[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 132 (Tuesday, October 18, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H8864-H8868]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MOURNING LOSS OF LIFE CAUSED BY EARTHQUAKE THAT OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 8,
2005, IN PAKISTAN AND INDIA
Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 492) mourning the loss of life caused by the
earthquake that occurred on October 8, 2005, in Pakistan and India,
expressing the condolences of the American people to the families of
the victims, and urging assistance to those affected.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 492
Whereas on October 8, 2005, a powerful earthquake measuring
7.6 on the Richter Scale occurred in Pakistan and India,
centered on the city of Muzaffarabad;
Whereas the earthquake caused severe damage in both
Pakistan and India;
Whereas the earthquake and continuing aftershocks have
caused more than 50,000 deaths, resulted in serious injuries
to additional tens of thousands of people, and left between
2.5 and 3 million homeless as winter in the affected
mountainous region approaches;
Whereas millions of people throughout the affected region
currently lack clean water, food, proper sanitation, basic
healthcare, adequate shelter, and other necessities, thereby
increasing the risk of additional suffering and death; and
Whereas the United States and donors from at least 30 other
countries have, to date, pledged several hundred million
dollars in emergency and long-term reconstruction assistance,
and have begun to deliver humanitarian supplies to survivors
of the earthquake: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) mourns the tragic loss of life and horrendous suffering
caused by the earthquake that occurred on October 8, 2005, in
Pakistan and India;
[[Page H8865]]
(2) expresses the deepest condolences of the American
people to the families, communities, and governments of the
tens of thousands of individuals who lost their lives in this
earthquake;
(3) welcomes and commends the prompt international
humanitarian response to the earthquake by the governments of
many countries, the United Nations and other international
organizations, and nongovernmental organizations;
(4) expresses gratitude and respect for the courageous and
committed work of all individuals providing aid, relief and
assistance, including United States civilian and military
personnel, who are working to save lives and provide relief
in the devastated areas; and
(5) supports the actions to assist the victims taken by the
President and the Government of the United States to provide
all appropriate assistance to the governments and people of
the affected region.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde).
General Leave
Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H. Res. 492, the resolution under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the tragic earthquake in Kashmir reminds us of the
uncertain course of nature and the parlous state of humanity as we
confront a dangerous and uncertain world.
We are also reminded that globalization, our ability to be instantly
affected by events on the other side of the globe, allows us to express
our humanity in ways unknown to previous generations. We can respond
almost instantly, because we learn almost instantly, about the plight
of poor victims in faraway lands.
The areas affected by the earthquake of October 8 are about as far as
one can get from our shores. Yet Americans, like others from around the
world, were able to share the tragedy of the Pakistani and Indian
peoples almost as it unfolded and could then react to it, generously,
as is our history, including by dispatching considerable material
assistance. We can be proud of the role our government and our private
sector have played in making that response possible.
Winter is coming to the affected areas, and there is a great need for
shelter for the millions of homeless persons. India and Pakistan are
significant countries, and not without considerable resources to devote
to their own problems. However, an examination of the level of
devastation from the recent earthquake and a consideration of the
degree to which even our Nation's ability to respond to the hurricane's
emergencies was strained, means that we need to be mindful of the
ongoing and immediate needs of millions of South Asians. Shelter is in
especially short supply.
This resolution properly expresses our sense of mourning for the
losses suffered, our sympathy to their survivors, commends those who
have stepped forward with help, and encourages additional assistance.
It is a privilege to bring this before the House today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume,
and I rise in strong support of this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express the condolences of the United
States Congress and the American people to the people of Pakistan and
the people of India who have suffered so grievously from the horrendous
earthquake that struck South Asia just 10 days ago.
Mr. Speaker, the day after the earthquake, I received a telephone
call from the President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf. The President
requested, in the strongest terms possible, assistance not only from
our Nation but from other donors around the globe. I immediately
reached out to our own government and to other friendly governments and
to nongovernmental organizations, and I am profoundly grateful that
additional aid is flowing to the people of Pakistan as we speak.
