[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 131 (Monday, October 17, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11442-S11443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SYMPATHY FOR SOUTH ASIA EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to 
consideration of S. Res. 274 which was submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 274) expressing sympathy and pledging 
     the support of the Senate and the American people to the 
     victims of the devastating earthquake that struck South Asia 
     and caused severe loss of life and destruction on October 8, 
     2005, and pledging immediate United States assistance to save 
     lives and help the region recover from this monumental 
     tragedy.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be 
agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 274) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 274

       Whereas on October 8, 2005, at 8:50 am local time, a 
     devastating earthquake, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, 
     struck parts of Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, causing 
     massive loss of life and destruction;
       Whereas it is estimated that more than 39,000 people 
     residing in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the Northwest 
     Frontier Province of Pakistan and between 1,000 to 2,000 
     people located in Indian-administered Kashmir have perished 
     as a result of the earthquake and that tens of thousands of 
     others have been injured;
       Whereas the capital city of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, 
     Muzaffarabad, located

[[Page S11443]]

     near the epicenter of the earthquake, was one of the worst-
     affected cities, suffering tens of thousands of deaths and 
     widespread destruction throughout the city;
       Whereas millions of people throughout the region have been 
     left homeless as a result of this earthquake;
       Whereas the earthquake damaged and destroyed sanitation 
     systems and hospitals and left thousands of people more 
     vulnerable to deadly diseases such as measles and cholera;
       Whereas the Senate and the people of the United States 
     acknowledge with deep sadness that this severe tragedy 
     occurred during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a time 
     when Muslims across the world observe a fast during the 
     daylight hours and focus on worship, contemplation, and 
     strengthening family and community ties;
       Whereas the United States immediately deployed material and 
     technical assistance to the region, including plastic 
     sheeting, blankets, water containers, food, and a United 
     States Agency for International Development Disaster 
     Assistance Response Team to assess humanitarian needs, 
     coordinate assistance from the United States, and provide 
     technical assistance as required;
       Whereas the Department of Defense immediately dispatched 8 
     military helicopters and is providing additional helicopter 
     support to assist in relief and rescue operations in remote 
     areas that are largely inaccessible by road;
       Whereas the United States made an initial pledge of 
     $50,000,000 in humanitarian assistance to help Pakistan cope 
     with its massive relief and recovery needs;
       Whereas Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during her 
     October 12, 2005, visit to Pakistan, said that the United 
     States would support Pakistan over the long-term in the 
     Pakistani Government's efforts to provide assistance to the 
     victims of the earthquake and rebuild parts of the country 
     devastated by the earthquake;
       Whereas the United Nations launched a $272,000,000 
     international flash appeal to support recovery efforts;
       Whereas the United Nations estimates that as many as 
     2,500,000 people are homeless and 1,000,000 are in need of 
     immediate assistance;
       Whereas Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has appealed 
     for international assistance and called for more medicine, 
     tents, and cargo helicopters;
       Whereas Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared the 
     earthquake a ``national calamity'' and pledged to rebuild the 
     lives of thousands of people in Indian-administered Kashmir 
     affected by the earthquake;
       Whereas during humanitarian crises, such as the earthquake 
     that struck South Asia, women and children often become more 
     vulnerable to exploitation and abuse and have difficulty 
     accessing humanitarian relief;
       Whereas India has begun sending a consignment of 25 tons of 
     emergency relief supplies, including medicines, blankets, 
     tents, and food items, to Islamabad, the first time India has 
     provided assistance to Pakistan in over 30 years; and
       Whereas the recovery and reconstruction of the devastated 
     areas will require the concerted leadership of the United 
     States working with the governments of the affected countries 
     and with the international community: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses its sympathy and support for the people of 
     South Asia following the devastating earthquake that struck 
     Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan on October 8, 2005, during 
     the Islamic holy month of Ramadan;
       (2) conveys its most sincere condolences to the families, 
     communities, and governments of the more than 39,000 people 
     that lost their lives in this terrible natural disaster;
       (3) expresses its admiration and full support for the 
     courageous rescue and relief workers, including personnel of 
     the United States Agency for International Development and 
     the United States military, who are saving lives and 
     providing relief and assistance to those affected by the 
     earthquake;
       (4) supports the initial pledge by President George W. Bush 
     of $50,000,000 in humanitarian assistance, the deployment of 
     United States military assets to the region to assist in 
     relief and recovery efforts, and provision of additional 
     United States assistance necessary to save lives and help the 
     region recover from this monumental disaster;
       (5) commends the ongoing international relief effort that 
     includes the work of individual countries, numerous 
     international organizations, and various relief and 
     nongovernmental entities;
       (6) commends the Governments of Pakistan and India for 
     their cooperation in the common cause of saving lives and 
     providing humanitarian relief to people on both sides of the 
     Line of Control; and
       (7) encourages further cooperation between India and 
     Pakistan on relief operations and efforts to fortify and 
     expand peace and stability in the region as they cope with 
     the impact of the earthquake over the next several months and 
     seek to rehabilitate the lives of those affected.

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, the resolution we passed does express 
support for those victims of the South Asia earthquake. I encourage our 
colleagues to make statements for the Record. A number of people have 
called me over the last several days. This is a resolution that has 
been put forth by Senator Reid and myself, the Republican leader and 
the Democratic leader. With that, we express our heartfelt support for 
the hundreds of thousands of families who have been affected by that 
earthquake.

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