[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 155 (Monday, October 15, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S12874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 346--EXPRESSING HEARTFELT SYMPATHY FOR THE VICTIMS OF 
THE DEVASTATING THUNDERSTORMS THAT CAUSED SEVERE FLOODING DURING AUGUST 
 2007 IN THE STATES OF ILLINOIS, IOWA, MINNESOTA, OHIO, AND WISCONSIN, 
                         AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Mr. COLEMAN (for himself, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. durbin, Mr. Grassley, 
Mr. Harkin, Mr. Brown, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Kohl, and Mr. 
Obama) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 346

       Whereas, during August 2007, severe thunderstorms were 
     responsible for bringing as much as 18 inches of torrential 
     rain to parts of the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, 
     Ohio, and Wisconsin, resulting in devastating floods;
       Whereas these storms tragically took the lives of 14 
     people;
       Whereas these storms injured countless other people, 
     damaged or destroyed thousands of homes, and devastated 
     businesses and institutions;
       Whereas, on August 21, 2007, the Governor of Minnesota 
     declared Fillmore, Houston, Steele, Olmsted, Wabasha, and 
     Winona Counties, Minnesota, to be in a state of disaster as a 
     result of these storms, and subsequently Dodge and Jackson 
     Counties, Minnesota, received a Federal major disaster 
     declaration as well;
       Whereas, on August 20 and 21, 2007, the Governor of 
     Wisconsin declared Crawford, La Crosse, Richland, Sauk, and 
     Vernon Counties, Wisconsin, to be in a state of disaster as a 
     result of these storms;
       Whereas, on August 22, 2007, and in the days following, the 
     Governor of Iowa declared Allamakee, Appanoose, Boone, 
     Calhoun, Cherokee, Davis, Humboldt, Mahaska, Montgomery, Palo 
     Alto, Pocahontas, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Wayne, Webster, 
     and Winneshiek Counties, Iowa, to be in a state of disaster 
     as a result of these storms;
       Whereas, on August 22, 2007, the Governor of Ohio declared 
     Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Richland, Seneca, 
     Van Wert, and Wyandot Counties, Ohio, to be in a state of 
     disaster as a result of these storms;
       Whereas, on August 24, 2007, and in the days following, the 
     Governor of Illinois declared Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, 
     Lake, LaSalle, Kane, Knox, McHenry, Warren, and Will 
     Counties, Illinois, to be in a state of disaster as a result 
     of these storms;
       Whereas President Bush declared 8 counties in Minnesota, 8 
     counties in Ohio, 14 counties in Wisconsin, 6 counties in 
     Illinois, and 14 counties in Iowa to be major disaster areas 
     as a result of these storms, and individuals and families, 
     State and local Governments, and certain private nonprofit 
     organizations in these areas became eligible for individual 
     or public Federal disaster assistance or both;
       Whereas numerous individuals and entities have selflessly 
     and heroically given of themselves and their resources to aid 
     in the disaster relief efforts; and
       Whereas the catastrophic injury, death, and damage in 
     Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin would have 
     been even worse in the absence of local relief efforts: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses heartfelt sympathy for the victims of the 
     devastating thunderstorms that caused severe flooding during 
     August 2007 in the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, 
     and Wisconsin;
       (2) conveys gratitude to the local, State, and Federal 
     officials and emergency personnel who responded swiftly to 
     the crisis, including emergency management teams in each of 
     the affected States, Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland 
     Security, and David Paulison, Administrator of the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency;
       (3) recognizes the generous and selfless support of 
     citizens, local businesses, the American Red Cross, the 
     United Way, Catholic Charities, and the Salvation Army; and
       (4) reaffirms support for helping the victims of the 
     flooding rebuild their homes and lives.

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