[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 14, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H11317-H11319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES AND SUPPORT TO INDONESIA IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE 
                     EARTHQUAKE THAT STRUCK SUMATRA

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 810) expressing condolences to the citizens 
of Indonesia and support for the Government of Indonesia in the 
aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck the island of 
Sumatra.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 810

       Whereas, on September 30, 2009, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake 
     originated northwest of

[[Page H11318]]

     the city of Padang in West Sumatra, Indonesia;
       Whereas over 700 lives have been lost, many are missing and 
     injured, and thousands have been displaced as a result of 
     collapsed homes and buildings;
       Whereas the area of the earthquake is along the same fault 
     line that caused the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 
     more than 230,000 people and caused many panicked residents 
     to flee to higher ground in fear of another tsunami;
       Whereas strong aftershocks continue to rock the region and 
     create hazardous conditions for both residents and rescue 
     workers;
       Whereas the Indonesian Government sent relief teams 
     Thursday from the capital, Jakarta, including army units to 
     look for survivors and deliver food and medicine;
       Whereas international aid agencies said they were sending 
     rapid assessment teams to the area and preparing to rush in 
     supplies;
       Whereas the Indonesian Government stated that the 
     earthquake destroyed more than 83,700 houses, approximately 
     200 public buildings, a total of 285 schools, and also caused 
     extensive damage to an additional 100,000 buildings including 
     hotels, mosques and shops, and approximately 20 miles of 
     roads;
       Whereas a damaged building in the main public hospital had 
     to be evacuated, and patients are being treated outside and 
     without electricity;
       Whereas humanitarian aid agencies in the United States and 
     around the world are mobilizing to provide much needed 
     assistance to the relief and recovery efforts;
       Whereas the United States offered assistance and 
     immediately released $300,000 to help provide for the most 
     immediate and pressing needs and an additional $3,000,000 has 
     been set aside once greater need is determined;
       Whereas the United States Government deployed a Disaster 
     Assistance Response Team to provide assistance and is sending 
     a field hospital, three United States Navy ships with 
     helicopters and lift capability, and 45 metric tons of 
     emergency relief commodities; and
       Whereas President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the 
     Indonesian Government responded quickly to the disaster: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) mourns the loss of life and expresses its deepest 
     condolences to the families of those killed and injured in 
     the earthquake;
       (2) recognizes the deep ties between the United States and 
     Indonesia and expresses continued solidarity with the people 
     of Indonesia during this time of crisis;
       (3) applauds the courageous response of Indonesian and 
     international rescue workers;
       (4) supports President Obama's offer of United States 
     assistance to Indonesia in response to this catastrophic 
     event;
       (5) urges the people of the United States to generously 
     support those humanitarian aid agencies working to assist the 
     people of Indonesia in this time of need; and
       (6) expresses gratitude to the people of the United States 
     who have generously supported those humanitarian aid agencies 
     working to assist the people of Indonesia in this time of 
     need.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Holden). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) and the gentlewoman 
from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) 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 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.
  I would like to thank my good friend Congressman Dan Burton of 
Indiana, distinguished member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 
co-Chair of the Indonesia Caucus, for his leadership in introducing 
this resolution.
  This resolution extends our profound sympathy and condolences to the 
people of Indonesia for the terrible losses they suffered as a result 
of the massive earthquake that struck the island of Sumatra on 
September 30, 2009. Landslides triggered by the quake wiped out three 
villages in the province of West Sumatra. Nearly 700 lives were lost. 
Thousands have been injured and displaced, and a staggering number of 
houses, schools, and public buildings were destroyed or seriously 
damaged.
  I want to extend my deepest sympathy and support to the Indonesian 
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has been working tirelessly to 
deliver assistance to victims in response to this catastrophic event.
  As a representative of American Samoa, a place that has also recently 
experienced calamity caused by a natural disaster, I know firsthand how 
difficult it is to see the people who elected you facing such profound 
losses. I also know how much it means to have support from friends and 
allies during these times of crisis.
  Indeed, Indonesia has many friends around the world, as seen by the 
outpouring of international support for the earthquake relief efforts, 
which currently stands at about $16 million in financial commitments 
from more than 20 countries. For our part, the United States has 
released $300,000 for earthquake relief and has set aside an additional 
$3 million for recovery operations.
  In addition, the Secretary of Defense has authorized $7 million for 
relief operations in Indonesia, which includes setting up a field 
hospital, sending three U.S. Navy ships with helicopters and lift 
capability, and 45 metric tons of emergency relief commodities.

