[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 130 (Wednesday, September 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H10082-H10084]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXTENDING CONDOLENCES AND SYMPATHY OF THE HOUSE TO THE GOVERNMENT AND 
                            PEOPLE OF GREECE

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 629) extending the condolences and 
sympathy of the House of Representatives to the Government and the 
people of Greece for the grave loss of life and vast destruction caused 
by the devastating fires raging through Greece since June 2007.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 629

       Whereas more than 3,000 forest fires have been recorded in 
     Greece since June 2007;
       Whereas over a 10-day period, an estimated 4,000 people saw 
     their homes destroyed by the wildfires, which razed dozens of 
     villages, destroyed livestock and charred an estimated 
     469,000 acres of mostly forest and farmland;
       Whereas dozens of Greek families have lost their loved ones 
     to the fires;
       Whereas thousands of Greeks have been left homeless and 
     hundreds of thousands of acres of pristine forest have been 
     destroyed;
       Whereas hundreds of thousands of mature olive trees, 
     vineyards and thousands of animals perished in the flames;
       Whereas damage to the Greek economy is estimated at between 
     $1,600,000,000 and $5,400,000,000;
       Whereas the United States and Greece have stood side by 
     side in confronting world challenges throughout the 20th 
     century, and will stand together in confronting this new 
     challenge; and
       Whereas the United States, through its government, its 
     people and its Greek-American community, has already extended 
     significant support to the people of Greece during this 
     difficult time: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) extends its condolences and sympathy to the Government 
     and the people of Greece for the grave loss of life and vast 
     destruction caused by the devastating fires raging through 
     Greece;
       (2) vows its full support and solidarity to a close friend, 
     a strategic partner, and a longstanding ally in this painful 
     and difficult hour;
       (3) fully supports the Administration's initiatives to 
     provide assistance and relief to the people of Greece, 
     including its pledge of $1,500,000 in aid as well as expert 
     and technical assistance;
       (4) encourages public institutions, specialized agencies, 
     as well as private citizens, to offer their resources; and
       (5) expresses confidence that Greece and its people will 
     succeed in overcoming the hardships incurred through this 
     tragedy.


[[Page H10083]]


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


                             General Leave

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from American Samoa?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Let me first thank my honorable colleague and dear friend from the 
State of Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes) for introducing this timely resolution 
that extends sympathy to our Greek friends, and I want to also add my 
name as a cosponsor of this proposed legislation.
  Madam Speaker, while many people across Europe and the United States 
spent the month of August soaking up the summer sunshine and enjoying 
their vacations, thousands of Greeks were engaged in a desperate 
struggle to save their homes, livestock and beautiful countryside from 
the devastating effects of wildfires.
  Americans watched in alarm as television footage showed flames 
ominously approaching the ruins of temples and stadiums in ancient 
Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games.
  They were saddened to see the worst fires in Greece's living memory 
sweep across well-known and picturesque tourist sites, including Corfu 
and Kefalonia in the west and the Peloponnese in the south of the 
country, Madam Speaker, and their hearts ached at the personal stories 
of individuals who lost their homes as well as family members to the 
all-consuming power of the fire.
  The sobering statistics highlight the true extent of the loss. Over a 
10-day period, an estimated 4,000 people lost their homes, while around 
469,000 acres of forest and farmland were destroyed. Dozens of families 
are now without their loved ones while thousands have been left 
homeless. According to media reports, estimated costs for the 
destruction of homes and properties are well over $1 billion.
  Here in the United States, we know all too well how devastating the 
effects of Mother Nature can be, as Americans in Utah and Montana 
launched their own battle against damaging wildfires this summer, and 
exactly 2 years ago New Orleans and other Southern cities suffered from 
the destructive effects of Hurricane Katrina.
  Just as we valued the aid of foreign nations in our difficult hours, 
we stand ready to offer a helping hand to our Greek friends during 
their time of need. This House extends its deepest condolences to the 
Government and people of Greece following the vast destruction wrought 
by the wildfires. We welcome the administration's pledge of financial 
aid as well as technical assistance, and we express confidence in the 
ability of the Greek people, who have personified the strength of Zeus 
throughout their history, to overcome the hardships resulting from this 
tragedy.
  I strongly support this measure and urge my colleagues to join me in 
expressing sympathy for and solidarity with our good people from 
Greece.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to be an original cosponsor of this 
important resolution, and I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Sarbanes), the author of the resolution, as well as the chairman of our 
Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Lantos, for their leadership in bringing 
this resolution quickly to the floor today.
  This resolution allows the Members of this House the opportunity to 
extend our profound condolences to the people of Greece and to their 
government over the tragic losses endured during the recent fires in 
Greece which have claimed the lives of scores of people.
  The human toll in casualties, injuries and loss of property is 
difficult to bear, with an estimated 4,000 people having lost loved 
ones, homes and, indeed, even communities.
  Moreover, hundreds of thousands of acres of Greek forests and 
farmland have been obliterated. And all of this, Madam Speaker, has 
occurred as a result of the more than 3,000 forest fires that have 
broken out in Greece since June.
  This massive tragedy has been bravely shouldered by the people of 
Greece. The heartfelt thoughts and prayers of the American people are 
with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this 
tragedy and with all of the people of Greece.
  United in friendship, the United States and Greece have stood 
together on the same side of many of the world challenges throughout 
the last century. It is appropriate, therefore, that we provide 
assistance and support to our friend and ally in this hour of need.
  I, therefore, urge my colleagues to support this resolution and, in 
so doing, express their condolences and pledge their support for 
efforts to relieve the suffering endured by the people of Greece as a 
result of the tragic fires that have ravaged their nation.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure that I yield 
whatever time that he needs, as the chief sponsor of this proposed 
legislation, to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes).
  Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding and 
for his support of this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues, Congresswoman 
Maloney, Congressman Bilirakis, Congressman Space and many, many others 
in this body, in support of H. Res. 629, expressing the deepest of 
sympathy to the families who have incurred enormous loss and who 
continue to suffer the effects of the terrible fires that have raged 
across Greece since June.
  I also want to thank Chairman Lantos and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen 
and their staffs for their assistance in bringing this resolution to 
the floor.
  Official reports of damage from the Greek Government will be 
forthcoming in the next few weeks, but on Monday, the New York Times 
reported that over a 10-day period an estimated 4,000 people saw their 
homes destroyed by the wildfires which razed dozens of villages, 
destroyed livestock and charred an estimated 469,000 acres of mostly 
forest and farmland.
  As of Sunday, the official death toll had risen to 65. According to 
the Greek fire brigade, thousands have been rendered homeless, and 
hundreds of thousands of acres of pristine forest have been destroyed. 
The fire has also affected a substantial part of Greece's agricultural 
sector. According to Reuters, hundreds of thousands of mature olive 
trees, vineyards and thousands of animals perished in the flames. 
Overall damage to the economy is estimated at 1.2 billion to 4 billion 
Euros.
  As the resolution reads, we take this moment to stand with the people 
of Greece and vow to come to their aid as they have done for us and 
others throughout the world time and time again. There is no doubt that 
the people of Greece will prevail in the face of this difficult time. 
There is no doubt that they will succeed in the recovery effort.
  My colleagues and I have been working to identify areas where the 
United States Government can assist in the near term and as part of the 
longer commitment that will be needed in reversing the damage. We are 
grateful that the U.S. Government has already extended funding and 
other support in this regard, and we are very proud of the commitment 
already demonstrated by our friends and organizations in the Greek 
American community who are coordinating a substantial relief effort of 
their own.
  I'd like to thank the Greek ambassador, Ambassador Mallias, for his 
leadership in reaching out and helping to coordinate assistance to his 
country. He's here with us today in the gallery.
  Madam Speaker, I'd like to tell a story briefly. I had the 
opportunity to visit Greece in 1985, more than 20 years ago, with my 
grandmother who had not been there for almost 30 years. I remember her 
taking me by the hand as we walked through her village, which

