[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 175 (Tuesday, November 13, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H13538-H13539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING SYMPATHY AND PLEDGING SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF FLOODING IN 
                            SOUTHERN MEXICO

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 812) expressing the sympathy and pledging 
the urgent support of the House of Representatives and the people of 
the United States for the victims of the devastating flooding in 
southern Mexico, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 812

       Whereas in late October 2007, a series of storms brought 
     torrential rainfall to southern Mexico, especially the States 
     of Tabasco and Chiapas, causing the Grijalva, Carrizal, and 
     Puxcatan Rivers to overflow their banks;
       Whereas early reports have branded the resulting floods as 
     the worst in Mexico in 50 years and Mexican President 
     Calderon has called it ``one of the worst natural disasters 
     in the history of our country. Not only because of the size 
     of the area affected, but because of the number of people 
     affected'';
       Whereas the flooding is estimated to have affected 
     1,000,000 people so far;
       Whereas Mexico's Federal Social Development Department now 
     estimates that the homes of over 500,000 people were damaged 
     or destroyed;
       Whereas more than 300,000 people are reported to still be 
     trapped inside their homes or on their rooftops, with 
     uncertain access to food, medicine, and safe drinking water;
       Whereas forecasts call for even more rain in the days 
     ahead;
       Whereas the Governor of the State of Tabasco Andres Granier 
     stated that 100 percent of the states crops were lost and 
     that 80 percent of the State of Tabasco is under water;
       Whereas the capital of Tabasco, Villahermosa, has been 
     particularly devastated, being compared to New Orleans after 
     Hurricane Katrina;
       Whereas the flooding has hampered the capacity of Mexico's 
     oil industry;
       Whereas in the State of Chiapas, authorities have declared 
     a state of emergency in 22 municipalities and at least 7,000 
     people have been evacuated to shelters;
       Whereas Red Cross workers in Mexico have called for urgent 
     supplies of water, food, and basic materials to assist in the 
     rescue efforts; and
       Whereas health officials have begun warning against the 
     serious possibility of cholera and waterborne diseases: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) expresses its heartfelt sympathy for the victims of the 
     devastating flooding affecting southern Mexico;
       (2) conveys its sincere support to the people and 
     Government of Mexico;
       (3) urges the United States Government to immediately make 
     available all appropriate assistance requested by the Mexican 
     authorities; and
       (4) reaffirms its commitment to provide relief aid to the 
     victims as the effects of the flooding continue to unfold.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. 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. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to first thank my colleague and dear friend, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez), and also the 
chairman of our House Foreign Affairs Committee and the distinguished 
senior ranking member, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for their support and 
leadership; and again especially my good friend, Congresswoman Linda 
Sanchez, for her authorship of this resolution. This is very, very 
critical, Mr. Speaker. We cannot support Mexico enough during one of 
the worst natural disasters in their history.
  A series of storms have brought torrential rainfall to southern 
Mexico, especially the States of Tabasco and Chiapas, causing the 
Grijalva, Carrizal, and Puxcatan Rivers to overflow their banks. The 
homes of an estimated half a million people have been damaged or 
destroyed, and at least that many more people have been affected by 
severed utilities and transportation corridors.
  Mr. Speaker, Mexican President Felipe Calderon has called it ``one of 
the worst natural disasters in the history of our country. Not only 
because of the size of the area affected but because of the number of 
people affected.''
  The Governor of the State of Tabasco, Andres Granier, stated that 100 
percent of the State's crops were lost and that 80 percent of the State 
of Tabasco is underwater. Over a million Tabascans, half the State's 
population, have been directly affected, with at least half a million 
losing their homes and even more losing all of their material 
possessions. The capital of Tabasco, Villahermosa, has been 
particularly devastated, being compared to New Orleans after Hurricane 
Katrina.
  Mr. Speaker, an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 people were being housed 
in shelters, Interior Minister Francisco Ramirez Acuna said recently in 
a television interview. He estimated that some 400,000 people in 
Tabasco would need some kind of government aid to get back on their 
feet. The floodwaters' descent could lead to outbreaks of diseases like 
malaria, dengue fever and cholera.
  Mr. Speaker, we must commend President Calderon, who has led Mexico's 
rapid response to its worst flooding in recent history and who has 
personally played a major role in averting a catastrophe on the level 
of Katrina. Amid heavy rains, President Calderon ordered in thousands 
of soldiers, marines, pilots and federal police on October 29, 2 days 
before the most damaging flooding hit. When the riverbanks finally 
burst, inundating some 70 percent

