[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 82 (Monday, May 19, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4423-S4424]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE CHINA EARTHQUAKE

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 569, a 
resolution introduced earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 569) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate regarding the earthquake that struck Sichuan Province 
     of the People's Republic of China on May 12, 2008.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam President, I further ask that the resolution be 
agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid 
upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any 
statements relating to this measure be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 569) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 569

       Whereas, on May 12, 2008, a powerful earthquake measuring 
     7.9 on the Richter Scale struck Wenchuan County in the 
     Sichuan Province of the People's Republic of China, leaving 
     at least 34,000 people dead, 245,000 people injured, and an 
     estimated 5,000,000 people homeless;
       Whereas authorities of the Government of the People's 
     Republic of China report that approximately 9,500 people 
     remain buried in Sichuan Province and another 29,000 people 
     remain missing;
       Whereas authorities of the Government of the People's 
     Republic of China report that the final death toll is 
     expected to exceed 50,000;
       Whereas authorities of the Government of the People's 
     Republic of China also report that as many as 4,700,000 homes 
     were destroyed in Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi Provinces and 
     nearly 80 percent of the buildings collapsed in Beichuan 
     County;
       Whereas the sheer devastation caused by the earthquake and 
     inclement weather has made rescue efforts exceptionally 
     difficult, particularly in the areas hardest hit by the 
     earthquake;
       Whereas authorities of the Government of the People's 
     Republic of China report that 158 relief workers were killed 
     in landslides while working to repair roads in the areas most 
     devastated by the earthquake;
       Whereas the Seismological Bureau of the People's Republic 
     of China reports that the earthquake has affected more than 
     half of China's provinces and municipalities;
       Whereas authorities of the Government of the People's 
     Republic of China report that more than 2,000 aftershocks 
     have occurred in the aftermath of the earthquake, some 
     greater than a magnitude of 6.0 on the Richter Scale;
       Whereas authorities of the Government of the People's 
     Republic of China also report that 6,898 schoolrooms 
     collapsed in Sichuan Province, trapping and killing hundreds 
     of young students and their teachers;
       Whereas the earthquake of May 12, 2008, was China's 
     deadliest natural disaster since 1976, when hundreds of 
     thousands of people were killed by an earthquake that struck 
     the city of Tangshan;
       Whereas, on May 12, 2008, President George W. Bush said 
     that the United States ``stands ready to help in any way 
     possible''; and
       Whereas the Prime Minister of China, Wen Jiabao, said on 
     May 13, 2008, that ``[t]he death toll and damage are more 
     serious than we expected and we need more people here to 
     help'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) mourns the horrific loss of life and terrible human 
     suffering caused by the earthquake in the People's Republic 
     of China on May 12, 2008;

[[Page S4424]]

       (2) expresses its deep condolences to the people of the 
     People's Republic of China and to all those affected by this 
     enormous tragedy;
       (3) expresses its profound sorrow for the families of all 
     who lost loved ones, including those who suffered the 
     heartbreaking loss of having their children trapped in 
     schools that collapsed;
       (4) calls on the President to respond to any requests for 
     humanitarian assistance made by the Government of the 
     People's Republic of China; and
       (5) stands ready to support the provision of additional 
     resources, as necessary, to assist those impacted by the 
     earthquake.

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