[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.
____________________