[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E52]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF H. CON. RES. 13, A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR 
                 THE VICTIMS OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN INDIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 30, 2001

  Mr. McDERMOTT Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a concurrent 
resolution expressing sympathy for the victims of the recent earthquake 
in the Indian state of Gujarat.
  It is with a heavy heart that my colleagues and India Caucus co-
chairman, Ed Royce, and I have introduced this bill. Early on India's 
Republic Day, January 26th, a strong earthquake, registering 7.9 on the 
Richter scale, ripped through the industrial state of Gujarat. Early 
estimates indicated that this was a particularly bad earthquake, but I 
doubt that anyone could have thought that it would turn out to be the 
most devastating natural disaster in India for several centuries. 
Several high ranking Government of India officials have already said 
that the death toll may rise above 100,000.
  The resolution that we have introduced simply expresses our 
sympathies for the victims and supports the continued relief efforts. 
The physical destruction in Gujarat will not be erased for many years, 
and the psychological scars may never be eliminated. It is in this time 
of tragedy that we must stand by our friend India and the Indian people 
and offer all we can to aid their efforts.
  In recent years, we have grown increasingly closer to India and the 
Indian people because of common interests and values, as well as a 
strong Indian-American community who have made an amazing impact on our 
nation in the past several decades. It has been this community that has 
come together to truly lead the American people's response to this 
natural disaster, and I wish to thank them for that. Indian has become 
a trading partner, a strategic partner in various international issues, 
and a true partner for stability and democracy in Asia. I truly hope 
that our token of support is received by India and the people of India 
with our deepest sympathies.
  This resolution has strong support on both sides of the aisle as well 
as both bodies of Congress. I am happy that this body will quickly pass 
this resolution. I urge my colleagues to voice their strong support of 
the resolution, and by doing so, voice their support for the people of 
Gujarat.

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