[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 15, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H6709-H6713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO PAKISTANI PEOPLE AFTER FLOODS
Mr. BARROW. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1613) expressing condolences to and solidarity
with the people of Pakistan in the aftermath of the devastating floods
that began on July 22, 2010, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1613
Whereas heavy rainfall that began on July 22, 2010, and
subsequent flooding throughout Pakistan have caused a
humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions that has
affected over 20,000,000 people, killing more than 1,750,
injuring over 2,700, damaging or destroying upwards of
1,800,000 houses, and displacing millions of men, women, and
children;
Whereas the devastation wrought by the floods has been
catastrophic, submerging one-fifth of the country and
destroying critical infrastructure, farms, schools, homes,
and businesses, leaving an estimated 800,000 Pakistanis
stranded and cut off from all help;
Whereas according to the Government of Pakistan, the floods
have affected 30 percent of all agricultural land and could
lower by one-half Pakistan's economic growth rate for the
current fiscal year, further destabilizing a nation already
beset by multiple daunting challenges;
Whereas the emergency continues to unfold in Sindh
Province, where just under 7,000,000 people have already been
affected, of whom 1,300,000 are in government relief camps,
with new evacuation orders recently having been issued;
Whereas the danger of the floods extends beyond the current
humanitarian crisis, with the potential to create significant
instability in Pakistan;
Whereas the Pakistani Army, Navy, and Frontier Corps have
sent humanitarian supplies and medical teams to flood-hit
areas, while the National and Provincial Disaster Management
Authorities have coordinated international relief activities;
Whereas the United States has responded to the crisis with
relief and recovery funds, food and medical supplies, and
logistical support that account for more than 20 percent of
total international humanitarian contributions and
commitments;
Whereas the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID), through its Office of U.S. Foreign
Disaster Assistance (OFDA), has supported 26 mobile medical
teams, delivered more than 8,000 rolls of plastic sheeting to
provide temporary shelter for approximately 247,000 people,
and dispatched 13 mobile water treatment units to support the
Government of Pakistan's flood relief effort, which have
produced more than 12,000,000 liters of clean water;
Whereas USAID's Office of Food for Peace (FFP) has provided
direct support for the United Nations World Food Program's
food ration distributions, helping to reach approximately
3,000,000 Pakistanis with more than 48,000 metric tons of
food;
Whereas the United States Department of Defense has
dispatched 23 military helicopters and four C-130 aircraft to
deliver more than 5,000,000 pounds of relief supplies and has
rescued more than 13,000 flood-affected individuals;
Whereas the United States has provided civilian and
military in-kind assistance in the form of halal meals,
prefabricated steel bridges, and other infrastructure
support;
Whereas the United States is working in close partnership
with United Nations-affiliated and international humanitarian
organizations to support relief, recovery, and
reconstruction;
Whereas the Pakistani-American community has demonstrated
strong leadership in rallying support for flood victims,
directing public attention to the crisis, and disseminating
information about the response;
Whereas scores of United States private and voluntary
organizations have mobilized quickly to respond to the crisis
in Pakistan with both emergency relief and longer term
development assistance, raising over $11,000,000 in private
donations for assessing emergency needs, distributing water,
food, and relief items, and providing medical care and
temporary shelter;
Whereas the success of United States Government
humanitarian efforts depends heavily on the skills,
expertise, and field presence of international and
nongovernmental organizations;
[[Page H6710]]
Whereas United States businesses have contributed more than
$8,000,000 in humanitarian assistance for Pakistani flood
victims;
Whereas the immediate and swift reaction of United States
military personnel, diplomats, and development experts has
saved countless lives and encouraged a generous international
response;
Whereas the people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and
the United States share a long history of friendship,
economic cooperation, and enduring family ties, and the
interests of both nations are well served by strengthening
and deepening the bilateral relationship;
Whereas the United States Congress adopted, and the
President signed into law, the Enhanced Partnership with
Pakistan Act of 2009, which authorizes democratic, economic,
development, and security assistance over 5 years to help the