Each day, the news from Pakistan grows worse. The death toll now
seems certain to rise above 55,000. More than 2 million people are
homeless in the midst of recent torrential rainstorms, and the freezing
cold of winter is fast approaching the mountainous regions most
affected.
Landslides and poor weather have hampered relief operations,
heightening the misery of the injured and the destitute as they wait
for help. Relief supplies still have not reached many remote areas
where whole villages have been devastated.
Over 30 nations, led by the United States, have rushed to aid and
comfort the victims of the earthquake and its horrible after-effects.
With natural disasters such as the South Asia earthquake and the Indian
Ocean tsunami, the world has seen the generous heart of the American
people.
Our country has committed $50 million in initial relief supplies only
from our government. We have also dedicated eight military helicopters
to fly humanitarian missions, and we have transported over 70 tons of
relief supplies to the neediest in the most remote areas.
Mr. Speaker, the United States counts Pakistan as a strong ally in
the war against terrorism, and it was my great pleasure recently to
welcome President Musharraf to New York. Our assistance thus far proves
that the United States is a solid friend of the Pakistani people. I
urge our government and this Congress to support additional assistance
to the people of Pakistan, India, and Kashmir.
Our resolution offers the condolences of the House of Representatives
and of the American people to the families, to the communities, and to
the governments of Pakistan and India. It welcomes the humanitarian
relief offered by other governments, the United Nations and expresses
gratitude for the courageous work being performed by individuals
providing aid, relief and assistance, including U.S. civilian and
military personnel, under often extremely dangerous conditions.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2\1/4\ minutes to the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Crowley), a distinguished member of our committee.
(Mr. CROWLEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
{time} 1300
Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me
this time. I thank the chairman of the committee and the ranking member
of the committee for introducing this resolution.
Through this resolution today, the House of Representatives will send
the condolences of the American people to those who have been so
tragically affected by the October 8 earthquake. I believe this House
can do more than just send our condolences, though.
The President has taken the first step with the initial pledge of $50
million and the USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance activated
its disaster assistance relief team quickly to ensure that urgent aid
was provided. But the situation in Pakistan, the hardest hit in South
Asia, remains critical.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs said that weather and lack of access to remote areas is
delaying the aid needed to save countless lives. We are also seeing
logistical problems in providing the basic needs of the people who were
made homeless and without shelter by this quake and, as I mentioned
earlier, further impaired by heavy rains and flooding in the earthquake
region.
Critical needs such as food, clean water, and shelter are badly
needed as the winter is fast approaching in this mountainous region,
akin to the Adirondack region in New York State, which this time of
year can have snow, and especially during the evening. So far, we have
been able to help thousands of people, but that is simply the tip of
the iceberg.
Madam Speaker, I represent one of the largest populations of South
Asians in the country and over the past week I have been reaching out
to my Pakistani community. What I have found is a community doing all
that it can to
[[Page H8866]]
raise funds to help their families and friends who were so tragically
affected by this earthquake. I also had the honor of speaking to a
private Muslim school in my district to update them on the U.S. efforts
to provide emergency relief. I was sad to learn that several students'
families were directly affected, one student losing over 40 members of
their family. The students and the community leaders were very grateful
that our country is working to help their homeland, but we all agree
that more can and needs to be done.
Madam Speaker, I challenge this House to provide for the millions who
have been left injured and homeless. This is a chance not only to help
people in need, but to change the hearts and minds of Muslim countries'
attitude towards the United States.
After the tsunami, the majority of Indonesians changed their view of
us because they saw the soft power of the United States. It is time to
show that same soft power to the people of Pakistan so that they too
can have a change of heart towards the United States and our people.
Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, before yielding time, I want to recognize
my associate, Peter Yeo, who drafted and did the major work on this
important legislation.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3\1/2\ minutes to my good friend
and colleague from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise
and extend her remarks.)
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, let me first of all thank
the leadership of the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) and the
gentleman from California (Ranking Member Lantos) for their quick and
compassionate expression that we now have on the floor of the House.
