[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 155 (Tuesday, December 6, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H11066-H11068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




MOURNING LOSS OF LIFE CAUSED BY FLOODS AND MUDSLIDES IN OCTOBER 2005 IN 
                       CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 280) mourning the horrific 
loss of life caused by the floods and mudslides that occurred in 
October 2005 in Central America and Mexico and expressing the sense of 
Congress that the United States should do everything possible to assist 
the affected people and communities, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 280

       Whereas on October 4, 2005, Hurricane Stan made landfall on 
     Mexico's Gulf coast, bringing sustained winds of 80 miles per 
     hour before weakening to a tropical storm and generating 
     separate storms across southern Mexico and Central America;
       Whereas Hurricane Wilma, a category four hurricane, made 
     landfall in Cozumel, Mexico on October 22, 2005, and stalled 
     over the Yucatan Peninsula bringing over 60 inches of rain to 
     some parts of the Peninsula and causing severe flooding, over 
     75,000 evacuations, damaging between 30-40 percent of the 
     houses in Cancun, and causing severe damage to the area's 
     vital tourism industry;
       Whereas Hurricane Beta made landfall on October 30, 2005, 
     near Karabal and Sandy Bay, Nicaragua, as a category two 
     hurricane, displacing thousands of people, damaging critical 
     communications and transportation infrastructure, and 
     bringing destructive winds and rains to these and 
     approximately 50 other communities;
       Whereas the heavy rainfall associated with these storms 
     caused widespread and severe flooding that has affected 
     millions of people across Central America, including the 
     people of Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Guatemala, and the 
     people of Mexico;
       Whereas, as of October 12, 2005, the flooding had killed an 
     estimated 2,000 people across Central America and Mexico, 
     according to government estimates which are expected to be 
     revised upwards;
       Whereas rains have produced more than 900 landslides, 
     burying entire villages and causing numerous deaths in 
     Guatemala, with official government estimates confirming 654

[[Page H11067]]

     deaths, 577 people missing, and more than 120,000 people 
     affected across 621 communities in the provinces of 
     Escuintla, Guatemala, Quetzaltenango, Chiquimula, San Marcos, 
     Chimaltenango, El Quiche, and Baja Verapa;
       Whereas many of the affected areas are especially 
     vulnerable to natural disasters and lack access to basic 
     healthcare, sanitation, and medical services;
       Whereas the flooding and landslides have damaged housing 
     and public infrastructure in 251 of the 331 municipalities in 
     Guatemala and sustained rains across much of the country have 
     hampered ongoing relief efforts;
       Whereas two simultaneous emergencies in El Salvador--the 
     severe flooding caused by Tropical Storm Stan and the 
     eruption of the Santa Ana volcano on October 1, 2005--have 
     affected half of the country and forced the evacuation of 
     more than 69,000 people to local shelters;
       Whereas Tropical Storm Stan caused massive flooding in the 
     Mexican States of Veracruz, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Puebla, 
     Hidalgo, and Guerrero and forced the evacuation of 
     approximately 370,000 people from nearly 3,000 communities to 
     local shelters, according to the Government of Mexico;
       Whereas extensive rainfall in the Costa Rican provinces of 
     Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Puntarenas, and San 
     Jose in the Pacific and Central Valley caused severe flooding 
     and landslides, forcing more than 1,000 people in 459 
     communities to evacuate to local shelters, damaged 550 
     houses, 117 bridges, and 11 educational buildings, and more 
     than 281 roads have been blocked or damaged by mudslides;
       Whereas many families in these affected areas are homeless 
     and in desperate need of reconstruction help;
       Whereas the United States Agency for International 
     Development's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/
     OFDA) initially provided $150,000 to USAID/Guatemala for the 
     local purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies, 
     as well as for helicopter support, including fuel and rental 
     of local helicopters and an additional $1,200,000 to USAID/
     Guatemala for emergency grants to nongovernmental 
     organization partners for emergency health, water and 
     sanitation, and shelter activities;
       Whereas USAID/OFDA committed $200,000 to support the Pan 
     American Health Organization's (PAHO) emergency health and 
     water and sanitation activities as part of the United Nations 
     joint appeal;
       Whereas USAID/OFDA is working closely with the Governments 
     of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico to 
     coordinate transportation and distribution of relief 
     commodities to affected communities and for the local 
     purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies, 
     water, and food;
       Whereas on October 8, 2005, the United States Southern 
     Command (USSOUTHCOM) deployed a 58-person team to Guatemala 
     City to assist with ongoing disaster relief efforts in 
     southwestern Guatemala and sent nine United States Army 
     helicopters to conduct search and rescue missions and provide 
     for the transportation of emergency relief supplies, 
     including food, medical supplies, and communications 
     equipment, to affected areas, as well as flying in host 
     nation firefighters, emergency aid workers, and doctors; and
       Whereas the United States initially has provided $100,000 
     to the Mexican Red Cross for the local purchase and 
     distribution of emergency relief supplies to aid victims of 
     Hurricane Wilma, and a USAID/OFDA team is working with USAID/
     Mexico, local disaster officials, and other organizations to 
     assess impacts, aid requirements, and deliver further 
     emergency assistance: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That--
       (1) Congress--
       (A) mourns the horrific loss of life caused by the floods 
     and mudslides that occurred in October 2005 in Central 
     America and Mexico;
       (B) expresses its deep condolences to the families of the 
     many victims;
       (C) commits to provide the necessary resources and to stand 
     by the people of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and 
     Mexico in the relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts;
       (D) applauds the prompt humanitarian response to this 
     natural disaster by the United States Agency for 
     International Development, the United States Armed Forces, 
     and other departments and agencies of the United States 
     Government, the United Nations and other international 
     organizations, and nongovernmental organizations;
       (E) recognizes the growing support by international donors 
     for relief efforts;
       (F) affirms its commitment to additional United States 
     support for relief and long-term reconstruction efforts in 
     areas affected by the flooding;
       (G) urges continued attention by donors and relief agencies 
     to the needs of vulnerable populations in the stricken 
     countries, particularly those left homeless by this disaster 
     and whose welfare and economic livelihoods have been 
     disrupted;
       (H) urges assistance which targets immediate and long-term 
     infrastructure needs, with a special emphasis on improvements 
     that aim to increase emergency preparedness and withstand 
     future natural disaster events; and
       (I) encourages the Administration and other international 
     donors to provide immediate and long-term assistance for the 
     reconstruction of affected infrastructure that is a requisite 
     for the economic and social development of the devastated 
     communities; and
       (2) it is the sense of Congress that it should be the 
     policy of the United States--
       (A) to promote economic growth and improved living 
     standards, reduce poverty, and promote democracy and the rule 
     of law in the countries of Central America;
       (B) in concert with multilateral humanitarian 
     organizations, the Organization of American States and the 
     Inter-American Development Bank, to actively support the 
     reconstruction of affected communities in places to be 
     determined by respective governments in collaboration with 
     representatives of such communities;
       (C) to expedite humanitarian relief and reconstruction 
     efforts in order to mitigate the immediate and long-term 
     threats to public health, economic development, and security 
     in Central America;
       (D) to provide technical assistance to Central American 
     governments in order to strengthen the capacity of first 
     responders and governmental institutions at the national, 
     provincial, and local levels in the area of disaster 
     management coordination and preparedness, including 
     information and communications systems to help with the 
     response to natural disasters; and
       (E) to encourage the governments of these countries to 
     improve disaster mitigation techniques and compliance among 
     all key sectors of their societies.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.

