[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 2 (Thursday, January 6, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S56-S57]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    INDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI RELIEF ACT

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, H.R. 241 having been 
received from the House, the bill is considered read the third time and 
passed, and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table.
  The bill (H.R. 241) was read the third time and passed.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to express my support for 
the resolution submitted this week by Senator Frist and Senator Reid 
expressing sympathy and support for the victims of the devastating 
earthquake and tsunami.
  Words cannot begin to describe my emotions when I first learned of 
the scope of the disaster and the loss of life. More than 140,000 
people from 12 nations have perished to date and the number could 
double or triple as a result of infectious diseases spread in the 
disaster's aftermath.
  The victims, their families, and all the affected countries are truly 
in my thoughts and prayers. When I visit the Indonesian Embassy this 
week to sign the condolence book, I will do so with a heavy heart but 
also a commitment to ensure that we do everything in our power to help 
in the rescue, recovery, and reconstruction efforts.
  I welcome the President's commitment to provide $350 million in 
relief and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and I 
stand ready to do my part to designate a robust and comprehensive aid 
package. Initially, we must provide emergency supplies such as water, 
sanitation, food, and shelter to prevent the spread of disease and give 
people hope.
  There is little time to lose.
  Yet our work and our commitment must not end there. Together with our 
friends and allies in the international community, the United Nations, 
and vital organizations such as the Red Cross we will develop a long 
term relief

[[Page S57]]

and reconstruction plan with substantial funding. Too often when a 
disaster leaves the headlines and the top of the news broadcasts, we 
forget that the work has only just begun and the victims and their 
families need to know that we are with them for the long haul.
  Indeed, this is an important opportunity to show the world the best 
of America and the American people.
  Americans have already donated more than $100 million through 
nongovernmental organizations to support relief efforts and thousands 
more stand ready to volunteer their time, energy, and skills.
  And I am confident that President George H.W. Bush and President Bill 
Clinton will do an excellent job in leading a nationwide charitable 
fundraising effort to sustain awareness about the disaster and raise 
additional assistance.
  We are a generous, giving, and caring people and through our actions 
we will earn the world's respect and admiration. We will show the 
victims and their families that America is always ready to help a 
neighbor and a friend in need.
  I am pleased the resolution was passed by Unanimous Consent.

                          ____________________