[[Page H10084]]

is in the southern Peloponnese, and the Peloponnese has been 
particularly hard hit by these fires.
  And as we walked the paths of her childhood, I remember that she was 
looking for one particular olive tree that she remembered not from 30 
years prior but from 60 years before that she played under as a small 
child. It was a touchstone of her childhood and of her memories, and it 
made an incredible impression on me, the love, the connection that she 
had to this village and to that land.
  Today, for many Greeks and for many Greek Americans, these 
touchstones, these sacred markers have gone up in flames. Beyond this, 
the loss of life is tragic. For these reasons, Americans all across 
this country are moved to reach out to the citizens of Greece.
  Madam Speaker, the spirit of the Greek people is indomitable. It will 
triumph over this tragedy, and with this resolution, America signifies 
that it stands with Greece and its people in this hour of need.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume 
to my colleague and good friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Payne), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 629 and 
extend my condolences and sympathy to the people and the Government of 
Greece for the grave loss of life and vast destruction caused by the 
raging fires that destroyed the homes, villages, farms, livestock, but 
not the spirit, of the country.
  Since June of this year, the people and the Government of Greece have 
been battling forest fires due to extensive heat and lack of rain. An 
estimated 495,000 acres of mostly forest and farmland have been 
destroyed, the worst damage since the 1950s.
  Today I stand with my colleagues, Chairman Faleomavaega and the 
ranking member, to avow close support and solidarity to a close friend, 
a strategic partner and a longstanding ally in this painful and 
difficult hour.
  I applaud the administration's initiative to provide assistance and 
relief to the people of Greece, including its pledge of $1.5 million in 
aid, as well as expert and technical assistance. I have confidence that 
Greece and its people will succeed in overcoming the hardship incurred 
through this tragedy.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I thank the gentleman for his remarks, and I thank the honored 
guests who are with us today. We grieve for the people today, and we 
stand with them in this time of sorrow ready to help.
  With that, I yield back the balance of our time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I also want to commend and thank my 
good friend, the senior ranking member of our committee, for her 
support and her assistance in managing this legislation, and I want to 
thank my colleague from Maryland for his most eloquent and moving 
speech this morning to share with our colleagues in the House the 
tragedy facing the good people of Greece, and I sincerely hope that we 
will support this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 629.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. 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.

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