Mozambique. American military forces are the best in the world. They
bring unparalleled skills to this multi-international operation, skills
that have been demonstrated in humanitarian operations in the Balkans
and Bangladesh and in Latin America.
I would like to say a few words about Mozambique's recent history.
The example of Mozambique is a strong counter to those who see nothing
in Africa but war, famine, and disease. Mozambique has put an era of
authoritarian one-party rule behind it and successfully resolved the
bloody, bitter civil conflict that once tore apart the country's social
fabric. It is moving toward a market-based economy, one that has
registered several years of impressive growth, growth in the 8 percent
range.
This natural disaster is a setback on this progress. Today, we can
only do our best to see that Mozambique's move toward a more prosperous
future is not derailed. As we speak, humanitarian relief efforts are
being made by the U.S. and by Germany and by Britain, Canada and many
other countries.
It is my hope that out of this disaster some good may come. Some
African governments, faced with limited resources, are being asked some
tough questions by their citizens. A newspaper in Namibia has noted, no
single Namibian would question the need to send assistance to
Mozambique, whereas they can quite legitimately question the need for
military assistance to Congo, which is torn by war.
A Zimbabwean paper focusing on the flooding in Zimbabwe wrote, ``The
government was unable to respond properly to the plight of the victims
in the flooding in the south of the country because the majority of our
helicopters were in the Congo.''
I hope that African citizens will increasingly question their
government's presence in the war in the Congo; and if pressure is put
on to end this destructive war, if Africans decide that they want to
help others in need, not fight unwinnable wars, then something positive
will come out of this disaster.
Today, the people of Mozambique need help. Mozambique has shown that
it knows the road to a better life. It deserves America's help in
overcoming this natural disaster, and this resolution expresses support
for U.S. relief efforts in Mozambique, and I ask my colleagues to
support it. I thank the chairman of the full committee, and I also want
to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) for introducing this
legislation.
Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from the State of Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick), and a member
of the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related
Programs.
(Ms. KILPATRICK asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Meeks) and the rest of the Subcommittee on Foreign
Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs, we appreciate them
bringing this amendment forward to our committee.
The resolution is most desperately needed. I want to report that last
week in appropriations, we have a commitment from our chairman, the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), as well as the chairman from the
Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related
Programs, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan), to see that
Mozambique gets the assistance that they need. We offered an amendment
that would replenish the accounts, the $37 million that has been taken
from the military and DOD, as well as replenishing the child survival
accounts, as well as international assistance.
Mozambique, after 16 years of war, is now one of the fastest growing
countries on the continent. It is our responsibility, as a partner in
the world, that we address this most desperate need that they have
today.
Nineteen million people; 1 million homeless; 2 million land mines
have been identified. The cyclone has now moved those mines, and we
must go in there and assist them, as they grow and help themselves.
So I would say to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) and the
rest of my colleagues, this is one of the most important resolutions we
will see in this Congress.
I commend the Committee on International Relations, as well as our
Members on the Committee on Appropriations, for adopting an amendment
to see that Mozambique gets the financial assistance they deserve.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
[[Page H948]]
Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Gilman), the chairman of the Committee on International
Relations, for yielding this time to me.
Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to commend my colleague, the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Meeks), for introducing this very worthy resolution
honoring the United States civilian and military personnel serving
bravely to rescue victims of the flooding in Mozambique, and expressing
our support for humanitarian assistance to the Republic of Mozambique.
The survivors of this massive natural disaster face the challenges of
fighting disease, reclaiming their lives, and rebuilding their homes.
As neighbors in this rapidly shrinking world, we must do what we can to
assist with these efforts.
I want to raise a point, however, in my statement, a point that I
think needs to be raised because flooding is a predictable disaster and
much of this tragedy could have been averted by the pre-deployment of
trained resources.
Mr. Speaker, the recent flooding that has left millions homeless in
Mozambique underscores the point that sadly there is a broad ignorance
of effective flood disaster management. Flooding is the leading cause
of weather-related death worldwide, and the situation in Mozambique is
not unique.
Much criticism has been leveled at the delayed response of United
States resources to the area. Without rehashing the stories found in
the newspapers, I want to point out that when civilian rescue teams
were sent from the Miami-Dade Urban Search and Rescue Team, nobody on
that team had been trained for swift-water rescue. Though the most
dangerous part of this flood disaster has passed and the waters are
receding, the weather patterns over Mozambique continue to change and
just a little rain is sufficient to make the standing and receding
water dangerous, not only dangerous but rapidly moving water.
Very specific training is required for rescue personnel to work in
this environment without putting themselves in danger, and very few
rescue teams have even one person adequately trained for this type of
situation.
