[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 153 (Thursday, November 17, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13183-S13184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 319--COMMENDING RELIEF EFFORTS IN RESPONSE TO THE 
 EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTH ASIA AND URGING A COMMITMENT BY THE UNITED STATES 
AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO HELP REBUILD CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 
                         IN THE AFFECTED AREAS

  Ms. MIKULSKI submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 319

       Whereas on October 8, 2005, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake 
     struck Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan;
       Whereas the epicenter of the earthquake was located near 
     Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, 
     and approximately 60 miles north-northeast of Islamabad, with 
     aftershocks and landslides continuing to affect the area;
       Whereas the most affected areas are the North West Frontier 
     Province, Northern Punjab, Pakistani-administered Kashmir, 
     and Indian-administered Kashmir;
       Whereas more than 75,000 people have died, nearly 70,000 
     are injured, and approximately 2,900,000 people are homeless 
     as a result of the earthquake, and, according to the 
     Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund 
     (UNICEF), 17,000 of the dead are children;
       Whereas the United States has pledged a total of 
     $156,000,000 to provide assistance in the affected countries, 
     with $50,000,000 to be used for humanitarian relief, 
     $50,000,000 to be used for reconstruction, and $56,000,000 to 
     be used to support Department of Defense relief operations;
       Whereas the total amount of humanitarian assistance 
     committed to Pakistan by the United States Agency for 
     International Development is more than $40,000,000;
       Whereas the Department of Defense has deployed 
     approximately 875 members of the Armed Forces and 31 
     helicopters to aid in the earthquake relief efforts;
       Whereas since October 8, 2005, United States helicopters 
     have flown more than 1,000 missions, evacuated approximately 
     3,400 people, and delivered nearly 5,600,000 pounds of 
     supplies;
       Whereas the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the 
     affected areas is difficult due to the mountainous terrain, 
     cold weather, and damaged or collapsed infrastructure;
       Whereas Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during her 
     October 12, 2005, visit to Pakistan, said the United States 
     would support the efforts of the Government of Pakistan over 
     the long-term to provide assistance to the victims of the 
     earthquake and rebuild areas of the country devastated by the 
     earthquake;
       Whereas the cost of rebuilding the affected areas could be 
     in excess of $1,000,000,000; and
       Whereas the recovery and reconstruction of the areas 
     devastated by the earthquake will require the concerted 
     leadership of the United States working with the governments 
     of the affected countries and the international community: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends the members of the United States Armed Forces 
     and civilian employees of the Department of State and the 
     United States Agency for International Development for taking 
     swift action to assist the victims of the earthquake in South 
     Asia that occurred on October 8, 2005;
       (2) commends the international relief effort that includes 
     the work of individual countries, numerous international 
     organizations, and various relief and nongovernmental 
     entities;
       (3) 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;
       (4) encourages further cooperation between Pakistan and 
     India on relief operations and efforts to fortify and expand 
     peace and stability in the region as they cope with the 
     impact of the earthquake during the winter of 2005 and the 
     spring of 2006 and seek to rehabilitate the lives of those 
     affected;
       (5) urges the United States and the world community to 
     reaffirm their commitment to

[[Page S13184]]

     additional generous support for relief and long-term 
     reconstruction efforts in areas affected by the earthquake; 
     and
       (6) urges continued attention by international donors and 
     relief agencies to the needs of vulnerable populations in the 
     stricken countries, particularly the thousands of children 
     who have been left parentless and homeless by the disaster.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, today I am submitting a resolution 
commending relief efforts in response to the earthquake in South Asia 
and urging a commitment by the United States and the international 
community to help rebuild critical infrastructure in the affected 
areas.
  On October 8, 2005, a devastating magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit remote 
mountainous regions of northern Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. More 
than 75,000 people have died, nearly 70,000 have been injured and 2.8 
million remain homeless. On a bipartisan basis, the President and 
members of Congress joined the world community in expressing our 
sympathy and pledging our assistance to help those suffering in the 
face of this terrible disaster.
  But expressions of sympathy are not enough. The United States must 
set an example and lead the world in the humanitarian effort of 
recovery and rebuilding. That's why I supported the initial pledge of 
$156 million in humanitarian aid from the United States.
  The Department of Defense, the State Department and the U.S. Agency 
for International Development (USAID) have taken the lead in making 
good on that pledge. USAID has provided more than $50.1 million in 
assistance to Pakistan and more than $600,000 to India. The Defense 
Department has so far spent about $56 million on relief efforts, 
including sending more than 1,000 troops into Pakistan to provide 
urgent medical care, delivering much-needed supplies and clearing roads 
and opening routes for ground transportation so more help can reach 
those most in need.
  The American private sector has also pitched in. U.S. charities have 
raised more than $21 million to support earthquake relief efforts. Non-
government organizations like Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps and 
Save the Children all have a presence in Pakistan and are providing aid 
and relief. At President Bush's request, five major American 
corporations are encouraging additional private donations. General 
Electric, Pfizer, Citigroup, Xerox and UPS are coordinating a 
nationwide fund raising effort through the South Asia Earthquake Relief 
Fund. To date, more than $46 million has been donated by American 
corporations.
  As Americans, we can all be proud of these efforts to help the people 
of South Asia survive, recover and rebuild. I applaud President Bush 
and his administration for acting quickly to provide relief and 
support. But I know that, together, we can do better.
  That's why I support the immediate reprogramming by USAID of 
assistance funds for Pakistan in the FY 2006 Foreign Operations Act to 
help meet the immediate, emergency need for medical care and shelter. 
The nearly 3 million Pakistanis left homeless by the earthquake are 
already facing snow and freezing rain. Conservative estimates suggest 
another 80,000 people could die from exposure in the next few months 
without a massive effort to provide thousands of heated tents. Those 
people can not afford to wait for the next supplemental appropriations 
bill--we must act now.
  The United States should also engage with the international community 
to boost relief and recovery efforts. The United Nations has already 
responded, convening a donors' conference to organize international 
relief efforts. Economic institutions like the World Bank and the Paris 
Club can assist long-term recovery efforts by re-examining their debt 
policy toward the affected countries. And members of NATO and the 
European Union must step-up their support for relief and recovery. NATO 
in particular has unique assets that can make a difference today for 
people on the ground in South Asia.
  I also believe the United States should make a long-term investment 
in rebuilding the areas devastated by the earthquake. We have strong 
partnerships with the nations of South Asia, and we have strong 
affection for their people. We must commit to work with our friends for 
as long as it takes to help them rebuild their infrastructure, with a 
particular emphasis on boosting medical resources for a health care 
system now overwhelmed by caring for the weak and injured.
  The people and governments of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan must 
know that the United States will be an unwavering partner in their 
recovery and reconstruction. Our U.S. military and the employees of the 
State Department and USAID are working hard to extend support to our 
friends in this terrible time of need. We thank them for their service 
and pledge that we, too, will do our part.

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