[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 149 (Thursday, October 15, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING SYMPATHY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE PHILIPPINES DEALING WITH 
                TROPICAL STORM KETSANA AND TYPHOON PARMA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 14, 2009

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill and 
urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this important resolution. 
Tropical Storm Katsana caused horrible suffering to the people of the 
Philippines and wreaked havoc on their communities. Just six days 
later, Typhoon Parma brought additional death and destruction to the 
region.
  I extend my deepest sympathies to those who have lost friends and 
loved ones in these natural disasters. My thoughts and prayers are with 
them.
  On October 2nd I sent a letter to President Obama regarding the 
devastation in the Philippines caused by Katsana. I urged swift action 
to provide aid to the already devastated region especially in light of 
the proximity of Typhoon Parma.
  I would like to submit this letter for the record, as well as a 
letter from the UN General Assembly in response to my request.

                                    Congress of the United States,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                 Washington, DC, October, 2, 2009.
     Hon. Barack Obama,
     President of the United States,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: I write to request your immediate 
     assistance and intervention in speeding humanitarian aid to 
     the people of the Philippines who are suffering from the 
     effects of Tropical Storm Katsana. As you know, Tropical 
     Storm Katsana hit Manila and rest of the Philippines on 
     September 26, 2009, causing a disaster.
       I have just spoken by teleconference with an Akron, Ohio 
     businessman, Mathew Freeman, who is currently in Manila. Mr. 
     Freeman, through the cooperation of Channel 5 in Cleveland, 
     has shared with me a gripping personal account of the 
     situation on the ground in Manila: there is no evidence of 
     any aid reaching the people. Survivors are without shelter, 
     food and water as another series of storms are quickly 
     approaching.
       I understand that the Department of Defense is providing 
     assistance with logistics in the region and that today a 
     relief flight delivered aid for 20,000 affected individuals. 
     I further understand that the U.S. has committed an 
     additional $1 million of aid money to the region, which I 
     applaud. Nevertheless, first hand accounts indicate that 
     additional efforts to expedite humanitarian aid must be made 
     and made immediately. The situation is desperate and 
     countless lives are at risk. As such, I urge you to 
     accelerate delivery of additional humanitarian aid to the 
     region.
       I appreciate your attention to this urgent matter and look 
     forward to your timely response.
           Sincerely,
                                               Dennis J. Kucinich,
                                               Member of Congress.
                                  ____
                                  
                                              The President of the


                                             General Assembly,

                                                 October 12, 2009.
     Hon. Dennis J. Kucinich,
     Member of Congress of the United States, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Kucinich: I am writing to thank you for 
     showing urgent concern for the victims of the tropical storm 
     Katsana in the Philippines. I value your efforts to alleviate 
     the suffering of the two and a half million people affected 
     by the storm and to raise awareness of the situation in the 
     Philippines.
       As you know, the United Nations has launched a flash appeal 
     to support the Government of the Philippines in responding to 
     the effects of the storm. The flash appeal is seeking 
     $74,021,809 and involves the international humanitarian 
     community, including NGOs, the International Organization for 
     Migration (IOM) and United Nations agencies. So far the flash 
     appeal has received $11 million in funding and an additional 
     $433,119 in pledges.
       I am pleased to note that the United States have 
     contributed $650,000 to the United Nations flash appeal, in 
     addition to other funding for relief operations. I am 
     convinced that your valuable efforts on behalf of the victims 
     of Katsana, have contributed to the timely and generous 
     support from the United States.
           Sincerely,
     Ali Abdussalam Treki.

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