The bottom line, Mr. Speaker, is that much more needs to be done
about how we plan for, respond to, and educate people about floods.
Recently, work has begun to raise awareness of this issue on the
national level. Last month, as the flood waters were rising in
Mozambique, I testified along with the gentleman from California (Mr.
Bilbray), before the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and
Emergency Management, of the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, about the need to develop a coherent national flood
response plan.
A constituent of mine, Chief Steve Miller of the Cabin John Fire
Department, worked with Lieutenant Marshall Parks of the San Diego
Lifeguard Service to propose such a plan to coordinate local, regional,
and Federal flood response efforts.
Without much effort or expense, many urban search and rescue teams
nationwide can incorporate flood and swift-water rescue components as
has already been done in California. Perhaps next time such a team is
dispatched regionally, nationally, or internationally, they will be
better trained and better equipped to move more effectively and serve
the victims of disaster.
I wish to reiterate the pride I feel for the humanitarian service
being provided by American personnel in Mozambique, and indeed the need
is there. Stemming waterborne diseases such as cholera and malaria,
while providing clean water and seeding reclaimed farmland, are
important first steps to recovery of that nation. Let us hope that we
will learn from this experience and better prepare ourselves for flood
disaster at home.
With such resources coordinated nationally, we can better assist
flood victims around the world.
Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson), the ranking member of the Committee
on International Relations.
Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in urging the
administration's continued effort during this incredible humanitarian
disaster. Some 650,000 people have been left homeless. Hundreds, I
think some 300 schools and clinics, have been destroyed, washed away;
children left orphaned; a country that was just coming to pull itself
together after many difficult years finds itself under a natural
assault that has really dislocated and devastated people's lives.
I join my colleagues, and I know the American citizens, who have
responded with such strong support for our help in this particular
instance.
{time} 1515
It is clear that all of us in Congress and society have such a great
opportunity because of our own success as a Nation to be helpful and to
join with other nations in providing some assistance in this very
terrible situation.
Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), a Member who has
long been working in the valiant effort with reference to Africa.
(Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 431, a
resolution to support humanitarian aid for Mozambique. I would like to
thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the Chairman of the
Committee on International Relations, for allowing this to come to the
full committee, and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson) for
also supporting this resolution.
I would like to commend the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce),
the chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, for his outstanding work on
the Subcommittee on Africa, where he has taken many initiatives. I
would like to give special congratulations to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Meeks), a new member on the committee, who has taken his
responsibilities extremely seriously and has been a tremendous asset to
the Subcommittee on Africa with his energy and his knowledge and his
compassion for the work of the subcommittee. So it is a pleasure for me
to work alongside the gentleman and other members of the Subcommittee
on Africa, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) and the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).
Mr. Speaker, let me say that this is a very timely resolution. As you
know, the Republic of Mozambique has been experiencing severe floods
which began early last month, the worst in over 40 years. Massive
flooding not only devastated the lands of Mozambique, but it also hit
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Madagascar. What began as a heavy
rain soon turned into Cyclone Eline and brought disastrous floods to
the south and central parts of the country.
Secondly, there was a second cyclone that came unexpectedly, and then
a third. So the initial slow response was exacerbated by the fact that
the second and third cyclone came to bring devastating rains to that
region.
Grim images flashed over CNN and showed Mozambicans stranded on tops
of trees and utility poles. Sophia Pedro, a young mother, gave birth to
a baby, a little girl, in a treetop, where she sought refuge for 4 days
earlier. The torrential rains took a heavy toll on the population, with
several hundred dead and over 1 million refugees.
This natural disaster, the worst in Southern Africa's recorded
history, has interrupted the economic, political, and social miracle of
Mozambique which it has created for itself during the past decade. Few
people know that before this disaster, Mozambique had the fastest and
most sustained economic growth of any country in the world.
This resolution recognizes these things that I have mentioned, and
further calls for the U.S. to take the lead in the international
community to coordinate relief efforts; it commends South Africa for
its swift response; it commends the British government for cancelling
its bilateral debt; and, finally, it encourages the multilateral
institutions to constructively deal with debt reduction.
Mozambique has complied with the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries
Initiative, HIPC. Last year, Mozambique completed the requirements to
receive $3.7 billion in debt reduction from external creditors, the
largest reduction under the HIPC initiative.
In conclusion, let me say Mozambique is an impoverished country of 19
[[Page H949]]
million, and debt relief means flood relief. Land mines have been
exposed and must be dealt with. Mozambique, as we all know, was one of
the last colonies in Africa. It wasn't until 1974 when Mozambique and
Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde and Angola became independent, the final
release of countries other than South Africa under a colonial-type
regime.