Pakistani people achieve their aspirations for a democratic,
stable, and prosperous society; and
Whereas the United States remains committed to helping the
resilient and resourceful people of Pakistan surmount and
recover from this natural disaster: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) mourns the significant loss of life, as well as the
physical damage, caused by the flooding in Pakistan;
(2) expresses its deepest condolences and sympathy to the
families of the victims of the floods, and its solidarity
with the millions of affected Pakistanis;
(3) recognizes that Pakistan is and remains a close ally
and friend of the United States;
(4) recognizes that an effective and accountable government
in Pakistan is essential for the country's long-term recovery
and stability;
(5) urges the United States Administration and the
international community, including private citizens and
foreign governments, to continue providing assistance to help
the people of Pakistan and to help strengthen and support the
capacity of the Government of Pakistan to meet the needs of
its people;
(6) supports the use of funds authorized by the Enhanced
Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009 for the purposes of
providing long-term recovery and rehabilitation for flood-
affected areas and populations;
(7) urges a reexamination of priorities for spending the
funds authorized by the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan
Act of 2009, with a view toward ensuring that the needs of
the Pakistani people are appropriately addressed in the
aftermath of the disaster;
(8) commends the relief and recovery actions, still
underway, by the United States military, the Department of
State, and USAID to assist the people of Pakistan during this
critical period;
(9) commends the extraordinary humanitarian efforts and
sustained commitment to helping the people of Pakistan by
international and nongovernmental organizations;
(10) recognizes the contributions of the Pakistani-American
community and United States businesses to relief and recovery
efforts in Pakistan; and
(11) reaffirms the commitment of the people of the United
States to partner with the people of Pakistan to respond to
the immediate crisis and build the foundations for a
successful and lasting recovery.
{time} 1240
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Barrow) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
General Leave
Mr. BARROW. Madam 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 Georgia?
There was no objection.
Mr. BARROW. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this
resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
On July 22, 2010, Pakistan began to experience devastating flooding,
which in the subsequent days and weeks has led to a severe humanitarian
crisis. Thus far, over 20 million Pakistanis have been affected. The
flooding has resulted in the deaths of over 1,750 people, injured
another 2,700, and left 800,000 cut off from assistance. The floods
have submerged one-fifth of the country and damaged or destroyed more
than 1.8 million homes, along with countless schools, farms, and
businesses.
The Government of Pakistan says that the flooding has affected 30
percent of all agricultural land and could reduce by up to one-half
Pakistan's economic growth rate for the current fiscal year, further
destabilizing a nation already beset by daunting economic challenges.
The United States has responded to the crisis with over $250 million
in relief and recovery funds, more than 20 percent of the total
international humanitarian contribution, in the form of relief and
recovery funds, food and medical supplies, and logistical support.
Governments and humanitarian aid agencies from around the world have
mobilized to provide much needed assistance to the relief and recovery
efforts. We hope that all of the committed friends of Pakistan are able
to galvanize additional support and funding for the recovery and
subsequent reconstruction efforts.
In addition to recognizing the devastating impact of the floods, this
resolution emphasizes the importance of a robust and long-term
strategic partisanship between the United States and Pakistan, the
enduring people-to-people and governmental ties between our two
countries, and our long-standing support for a democratic, stable, and
prosperous Pakistan.
Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bipartisan
resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this timely
resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, the raging floodwaters that have battered much of
Pakistan since late July are at long last finally beginning to recede.
But the challenges are no less today than they were earlier this
summer. Indeed, if anything, they may be even greater as Pakistan and
its friends abroad begin to assess the full magnitude of the economic
and human costs of this devastating calamity. The heavy monsoon floods
that struck the Indus River and its tributaries have caused enormous
damage to the economy and the people of Pakistan.