I rise today to join in the support of H.J. Res. 492, and I
acknowledge as the cochair of the Pakistan Caucus, newly-founded, to
have the pleasure of having both of the members of the Committee on
International Relations leadership, the ranking member and chairman,
being supportive of this effort, as I cochaired with my colleague, the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton). I can assure my colleagues that we
are very grateful for this profound statement, mourning the loss of so
many. We do realize that the numbers continue to climb and that the
difficulties are rising beyond our understanding.
Just this past Sunday, some 70 members of the South Asian community
were convened by my office in Houston, people of different views and
political perspectives, but they united, as we did with the tsunami,
and we have called ourselves Houston's Solution for Earthquake Relief
and Rehabilitation in Pakistan.
The reason I believe is because this picture is worth a thousand
words. The impact on children is going to be unbelievable and without
expression.
So it is very important as we look to, as my colleagues have said,
the relief from the United States, that we do several things. One, we
are the coordinator, and I congratulate the administration for
designating Afghanistan as the site of the command, and we acknowledge
the loss, devastation in Afghanistan, not as much loss of life, and
certainly India has been a real partner. I met last week with the
ambassadors from India and spoke to both of them and offered my
sympathy and also how we can be involved. Obviously, the obvious things
that are needed are food and medicine and tents, but, most of all,
coordination and dollars.
So I am asking today that we put our heads together in this Congress
and find the additional resources beyond the $50 million, because I can
assure my colleagues that we believe these numbers are going to go up,
not out of hysteria, of 100,000. We do not know the numbers for sure,
but they will be climbing.
The added concern is that it is getting enormously cold. It makes it
very difficult for the rescuers to come. The roads are impassable, and
many of those who were in that room on Sunday could recount for me the
very terrible stories of their relatives, living outdoors, no heating,
no addressing of their wounds, and, of course, this picture that shows
the children who are orphaned.
So I ask my colleagues to support H.J. Res. 492 and that we spend a
moment of mourning, and I would ask that when it is appropriate that we
rise in silence. During the time that we are on the floor of the House,
I ask the Speaker to convene us in a moment of silence as we mourn for
those who have lost their lives.
I finally conclude by saying that we are grateful for what we have
been able to do, but we all know that a good Samaritan, no matter what
faith you may articulate this philosophy, it is better to give than to
receive. We have given and are still giving to our own who are victims
and survivors of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. Many who would
say who are listening to this debate or discussion that we have our own
to take care of, and we realize that America does have the
responsibility of her own, but we know also that America has many
blessings to count for, and those blessings, I believe, come because we
have been willing to give, even until it hurts. These are people who
are in desperate need, children by the thousands are suffering, and we
hope that we will be able to provide for them as well.
I ask my colleagues to support H.J. Res. 492.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 492, ``Mourning the loss
of life caused by the earthquake that occurred on October 8, 2005, in
Pakistan and India expressing condolences of the American people to the
families of the victims, and urging assistance to those affected.''
Earlier this month, a disaster occurred on a virtually unimaginable
scale when an earthquake violently shook Southeast Asia. Over 50,000
people were killed in India and Pakistan, and countless more were
seriously injured. Whole cities were razed to the ground, and an
estimated 2.5 to 3 million people lost their homes. This winter in
Pakistan and India men, women, children, the elderly, the orphaned and
the infirmed will be sleeping outside, exposed to the harsh mountain
climate. They are lacking the basic necessities for life; in need of
food, water, sanitation, basic healthcare, and adequate shelter.
Disasters of this magnitude, no matter where they occur, affect all
of us. In the face of this disaster, countries from around the world
have joined together in pledging humanitarian aid to the affected
regions. The United States can uniquely sympathize with the suffering
and devastation felt in the earthquake-ravaged region. We too have felt
the bitter sting of a natural disaster this year. Our feeling of loss
and suffering gives us only a glimpse, however, of the utter
devastation in the affected regions of India and Pakistan. Our shared
losses bring the United States closer to our fellow humans on the other
side of the globe, and should only serve to strengthen our national
resolve to help those in need, rather than give us excuses for not
giving the full support of the American people.