But after independence, after the colonial powers were thrown off
them, the Cold War took its toll by rearing its ugly head and wreaked
havoc on that country, with Renamo forces being supported by the West
and Frelimo forces being supported by the opposition parties.
Therefore, it created the civil war that continued on because of the
U.S. and the Soviet Union. It had nothing to do with the people of
Mozambique, but pawns again of the major powers in the world. So we
feel that they are still recovering from this 16-year civil war between
Renamo and Frelimo which ended in 1992.
I had the opportunity to talk to President Chissano just one month
ago where the miracle of Mozambique was discussed. He was just
reelected in January of this year.
So we are asking for more assistance for this catastrophic situation.
Although relief was slow initially, I am pleased, however, that USAID
finally supplied some $12.8 million for airlifts, and the Department of
Defense allotted $37.6 million for an emergency assistance package to
include a 30-day deployment of resources.
Conversely, the response to natural disasters in Turkey was met with
an overnight swift and quick and decisive action. This disaster alone
costs the country hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuild. It will
cost them many, many person hours. Ambassador Marcos of Mozambique has
estimated that for flood supplies alone and medicine, the costs will
exceed $65 million that they need immediately.
So we are simply here to once again say that we all support the aid
going to Mozambique, and we hope that the world will continue to
support them.
Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).
(Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the Committee
on International Relations under the leadership of the gentleman from
New York (Chairman Gilman) and the ranking member, the gentleman from
Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson), and also the Subcommittee on Africa, under
the leadership of the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) and the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne).
Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague, the gentleman from
New York (Mr. Meeks), for his very timely presentation of this
resolution, which commends the United States Government for its
ultimate response to a very real and ongoing crisis.
I also want to join in commending South Africa for its swift action
and the serious effort that it put forth, and the United Kingdom for
initiating debt relief. Ultimately debt relief, for not only
Mozambique, but for many of the nations of Africa, is going to provide
serious help to the ultimate development of those countries, and I am
pleased to see that it has taken shape.
I also want to take this opportunity to commend the people in my
city, the City of Chicago, where we have initiated our own private
response. I want to commend the Chicago Public School System under the
leadership of Paul Vallas and Gary Chico, whose children have pledged
to raise between $75,000 and $100,000 through their Kids Helping Kids
program that will go to Mozambique. Also I want to commend Alderman Ed
Smith, chairman of the Health Committee. We are seeking to find medical
resources that are not going to be used by our city that will
conversely be used to give to the people of Mozambique.
So I join all of those who are in support of this resolution,
congratulate again the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) and all of
those who have made it happen.
Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield 2 minutes to
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah).
(Mr. FATTAH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to reiterate our thanks to the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) and his colleague, the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Gilman) who chairs the Committee on International
Relations, for having this resolution before this Congress today.
It is critically important that our country, a superpower, have a
super heart when it comes to humanitarian disaster, such as what we see
in Mozambique. I wanted to commend the administration and our country,
and in particular all American citizens, for what we have done, and
challenge us to do even more.
We need to provide all of the relief possible in terms of this
crisis, and we also need to recognize and commend South Africa for its
initial response. Hopefully, as we look down this road, perhaps there
are joint arrangements that we could make, perhaps with South Africa,
to help develop their capacity there to respond to humanitarian
disasters on the continent, because they are obviously much more
capable and able to develop the political will to act in a swift way,
as exhibited by their actions here in Mozambique.
But I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Meeks) for the introduction of this resolution, and thank him for his
efforts, along with that of the gentlewoman from California (Ms.
Waters) and in particular the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for
the attention they have brought to this issue, to make sure that our
Nation does all it should do, given our role in this world.
Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to
the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), a strong advocate for the
continent of Africa and the country of Mozambique.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). The gentlewoman from
California is recognized for 3 minutes.
(Ms. WATERS asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks), for his leadership in sponsoring
this resolution. I would like to also thank the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Gilman) and other members of the Committee on International
Relations for their quick response.
I rise in favor of H. Res. 431. This resolution supports the efforts
of the United States to provide disaster assistance to Mozambique in
the aftermath of two consecutive cyclones resulting in torrential rains
and severe flooding. The resolution also encourages the international
community to continue to provide emergency relief, and urges the
International Monetary Fund and other international creditors to fully
accelerate debt reduction efforts for Mozambique. I am proud to be an
original cosponsor of this resolution.