[[Page H13539]]

of the city of Villahermosa on October 31, there were more than 60 
helicopters ready to carry out nonstop rescue and relief missions. 
President Calderon and half his cabinet were on the ground, giving 
televised updates on everything from how to use satellite phones in 
shelters to the drop points of millions of bottles of water. The 
President's reaction is most impressive, and I take this opportunity 
here on the House floor to applaud this leader's efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution expresses the empathy of the United 
States House of Representatives during this time and pledges our 
continued assistance. We applaud the prompt humanitarian response of 
the Mexican government, international organizations, and relief bodies. 
We must continue to support these efforts as long as they are 
necessary.
  In this resolution, it is resolved that the House of Representatives 
urge the U.S. Government to immediately make available all possible 
assistance to Mexican authorities and reaffirms its commitment to 
provide relief aid to the victims as the effects of the flooding 
continue to unfold.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I stand to join my colleague, my good friend from American Samoa, 
today to express my sincere sympathy and support for those who have 
suffered as a result of the recent torrential storms in southern 
Mexico. The damage has been devastating. It is reported that as many as 
1 million people have been affected by the flooding, with the homes of 
an estimated 500,000 people being destroyed or damaged. The Governor of 
the State of Tabasco has stated that 100 percent of the State's crops 
have been lost and 80 percent of his state is underwater. What a shame.
  Sadly, with more than 300,000 people reported trapped inside their 
homes or on rooftops and additional downpour predicted, it is still too 
early to quantify the total destruction wrought by these unrelenting 
rains. Just over 2 months ago, Mexico was ravaged by Hurricanes Dean 
and Henriette. Now what President Calderon has characterized, and I 
quote, one of the worst natural disasters in the history of Mexico has 
followed.
  I am awed by the perseverance of our friends in Mexico and commend 
the courage they continue to demonstrate in their efforts to overcome 
the damage of these storms. Furthermore, I admire the contributions 
made by relief organizations and private citizens from around the world 
to assist in the aftermath. My prayers are with the families and 
friends of those harmed by the perils of this storm.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 10 minutes 
to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. 
Sanchez).
  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. I want to thank the gentleman for 
graciously yielding me so much time. I would also like to thank the 
distinguished chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
Congressman Tom Lantos, and the distinguished ranking member, Ileana 
Ros-Lehtinen, for supporting this important resolution that I am 
offering today.
  The U.S. has had its share of natural disasters recently, from 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 to this year's southern California 
wildfires, some of which are still burning as I speak. As we have 
learned, it is difficult even for the United States, one of the 
wealthiest nations in the world, to adequately care for our victims and 
rebuild our communities once we have experienced one of these natural 
disasters.
  In both of those disasters, our neighbor was there to help us with 
emergency relief units and firefighters. Now Mexico faces the challenge 
of a devastating natural disaster within its own borders.
  This resolution recognizes the plight of our Mexican neighbors and 
expresses our desire and commitment to support Mexico during one of the 
worst natural disasters in its history, a disaster which the country's 
President has described as one of the worst not only because of the 
size of the area affected but because of the number of people affected.
  As many Americans already know, a series of storms brought torrential 
rainfall to southern Mexico, especially the States of Tabasco and 
Chiapas, causing various rivers to overflow their banks.
  At least half a million people's homes have been damaged or destroyed 
and perhaps double that number are without utilities or cut off from 
transportation routes.
  In the State of Tabasco, as was already mentioned, 100 percent of the 
agricultural crops have been lost and 80 percent of the state is 
underwater. It's incredible.
  Truly, this is a disaster of epic proportions. In this agricultural 
area, even those who were able to stay safe during the storm will face 
many challenges in the weeks ahead. Having lost their crops, which for 
many are their sole source of income, surviving and keeping their 
families fed and intact will be difficult.
  In addition to picking up the pieces of their lives after losing 
their homes and crops and everything that they owned, the flood 
survivors face increased threats from diseases like malaria, dengue 
fever and cholera.
  As a good neighbor, it is imperative that we do all that we can to 
help Mexico ensure that the flood victims can indeed get back on their 
feet. It is the least we can do for a neighbor who did what it could to 
help us in our times of need when we experienced natural disasters.
  I also want to take a moment to commend and comment on Mexican 
President Felipe Calderon for leading his country's rapid response to 
this devastation and for the work that he did before the rains fell to 
avert an even greater catastrophe. The President's swift reaction 
avoided even greater disaster, and I applaud his efforts. They really 
were impressive.
  This resolution today expresses the sympathy of the U.S. House of 
Representatives during this time and pledges our continued assistance. 
We want to acknowledge the prompt humanitarian response that has come 
from many quarters, not just the Mexican Government but international 
organizations and relief bodies. We must continue to support these 
efforts as long as they are necessary.
  I urge my colleagues not only to support this resolution but to work 
together to ensure that its goals are realized. I urge us to continue 
to work in a bi-partisan manner to address this humanitarian crisis. We 
must not just speak of our good intentions; we must act on them. We 
must immediately make assistance available to Mexican authorities so 
that Mexico can continue to provide relief aid to the victims as the 
effects of the flooding continue to unfold.
  I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this resolution.

                              {time}  1315

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentlewoman for her most 
eloquent remarks before the floor of this House and, again, I want to 
urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  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. 812, as amended.
  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. Mr. 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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