The numbers are staggering. Nearly 20 million people have been
affected by the floods, including millions of men, women, and children
who have been physically displaced from their homes destroyed by the
ravages of the rampaging waters. As one Pakistani commentator has
noted, ``In the mounting humanitarian disaster, survivors have been
engaged in a desperate daily struggle for food and shelter as well as a
battle against deadly disease.''
Pakistan's already shaky economy has been dealt a body blow. Growth
is now expected to fall by half, with widespread losses to agriculture
and livestock. Meanwhile, the floods have also wreaked havoc on
Pakistan's public infrastructure, with bridges and roads cut off, power
stations shut down, and gas and petroleum supplies suspended. In this
dire circumstance, the United States has responded generously and with
great dispatch to assist the people of Pakistan in their hour of need.
The executive branch has mobilized expertise and resources at the
Departments of State, Defense, and USAID, while the private sector,
including Pakistani-Americans, religious communities, and nongovernment
organizations have provided impressive financial and on-the-ground
assistance.
Meanwhile, new and formidable challenges will present themselves to
Islamabad and its friends abroad once the full extent of Pakistan's
rehabilitation and reconstruction needs become known.
Madam Speaker, the enormity of this tragedy for the Pakistani people
is grounds enough to merit a robust and compassionate response by the
United States of America and the people. Our hearts go out to the
millions of victims whose lives have been literally uprooted by the
havoc that accompanied this unprecedented flooding.
At the same time, we need to be mindful that Pakistan is also a close
friend and ally. It plays a large role in the United States' strategic
policy towards Afghanistan and the broader reaches of South and Central
Asia. It is a country that remains engaged in a deadly struggle against
violent extremists seeking to destabilize its already fractured
society. It is a nuclear weapons state in which the maintenance of
domestic stability and the success of democratic governance bear
directly on our own homeland security. To be sure, this is an
enormously complex relationship.
Madam Speaker, in this context it is clear that the United States
needs to
[[Page H6711]]
remain deeply engaged with Pakistan and the Pakistani people as they
recover from the ravages of this crisis, including through continued
humanitarian aid and related forms of effective, transparent, and
targeted assistance. I therefore support the passage of this
resolution, and I urge my colleagues to get behind this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BARROW. Madam Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), and I ask unanimous consent
that she be allowed to control that time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Let me thank the distinguished gentleman
from Georgia, and let me thank him very much for his very important
statement on this important resolution. And as well I would like to
thank the chairman of our full committee, Mr. Berman, and the ranking
member of our full committee, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, and the manager of this
legislation for the minority for the words that I believe are
enormously important.
Let me indicate to my colleagues that this may be the most important,
or one of the most important, and devastating humanitarian crises that
we have faced over the time frame that we have been in Congress. And
let me say this. We have gone through Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. As I
stand here today, there are a number of hurricanes that are in the gulf
region. We add our sympathy to the people in California experiencing an
enormous and terrible explosion. To my friend from Utah, he knows that
those dear friends have experienced their own share of concerns
certainly with natural disasters. So we don't take anything away from
the suffering of the American people or others. Many of us remember the
tsunami, for all of our communities were engaged in trying to get our
hands around that natural disaster and to be of help.
But as many have expressed as they have come back to the United
States from Pakistan, Madam Speaker, I can assure you that this looms
so large that it is without description. The reason is because we know
that there was rain, we know that there was a flood, or flooding, but
we probably are not aware that the water has remained in place in so
much and so many areas of Pakistan that it equals the size of States
like Rhode Island. So we have people who cannot return even to see what
remains or what losses they have experienced, or to even begin to
recover and to rebuild.
I would encourage my colleagues to see the extent of that damage by
way of a presentation that is being made today, the Pakistan Flood
Disaster Photo Exhibit, from which I will just share one picture. And
you can go to the Rayburn Foyer all day today and see the depth of the
devastation.
So I want to thank you, Madam Speaker, as I rise today in strong
support of H. Res. 1613, expressing condolences to, and solidarity
with, the people of Pakistan in the aftermath of the devastating floods
that began on July 22, 2010. I would like to thank my colleague,
Chairman Berman, for introducing this important and timely resolution,
which I offer and know that many have cosponsored, including myself.