Upon learning of the severe flooding, I immediately contacted
Assistant Secretary Susan Rice for Africa, and I immediately sent a
letter to President Clinton encouraging swift and substantial relief
for Mozambique and the other surrounding countries. I wanted to make
sure we did not make the mistake of waiting too long. I did not want
the kind of delay we had experienced with Rwanda, a different kind of
disaster, but indeed a disaster that could have been mitigated had we
moved faster.
Mozambique is experiencing its worse flooding in 50 years. Flooding
along the Limpopo River is particularly severe. Several other countries
in Southern Africa are also affected by these floods. The extent of the
death and destruction is still unknown. However, the floods clearly
have a devastating impact on the people of the region. There are now
250,000 homeless people living in camps in Mozambique alone. Those
displaced people are in desperate need of food, clean water, medicine,
blankets and tents.
Relief efforts are continuing, but they have been hampered somewhat
by the destruction of the country's infrastructure. Many roads and
bridges have been completely washed out, and others are still under
water. All relief delivered to date has had to be airlifted, which is
slow and expensive.
Disaster assistance is essential, but it is not enough to adequately
address
[[Page H950]]
the critical needs of the people of Mozambique or other countries of
Southern Africa affected by the floods. We must also enable the
governments of the affected countries to begin to repair and
reconstruct their damaged infrastructure. These countries need funding
and technical assistance for the repair and reconstruction of roads,
bridges, schools and hospitals, energy facilities, telecommunications,
and other essential infrastructure.
For these reasons, I will introduce the Limpopo River Debt Relief and
Reconstruction Act to provide assistance to Mozambique and other
Southern African countries affected by flooding to enable them to
provide for the needs of their people, repair their damaged
infrastructure, and rebuild their economies.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 431.
{time} 1530
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of our proponents of the
measure and urge our colleagues to fully support this severely needed
measure to help the country of Mozambique.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 431,
a resolution expressing support for humanitarian assistance to the
Republic of Mozambique. I am proud to join my colleague, the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Meeks) and other Members in expressing concern for
the people of Mozambique and commending those who are providing
assistance to Mozambique during this difficult time. I also want to
thank my African and Caribbean Task Force in the 9th Congressional
District of Illinois for underscoring for me the importance of this aid
and the United States' support for other international development and
debt relief initiatives.
On February 9 of this year, several Southern African nations
including Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe began
to experience serious flooding as a result of heavy rainfall.
Mozambique experienced the most severe consequences. On February 22,
Tropical Cyclone Eline blew into Mozambique. The cyclone worsened an
already critical situation.
Mozambique is now facing a severe humanitarian and economic crisis.
Water supplies are in jeopardy, thousands of Mozambicans are homeless,
crops and livestock have been destroyed and the threat of disease has
been increased.
It is important that the United States and the international
community take an active and committed role in Mozambique's recovery
efforts and those of other Southern African nations. Mozambique is one
of the world's most heavily indebted poor countries according to the
World Bank and therefore does not possess adequate means by which to
address this crisis.
I join my colleagues in commending South Africa and the United
Kingdom for acting quickly to assist Mozambique. The Administration
should also be commended for its increasing efforts to provide disaster
assistance to Mozambique. I hope the message of this resolution will
encourage the continuing efforts of the Administration and increasing
involvement of the international community in providing emergency
relief to Mozambique.
This tragic disaster serves as a reminder of the importance of debt
relief and development assistance efforts that focus on sub-Saharian
Africa. We need to help those nations to bolster their capacity to
respond to natural disasters and the needs of their people in general.
My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Southern Africa. I am
determined to help maintain a long-term commitment to the welfare of
those nations. I urge all Members to vote in support of H. Res. 431.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res.
431.
As Americans, we are a major partner in the global community. It is
our right and responsibility to assist members of the community
suffering great misfortune. The United States' response to the crisis
in Mozambique must reflect those values.
It is in this spirit that I strongly support the resolution, which
urges increased U.S. and international humanitarian, disaster, and
economic relief for the Republic of Mozambique.
The rains, cyclone and subsequent flooding in Mozambique have
devastated communities and infrastructure that had just begun to
rebuild after a 16-year civil war.
In supporting this resolution, I commend U.S. humanitarian and
disaster relief organizations, on the front lines, who've been working
tirelessly to save lives. Two organizations based in my district of
Baltimore, MD--Lutheran World Relief and Catholic Relief Services--are
providing emergency food, shelter, and technical assistance to those in
need. We must continue to support those efforts.
Again, I support H. Res. 431 and urge President Clinton to continue
our involvement and leadership in this effort.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). 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, House Resolution 431, as
amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was
agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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