                              {time}  1645


                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. 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 the concurrent 
resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Aderholt). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, devastating storms affected most of the Western 
Hemisphere this hurricane season, and many people throughout the region 
will spend the next few months and years rebuilding their lives and 
their communities. Many people in the U.S., as well as our neighbors in 
Central America, are in this situation in the aftermath of hurricanes 
Katrina, Rita, Stan, Wilma, and Beta.
  These hurricanes and other tropical storms that barreled through the 
Caribbean, along Mexico's gulf coast, and along parts of Central 
America and up to our shores, brought heavy winds and destructive 
rainfall. The torrential downpours caused widespread flooding and 
severe mudslides, killing an estimated 2,000 people and affecting 
millions of others across Central America, including the people of 
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Mexico. Some of 
these areas sustained severe damage to residential and commercial 
infrastructure and crippled destruction of transportation as well as 
food crops.
  In some of the hardest hit areas, schools, homes, roads, hospitals, 
and other buildings were simply washed away. Some villages in Guatemala 
were swept away by mudslides and have been turned instead into mass 
graves. Our prayers are with these communities.
  House Con. Res. 280 was introduced last month to urge expedited 
humanitarian relief, as well as stronger efforts to provide technical 
assistance to Central American governments in order to strengthen the 
capacity of first responders and governmental institutions at the 
national, provincial, and local levels. Furthermore, this legislation 
urges assistance which targets immediate and long-term infrastructure 
needs, with a special emphasis on improvements that aim to increase 
emergency preparedness and withstand future natural disasters.
  I urge my colleagues to support House Con. Res. 280.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this important resolution. 
The human suffering and economic devastation caused by natural 
disasters in 2005

