[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 12, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H251-H253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING CRASH OF TRANSPORTE AEREO MILITAR 
           ECUATORIANO (TAME) FLIGHT 120 ON JANUARY 28, 2002

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 313) expressing the 
sense of Congress regarding the crash of Transporte Aereo Militar 
Ecuatoriano (TAME) Flight 120 on January 28, 2002.

[[Page H252]]

  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 313

       Whereas Transporte Aereo Militar Ecuatoriano (TAME) Flight 
     120 was en route from Quito, Ecuador, to Tulcan, Ecuador, 
     when it crashed in the Andes mountains in Colombia on January 
     28, 2002;
       Whereas the crash tragically killed an estimated 92 people;
       Whereas the United States has strong cultural and historic 
     ties to Ecuador and Colombia;
       Whereas the people of Ecuador and Colombia have already 
     suffered greatly as a result of the crash in the same region 
     of another Ecuadorian aircraft on January 17, 2002, which 
     killed 26 people;
       Whereas the civil aviation departments of Ecuador and 
     Colombia are working in concert to facilitate the recovery 
     and identification of the passengers and crew members of TAME 
     Flight 120; and
       Whereas professional emergency personnel from Ecuador and 
     Colombia valiantly overcame treacherous terrain and inclement 
     weather to reach the site of the crash and perform emergency 
     services: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) sends its heartfelt condolences to the families, 
     friends, and loved ones of the victims of the crash of 
     Transporte Aereo Militar Ecuatoriano (TAME) Flight 120 on 
     January 28, 2002; and
       (2) commends the professional emergency personnel from 
     Ecuador and Colombia who responded to the tragic crash of 
     TAME Flight 120 with courage, determination, and skill.
       Sec. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the President 
     of Ecuador and to the President of Colombia.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on H. Con. Res. 313, the concurrent resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this resolution is to express the sense 
of Congress regarding the crash of an Ecuadorean airliner, TAME flight 
120, that happened on January 28. It was en route from Quito, Ecuador, 
to Cali, Colombia, via Tulcan, Ecuador.
  That morning farmers reported hearing a plane flying through thick 
cloud cover, and then a huge explosion. TAME flight 120 crashed into 
the slopes of a glacier-capped volcano in southern Colombia. The plane 
was destroyed on impact. Ninety-two people perished, including seven 
children and nine crew members.
  Rescue workers walked for 5 hours through rugged terrain to reach the 
site near the summit of the volcano, and very little was immediately 
found at the crash site, except for small pieces of the wreckage and, 
sadly, a passport and ID card belonging to one of the victims, a 
Colombian nun.
  I commend the sponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Crowley). I am pleased to be a sponsor and to join a distinguished 
bipartisan group of cosponsors in bringing this resolution to the floor 
this afternoon.
  The United States maintains close cultural and economic ties with 
both Colombia and Ecuador. It is, therefore, appropriate that we act to 
express Congress' condolences to the families of the victims of the 
crash and commend the professional emergency personnel from Ecuador and 
Colombia who responded to this tragic accident.
  Mr. Speaker, ``Muchas gracias al personal de rescate,'' which 
translated is: Thank you all personnel who were involved in the rescue 
mission.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 313, and I 
commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) for introducing this 
important resolution. I also want to thank the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Hyde) for allowing it to move to the floor so expeditiously. The 
Crowley resolution extends our sincerest condolences to the families 
and loved ones of those who perished on January 28, 2002, in the crash 
of TAME flight 120. The resolution also applauds the brave efforts of 
the Ecuadorean and Colombian rescue teams.
  Tragedies strike individuals and families without regard to 
nationalities. At these times it is important to stand shoulder to 
shoulder with those affected. Although nothing we can say or do will 
relieve the pain of those who have lost their loved ones, learning 
about the cause of the accident may help in the healing process and in 
preventing future accidents.
  In this regard I want to commend the United States National 
Transportation Safety Board for the assistance it is offering to the 
Governments of Ecuador and Colombia in reviewing the black boxes of the 
crashed plane. I hope that the NTSB will be able to complete its review 
and communicate its findings to all the appropriate authorities in an 
expeditious manner.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley), the author of this resolution.
  (Mr. CROWLEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Diaz-Balart), the cochair of the Congressional Andean Regional Caucus, 
for his input and expertise on these important issues. I also thank the 
gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking member, for facilitating the 
timely consideration of this measure before us today.
  It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I bring this 
resolution to the floor today. Since September 11, we have seen 
countless tragedies, both deliberate and accidental, that have affected 
us all in many, many different ways. From the terrorist attacks on the 
World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the field in Pennsylvania, to the 
crash of American Airlines flight 587 over the Rockaways in Queens, New 
York, we have learned to stand together as New Yorkers, as Americans, 
and as humankind.
  Just as the events of the past few months have affected people from 
around the world, so, too, do the tragedies in other lands affect us. 
On January 28, 2002, TAME flight 120 crashed into the Colombian Andes 
killing all 92 people on board. The death toll included over 45 
Colombian nationals as well.
  This horrific accident has indeed hit very hard close to home. As a 
representative of the largest Ecuadorean and Colombian communities here 
in the United States, I rise today to express my heartfelt condolences 
on behalf of myself, the people that I represent in the Seventh 
Congressional District of Queens and the Bronx, from the people of New 
York State, and from our country, the United States of America, to the 
families of the victims of TAME flight 120.
  From Washington to Quito, and Bogota to New York, a bond exists that 
gives strength to those who have suffered a loss. It is this bond that 
will help all of us move forward together.
  Mr. Speaker, I also extend my heartfelt thanks to the first 
responders as well as all assistance that our government has given to 
the countries of Ecuador and Peru. I encourage all my colleagues to 
support this resolution.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to extend my thanks 
to my friend and colleague, Congressman Crowley, for all his work on 
this resolution.
  I also would like to thank Chairman Hyde and Mr. Lantos for quick 
consideration of this resolution--and thank Chairman Ballenger for his 
support.
  Mr. Speaker, this year has made us especially sensitive to how 
precious life is--and how tragedy can befall each of us without 
warning.
  I extend my own personal condolences--as well as through this 
resolution--to those who lost loved ones on TAME Flight 120.
  Ecuador and Colombia have been strong allies of the United States. 
Our peoples share strong and deep ties of family and history--Members 
of my own district being one of many examples. Their sorrow is our 
sorrow.
  And as we also know well--that which can get us through such 
tragedies are the support of our family and friends.

[[Page H253]]

  So I again express my heartfelt condolences, and encourage all of my 
colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 313.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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