The House of Representatives, together with the American people we
represent, mourn the horrific loss of life and livelihood experienced
in Pakistan and India. We offer them our fullest support in the
reconstruction effort of the region, but also understand that no amount
of money, goods, and supplies will replace the loss of life in the
region. For this, we can only offer our deepest condolences to the
people affected by the earthquake, and ask them to find the strength to
see their friends, families, and communities through these difficult
times.
I support H. Res. 492 for the foregoing reasons, and I appeal to my
colleagues to follow suit. The people of Pakistan and India will be in
all of our thoughts and our prayers. I yield the remainder of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to my good
friend and our distinguished colleague from New York (Mr. Owens).
(Mr. OWENS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. OWENS. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this very appropriate
resolution. I think that beyond the spirit of this resolution there
must be immediate response from the entire apparatus of the United
States Government and from the United States people.
Madam Speaker, we are weary, maybe, of disasters. When you add up the
tsunami and Katrina and Rita, and now in Pakistan 55,000 have already
died, and in the mountains they are freezing cold, without any shelter,
twice that number may die before it is over, and one might say, well,
we just cannot keep going on. We are donor weary, we are disaster
weary. That is ridiculous. When we add up all of these people, maybe we
will get 100,000 victims, but the world consists of 6 billion people
and more than 200 nations. We can take care of all of these disasters
if we put our mind to it.
[[Page H8867]]
The United States must provide the leadership. $50 million is not
enough. Speed is very important here. The formalities of waiting will
mean that thousands and thousands of people will die unnecessarily.
Madam Speaker, I hope that we will use as many of the helicopters in
Afghanistan as we can, send them across the border to Pakistan. Eight
helicopters is not enough. That is the only way these areas can be
reached in the mountains. The roads are not passable. There are no
places to land other kinds of aircraft. Only helicopters can land.
I have one of the largest Pakistani communities in America in my
district, and I visited Pakistan 4 years ago. I went to a school,
several schools in Kashmir. One of the schools, an all-girls school
that was having a test, an eighth grade test, I could see that eighth
grade girls were studying quadratic equations. That is one of the
schools that was crushed in the earthquake. I hope that the students
were not in there. But I saw school after school of eager young people,
anxious to learn, in those mountain schools. I went on those roads.
Madam Speaker, if not in humanitarian terms alone, let us stop and
think about the diplomacy issues here. Pakistan has long been our ally.
Throughout the whole Cold War, they were our ally. We could not have
driven the Russians from Afghanistan. We did not have a single soldier
involved, but we were behind the sting of missiles and the whole
strategy that drove the Russians out of Afghanistan and led to the
collapse of the Soviet Union, but they were disappointed we did not
honor them more for that. That is in the past. Right now, they are
helping us in the war against terrorism. Their government is at risk
because of their position with the United States on terrorism.
What we do now with this earthquake, how we respond to this
earthquake can determine the nature of our relationship with Pakistan
forever. We have an opportunity, it is tragic, but an opportunity to
demonstrate how we operate, how we react to help our friends. If they
are really a friend, we can do so much more, and I hope that this
resolution is just the beginning. I hope all Members will become
sensitive to the fact that we can do more. We must do more. God expects
us to do more.
Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield 4 minutes to the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez), a distinguished member of the
Committee on International Relations and the chairman of the Democratic
Caucus.
(Mr. MENENDEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the distinguished
ranking Democrat from California (Mr. Lantos) not only for his support
but also for his leadership along with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Hyde) in taking the lead on this important issue and bringing a
resolution to the floor, one that I am strongly in support of.
As we learned in September here in the United States, natural
disasters strike without warning, destroy our homes and communities,
and challenge us to take care of the victims. We also learned that it
is only with the help of the world that we can respond to such large-
scale natural disasters. Over 90 countries responded after Hurricane
Katrina, including both India and Pakistan. Now it is our turn to
respond to them.
