[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 146 (Friday, September 28, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2018]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         COUNTRIES HIT BY HURRICANES FELIX, DEAN, AND HENRIETTE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 25, 2007

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 642, 
expressing sympathy to and support for the people and governments of 
the countries of Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico which have 
suffered from Hurricanes Felix, Dean, and Henriette. I would like to 
thank my friend, Congresswoman Hilda Solis, for bringing this 
resolution to the House floor.
  When Hurricane Dean, a category five hurricane, made landfall in 
Mexico's Yucatan in August, people around the world were stunned and 
saddened by the damage that massive storm left in its wake. The third 
strongest Atlantic hurricane ever at landfall, Dean ripped through 
Mexico, causing at least 42 deaths and $1.9 billion in damage.
  After Hurricane Dean, the region braced itself as Hurricane Felix 
gathered strength off the coast of Central America weeks later. Felix 
touched down between Nicaragua and Honduras on September 1, 2007 
wreaking havoc and causing at least 122 deaths. Also on September 1st, 
Hurricane Henriette slammed into Mexico's Baja, the first time since 
1949 that two Atlantic and Pacific hurricanes hit land on the same day.
  In the wake of these massive and destructive storms, Congress must 
continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the regions affected. As 
the effects of the hurricanes continue to unfold and we must also 
encourage concerned U.S. citizens to donate their time and funds to 
hurricane relief.
  After Hurricane Mitch tore through Central America in 1999, I 
traveled to the Honduran town of Marcovia to help CARE bring relief to 
the thousands of affected families there. Hurricane Mitch killed more 
than 10,000 people, left hundreds of thousands homeless, and inflicted 
billions of dollars in economic losses throughout Central America.
  I urge my colleagues in Congress and the American people to reach out 
to the countries, communities and individuals affected by Hurricanes 
Dean, Felix and Henriette the way we reached out to the survivors of 
Hurricane Mitch.
  I am proud to support H. Res. 642 and I hope all of my colleagues 
will lend it their support.

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