[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 69 (Wednesday, May 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMENDING HEROIC EFFORTS OF PEOPLE FIGHTING FLOODS IN NORTH DAKOTA

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 132, submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 132) commending the heroic efforts of 
     the people fighting the floods in North Dakota.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 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 any statements related to the resolution be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 132) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 132

       Whereas 47 of the 53 counties in North Dakota have been 
     declared Federal disaster areas;
       Whereas wide swaths of North Dakota have faced 
     unprecedented flooding crises, including cities along the Des 
     Lacs, Heart, James, Knife, Missouri, Little Missouri, Park, 
     Pembina, Red, Sheyenne, Souris, and Wild Rice Rivers and 
     Beaver Creek;
       Whereas the people of North Dakota have suffered tremendous 
     damage to their homes, livelihoods, and communities;
       Whereas the ranchers of North Dakota are estimated to have 
     lost nearly 100,000 head of livestock;
       Whereas many of the roads and bridges, and much of the 
     other infrastructure, in North Dakota are in need of repair;
       Whereas, despite terrible conditions, the people of North 
     Dakota have shown the strength of their shared bond, coming 
     together in large numbers to save their cities, towns, 
     businesses, farms, and ranches;
       Whereas stories of exceptional efforts abound, from people 
     filling millions of sandbags on short notice, to people 
     saving lives and effecting rapid emergency evacuations;
       Whereas Federal, State, and local officials have provided 
     outstanding leadership and effective service throughout the 
     crisis in North Dakota; and
       Whereas the response of the people of North Dakota to the 
     disaster has shown the world how communities can unite, 
     fight, and win in a crisis: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends the people of North Dakota for their heroic 
     efforts in fighting the floods in North Dakota;
       (2) commends the many people from around the United States 
     who assisted the people of North Dakota during this time of 
     need;
       (3) expresses appreciation to the officials of the numerous 
     Federal agencies working on the ground in North Dakota for 
     their consistently rapid, efficient, and effective response 
     to the disaster; and
       (4) continues to stand with the communities of North Dakota 
     in the efforts to recover from the flooding during 2009, and 
     to improve protections against flooding in the future.

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