Current estimates are that over 40,000 people were killed in India
and Pakistan, and the number is only expected to rise. We know that the
rescue efforts have been difficult, because many of the villages that
were hardest hit were in remote mountainous areas which are almost
impossible to reach. In fact, the U.N. estimates that only 30 to 40
percent of an estimated 350 to 900 villages damaged by the earthquake
have been inspected. Right now, many suffer without food, medicine, or
shelter and face the oncoming winter cold with great fear.
I want to commend the international rescue effort that is underway
and the U.S. contribution to that effort. As Andrew Macleod, the United
Nations Operations Chief in Pakistan, said, the task of responding to
this crisis is ``bigger than all of us.'' We have all heard the saying,
``the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.'' When nations
contribute to the relief efforts in India and Pakistan, they are
working together to create that greater response, that whole which is
greater than the sum of its parts.
In response to the United Nations' appeal for $272 million for
emergency aid, over 30 countries have already offered assistance, and
the United States has pledged $50 million. I hope the world and the
United States will continue to provide not only immediate, but long-
term assistance to those areas that need it most, and I hope our
combined efforts can prevent any public health disasters that could
result from this tragedy.
Our diversity is our greatest strength and connects us to almost
every country in the world. When tragedy strikes anywhere in the world,
it is also directly felt in the homes of U.S. citizens who still have
family and friends in their countries of origin. So I would like to
acknowledge the actions of the U.S. Indian and Pakistani communities
who are sending money and aid to help the survivors. I see that in my
own home State of New Jersey, which has the third largest population of
Indian Americans in the country and a very large Pakistani community as
well.
In closing, I want to express my deepest sympathies and condolences
to the families and friends of those who perished in last Saturday's
earthquake in India and Pakistan. This has been a year of great trials
and tribulations, of enormous disasters followed by unprecedented
responses. But as we learned after the tsunami at the start of the year
and during the hurricanes last month, and as I am confident we will see
again with this earthquake, together we can be greater than the sum of
our parts and overcome these grave natural disasters.
I encourage all Members to vote for the resolution.
{time} 1315
Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Davis).
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, let me first of all commend and
congratulate the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman
from California (Mr. Lantos) not only for their leadership in bringing
this resolution, this legislation to the floor, but also for the
tremendous leadership that they have consistently provided in dealing
with the international affairs and international relationships between
our country and how we respond to the needs of many other nations
throughout the world. I think that they have both demonstrated exactly
what we need in this direction, and I commend them.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation because
it is an indication of our leadership responsibility. The Bible says
that to those to whom much is given, much is expected in return. We
have indeed been a very fortunate Nation, and we are fortunate to be
able to provide assistance to others throughout the world.
I have worked very closely with the Indian and Palestinian
communities in Chicago and the Chicago area. As a matter of fact, I
serve on the board of directors of East-West University, which is a
primarily Pakistani-owned university, and have many close friends
there.
So I extend condolences to those who have been adversely affected and
again commend our leadership.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support H. Res. 492
of which I am an original cosponsor and join with my colleagues in
mourning the loss of life as a result of the earthquake that occurred
on October 8, 2005 in Pakistan and India.
It is estimated that the earthquake claimed the lives of 20,000 to
40,000 people and left more than 2.5 million homeless. Millions of
people throughout the region now lack clean water, food, proper
sanitation, basic healthcare, adequate shelter, and other necessities.
To date, the U.S. and 30 other donor countries have pledged several
hundred million dollars in emergency and long-term reconstruction
assistance and many are involved in delivering humanitarian supplies.
As the ranking member of the International Relations Subcommittee on
Asia and the Pacific, I express my condolences to the victims and urge
continued assistance of those affected. In the case of India, I
especially commend the efforts of the Indian American community for
mobilizing its forces and working
[[Page H8868]]
with Members of Congress to make sure help is rendered.
I urge support of this legislation and I thank Chairman Hyde and
Ranking Member Lantos for their leadership in crafting this important
piece of legislation and bringing it before the House for consideration
this day.
Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HYDE. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 492.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________