[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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