[[Page H11068]]

seem to know no bounds. The year began with the aftermath of the 
horrendous tsunami in Southeast Asia, only to be followed by a brutal 
hurricane season which included hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
  While we in the United States have rightly come to associate these 
hurricanes with the apocalyptic destruction that they inflicted on our 
Gulf Coast States, Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita also tore 
through much of Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and 
Nicaragua. Some of the worse loss of life as a result of these storms 
occurred in Guatemala, where more than a thousand men, women and 
children were killed and where more than 120,000 people had the 
normalcy of their lives shredded to bits by the avalanches of mud and 
debris.
  The hurricanes brought similar havoc in Mexico and Central American 
countries. In Mexico, some 400 people in southern states like Oaxaca 
were forced to evacuate to shelters and up to 40 percent of the homes 
in popular tourist destinations like Cancun were severely damaged.
  Mr. Speaker, as we continue to contribute to the rebuilding and 
recovery efforts in Mexico and in affected Central American countries, 
we must ensure that our joint efforts to reconstruct homes, health 
facilities, schools and other buildings increase the likelihood that 
these structures will withstand similar natural disasters which are 
sure to come in the future.
  Working with volunteers from two organizations based in my 
congressional district, I believe twin strategies are necessary to help 
guarantee that these structures are safe and strong. A friend and 
neighbor of mine, David Rivard, created an organization called Codes 
and Safety for the Americas, CASA, while his wife created an 
organization called Airline Ambassadors International. David and Nancy 
Rivard are extraordinary and exemplary citizens, giving of their own 
time, energy, effort, and resources to help our neighbors in this 
hemisphere.
  Mr. Speaker, we must ensure that reconstruction which is financed by 
the United States taxpayer is less likely to succumb to hurricane-force 
winds or be built in mudslide-prone areas. Building projects funded by 
USAID must be models of quality construction. We also must cultivate a 
culture of code compliance in developing countries through exchanges of 
building professionals, educational seminars, and other expertise-
sharing programs.
  I look forward to working with the administration and these two 
organizations in making the strategies a reality in our rebuilding 
efforts around the globe. In the meantime, today's resolution achieves 
the objective of building safe and sturdy dwellings by supporting the 
adoption and implementation of disaster-mitigation techniques by the 
governments and construction sectors of countries which are prone to 
natural disasters. I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague and 
Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Congressman 
Burton, for sponsoring this important legislation mourning the loss of 
life resulting from hurricanes and flooding in Central America.
  We are discussing this resolution as the record fourteenth hurricane 
of the season, Hurricane Epsilon, still rages. Although Hurricane 
Epsilon has moved out to the Atlantic where it poses no threat to land, 
we were not so lucky with Hurricane Beta. This hurricane slammed into 
Nicaragua in late October and caused a great deal of damage, flooding 
and forced evacuations in both Nicaragua and neighboring Honduras. And 
Hurricane Wilma left its imprint not only on Mexico but on our own 
state of Florida, just one week before Hurricane Beta hit.
  This has been a difficult and trying hurricane season throughout our 
hemisphere. And it has been made even more difficult by the fact that 
many Central American countries are still trying to rebuild after 
hurricanes from previous years, such as 1998's devastating Hurricane 
Mitch.
  So I strongly support this resolution, which expresses our heartfelt 
condolences and deepest sympathies to the victims of flooding and 
mudslides caused by the various hurricanes. It also pledges our support 
to the countries of Central America that have been hit hardest by 
multiple hurricanes this year, and our help in rebuilding their 
infrastructure and economies.
  And let's be clear--the region will need not only our help, but the 
help of the entire international community. Guatemala, El Salvador, 
Mexico, Nicaragua, Haiti, Cuba and Costa Rica were all hit by damaging 
winds and drenching rains this hurricane season, causing widespread 
destruction and flooding.
  The magnitude of this devastation is staggering. In Guatemala alone, 
the official death toll is just over 670, although other sources 
estimate that more than 2,000 people may have perished and that 
hundreds are missing. Across the region, tens of thousands of families 
have been affected by these natural disasters. Thousands of Central 
American families have lost everything. They are in need of food, clean 
water, clothes and shelter.
  Just as Mexico and the countries of Central America contributed to us 
during our time of need after Hurricane Katrina, we should now 
contribute to them.
  So I am pleased that the US government, particularly through USAID 
and the US Armed Forces, has responded quickly with both initial 
monetary and technical aid during this crisis. While I encourage these 
efforts, we must be sure to provide relief and long-term reconstruction 
assistance to the affected communities.
  Many of us on the Subcommittee were already concerned about poverty 
and inequality in Central America and about proposed cuts to core 
development funding for Central America. I was pleased by the strong 
bipartisan support the Subcommittee showed when almost every 
Subcommittee Member joined me in sending a letter in late October to 
the conferees on the Foreign Operations bill urging them to restore 
this funding.
  While we continue the long-term fight to reduce poverty and 
inequality in Central America, we must also offer our condolences to 
the victims of this most recent natural disaster.
  And I know that many of the victims' families live here in the United 
States. So I would also like to acknowledge the actions of the US 
Latino communities in DC, New Jersey, and around the country, who 
quickly mobilized to send money and aid to help the survivors. Our 
diversity is our greatest strength and connects us to almost every 
country in the world. When tragedy strikes anywhere in the world, it 
also is directly felt in the homes of US citizens who still have family 
and friends in their countries of origin.
  Personally, I am deeply saddened by the devastation and loss of life 
caused by massive flooding, landslides, and hurricanes in Guatemala and 
throughout Central America. I would like to express my deepest 
sympathies and condolences to the victims and their families and 
friends, both in Central America and here at home.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 280, as 
amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________