                              {time}  1200

  These are all signs of enduring friendship between our two countries.
  Time and time again, Indonesia has shown the world that democracy can 
not only survive, but thrive in a vibrant, multiethnic, moderate 
Islamic country. This resolution reflects our commitment to maintain a 
strong U.S.-Indonesia relationship and expresses our solidarity with 
the good people of Indonesia during these difficult times.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, introduced by my 
good friend and colleague, Dan Burton of Indiana, expressing the 
condolences of the Congress and the American people regarding the loss 
of life and property suffered by the people of Indonesia. The 
devastating earthquake which struck the island of Sumatra on September 
30 has reportedly led to the deaths of at least 700 people and the 
displacement of thousands more from their homes.
  The concern and the generosity of the American people is well-known 
to the people of Indonesia, as demonstrated following the devastating 
tsunami which struck their country in late December of 2004. The sight 
of U.S. military personnel engaged in tsunami rescue and relief 
operations made all Americans proud. The involvement of our two former 
U.S. Presidents in the Bush-Clinton Tsunami Relief Fund further 
demonstrated that when a crisis occurs, we are indeed our brothers' and 
sisters' keeper.
  The United States came to Indonesia's assistance once again after 
this most recent earthquake. We provided $300,000 in immediate response 
and set aside an additional $3 million for further relief efforts. The 
U.S. Navy was once again deployed, with three ships being dispatched 
with helicopters to provide emergency relief and supplies.
  We send the relief workers and the people of Indonesia our prayers 
and our best wishes for a rapid and full recovery as they continue 
their courageous efforts to assist the injured and to locate the 
missing.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono).
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 810. I 
would like to thank Congressman Dan Burton for his work on this 
resolution.
  In February 2008, I visited Indonesia as a member of the House 
Democracy Partnership. While our focus was meeting with members of the 
Indonesian House of Representatives, we made it a point to also visit 
Banda Aceh on the island of Sumatra.
  As you may recall, in December 2004, Banda Aceh was the closest major 
city to the epicenter of an Indian Ocean earthquake and suffered 
further damage by a tsunami that struck shortly afterwards. That 
earthquake measured 9.3 on the Richter scale.
  The awesome power of the tsunami was brought home to us as leaders of 
Banda Aceh showed us how the whole

[[Page H11319]]

area had literally been leveled and ships from port were swept inland 
by the water's force. Of course, the human tragedy was incalculable. 
Children became orphans instantly. Mothers, fathers and families were 
devastated.
  The recovery efforts in which the United States played a major role 
were extraordinary. What I was most impressed with, however, was the 
remarkable resiliency and spirit of the people of Banda Aceh. It is 
that same resiliency that I am sure will rise again out of the 
tragedies of the earthquakes and aftershocks of September 2009.
  My thoughts are with those who were lost, their loved ones, and the 
tens of thousands of survivors who are struggling in the aftermath. I 
stand with President Obama in his offer of assistance that will help 
alleviate the suffering and provide relief in this region.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, we continue to reserve.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I will say that Indonesia has come a long way in 
establishing its democracy, being the largest democratic country. It 
happens to be a Muslim country with a population of some 225 million 
people.
  I want to also commend President SBY for all that he is trying to do 
in helping the good people of West Papua. There have been some 
difficulties along the way, but I suspect that every effort is being 
made to address the needs of the people of West Papua. Certainly I 
congratulate them on the recent national elections that were done in 
such a way that it was again demonstrated that democracy can happen in 
a Muslim country like Indonesia.
  So I want us to realize that only 5 years ago we had a tsunami that 
also impacted Indonesia, that some 220,000 people died as a result of 
that terrible disaster, and for which I am very grateful that our 
country responded in such a way that I think the people of Indonesia 
deeply appreciated our assistance.
  So we are at this again. Another disaster struck Indonesia, and I 
thank the administration for all the efforts that are being made to 
give assistance to the good people of Indonesia.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I have the honor and privilege of 
co-chairing the Congressional Indonesia Caucus with my good friend, 
Congressman Wexler. Accordingly, I want to take this moment to express 
my heartfelt condolences to the citizens of Indonesia, the President, 
and the Indonesian government in the aftermath of the devastating 
earthquakes that struck the West Sumatra region this past month.
  On September 30, 2009, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that originated 
northwest of the city of Padang (population: 900,000) led to the loss 
of 800 lives. Countless more remain missing and are presumed dead while 
thousands have been displaced from their homes that were either 
destroyed or remain unsafe as ongoing tremors continue to bring 
uncertainty to the area.
  The quakes have devastated the region, destroying over 83,700 houses, 
200 public buildings, 285 schools, and have also caused extensive 
damage to an additional 100,000 buildings including hotels, mosques, 
shops, and hospitals, and approximately twenty miles of roads. Lying 
near the intersection of shifting tectonic plates, Indonesia is prone 
to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Such devastation is yet another 
tragedy to strike the region, which is still recovering from the 2004 
earthquake born from this very same fault line that resulted in the 
Indian Ocean tsunami and the loss of over 230,000 lives.
  As a result, I am very pleased to join my colleagues today in passing 
House Resolution 810 expressing our condolences to the Indonesian 
people for the devastating earthquake and loss of life in their Sumatra 
region.
  I would also like to commend the courage and perseverance of the 
Indonesian government and people as they work tirelessly with 
humanitarian organizations in distributing aid and mobilizing relief 
efforts. All the while, strong aftershocks continue to rock the region 
and create hazardous conditions for both residents and rescue workers.
  There is still much to be done, yet the Indonesian government and 
countless other humanitarian and private groups continue to provide 
emergency assistance to those in need.
  The U.S. also shows our support as we reaffirm our commitment by 
releasing millions in aid and contributing to the widespread 
international response. We continue to regard Indonesia as an important 
ally, recognizing its recent democratic transition and transformation 
into the world's third largest democracy. In addition, hosting the 
world's largest Muslim majority, the people of Indonesia demonstrate 
that Islam and democracy are not mutually exclusive and can 
successfully work in tandem. Thus, we look forward to fostering future 
cooperation between the United States and Indonesia in the areas of 
trade, national security, and cultural awareness and appreciation.
  The Indonesian people have seen tremendous change in the last decade, 
and they once again continue to persevere through tragedy. It is my 
hope that our nations will only continue to grow in our commitment to 
one another and to freedom, justice, and democracy.
  I would like to thank Congressman Berman and Ranking Member Ileana 
Ros-Lehtinen for helping to move this important resolution to the 
floor.
  And, again I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Indonesian people 
and the family and friends of those who are suffering greatly as a 
result of this disaster.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, we yield back the balance of our time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, 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. 810.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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