[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 7 (Friday, January 27, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S252-S253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONTINUATION OF RELIEF RESPONSE TO EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTH ASIA

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 356 submitted earlier 
today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 356) urging a commitment by the 
     United States and the international community to continue 
     relief efforts in response to the earthquake in South Asia 
     and to help rebuild critical infrastructure in the affected 
     areas.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon table, and that any statements relating thereto 
be printed in the Record, without intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 356) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 356

       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, approximately 60 miles north-northeast of 
     Islamabad, with aftershocks and landslides continuing to 
     affect the area;
       Whereas more than 75,000 people have died, including 
     approximately 17,000 children, nearly 70,000 people are 
     injured and approximately 3,000,000 people are homeless as a 
     result of the earthquake;
       Whereas the United States has pledged a total of 
     $510,000,000 in assistance to the affected areas, including 
     $300,000,000 for relief and reconstruction, $110,000,000 to 
     support Department of Defense relief operations, and

[[Page S253]]

     at least $100,000,000 in anticipated contributions from 
     private entities in the United States;
       Whereas, as of January 25, 2006, the total amount of 
     humanitarian assistance provided to Pakistan by the United 
     States Agency for International Development is more than 
     $66,500,000;
       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 3,200 missions, evacuated approximately 
     3,800 people, and delivered nearly 15,000,000 pounds of 
     supplies;
       Whereas the cost of rebuilding the affected areas could be 
     more than $5,000,000,000;
       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 robust humanitarian response of the Government 
     of the United States to the earthquake disaster has made an 
     impact on the Government and people of Pakistan and 
     demonstrates the United States commitment to Pakistan and the 
     well-being of its residents;
       Whereas the United States humanitarian mission in Pakistan 
     may impact positively on the way Americans are viewed, 
     especially in areas where the population may oppose United 
     States counterterrrorism policies and where radical groups 
     and affiliates of known terrorist organizations are 
     conducting high-profile relief efforts; and
       Whereas the results of a poll taken by the nonprofit 
     organization Terror Free Tomorrow show that, at the end of 
     November 2005, more than 46 percent of Pakistanis had a 
     favorable view of the United States, double the percentage of 
     Pakistanis that held that view in May 2005: 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 their 
     swift and sustained efforts to assist the victims of the 
     earthquake in South Asia that occurred on October 8, 2005;
       (2) commends the Governments of Pakistan and India for 
     working together to save lives and provide humanitarian 
     relief in the affected areas and encourages them to continue 
     in this spirit of cooperation;
       (3) commends the international community, including 
     nongovernmental organizations, private corporations, and 
     individual citizens, for responding swiftly and generously to 
     the relief and recovery effort;
       (4) urges continued attention by international donors and 
     relief agencies to the needs of vulnerable populations in the 
     stricken areas, particularly the thousands of children who 
     have been left parentless and homeless by the disaster; and
       (5) urges the Government of the United States to take the 
     lead in encouraging the international community to commit to 
     continue relief efforts in response to the earthquake in 
     South Asia and to help rebuild critical infrastructure in the 
     affected areas.

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