On July 22, Pakistan experienced one of the heaviest monsoon rains in
at least 80 years in the region. For those who have been to Islamabad,
Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, we understand the terrain of that Nation and
realize that it is again unspeakable in its description. The massive
amount of rain triggered both flash floods and river flooding
throughout Pakistan, leading to widespread displacement, infrastructure
damage, and contamination of water sources.
Madam Speaker, I have spoken about the value of clean water for many
years as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, but as well in
general in this Congress. And I will tell you that as Pakistani
Americans have come to my office, they have said the most deadly aspect
of this flood is for mothers and babies and children and families not
to be able to have clean water. And therefore disease being spread
through lack of clean water, seeing malnourished children, but children
who are likewise devastated by not having water suffering from
infection and disease.
The flooding has caused a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented
proportions that has affected over 20 million people, which aid
agencies assert has a greater human impact than Pakistan's earthquake
in 2005, the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, and the recent earthquake in
Haiti combined.
{time} 1250
More than 1,750 people have been killed; 2,700 have been injured; and
millions of men and women and children are displaced. Let me be very
clear: we do not do one-upsmanship in disasters. We do not diminish
Haiti; we do not diminish the tsunami or the earthquake. What we are
saying is that the disaster we speak of today is ongoing, as there are
in other places around the world, but ongoing to the extent that people
who want to help, to come in and help and be part of recovery, cannot
get to where they need to be.
Moreover, flooding is expected to intensify as rains continue. In the
Sindh and Punjab provinces, for example, earlier rainfall in the north
has led to rising levels in the Indus River and is expected to coincide
with increased rainfall.
The flood disaster, which started 2 months ago as a result of heavy
monsoon rain, has left more than 20 million people suffering in the
ravaged conditions. One-fifth of Pakistan is submerged in water,
destroying critical infrastructure, schools, homes, hospitals, business
and farms.
My heartfelt condolences go out to the families in Pakistan and those
individuals here in the United States who have loved ones in the
affected areas. I am urging our government to offer resources and
expertise, including assistance and recovery efforts, to help our
friends in Pakistan make it through this tragic episode.
We are now discussing how we provide new technology to decontaminate
the water, and I hope that the State Department will receive the
information that my office has to work on this new technology and
literally carry it over to be able to decontaminate this water and to
provide clean water to the refugee camps but also to those who may have
been able to make it close to where their home was.
I have been working with the State Department to increase
humanitarian relief funds for Pakistan and have asked for additional
funds that have already been authorized for Pakistan to be reprogrammed
in order to bolster relief and reconstruction efforts.
I again want to mention the Foreign Affairs Committee. I want to
again mention our chairman and ranking member who have never stepped
away from the international devastation that so many of our friends
experience. The Foreign Affairs Committee has stood front and center to
work with the Senate and work with the administration to ensure that
the faith and the friendship of the United States is front and center
on these terrible disasters. I thank the committee again.
I also wrote a letter to President Obama with Representative Dan
Burton, my fellow cochair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus,
expressing our deep concern for the humanitarian tragedy in Pakistan
and asking them to expedite the flow of U.S. aid, supplies and workers
in the region.
I would like to take this opportunity to encourage the President to
aid Pakistan and to add Pakistan to his trip to South Asia, which is
planned for the fall, and hope that we could join with him.
Madam Speaker, the key is how do we find solutions, and I would ask
that we as Americans not be defined, as small news postscripts suggest,
that we are not contributing to the aid of the Pakistani people. First
of all, we are moving emergency dollars, but I also hope that we can
draw upon Americans' individual caring and humanitarian commitment so
that we can send a mercy plane stocked with medicine and baby formula
and clothing for children and school supplies in short order to this
devastated region.
In Houston, a number of my constituents met as a part of the Pakistan
Caucus to commit themselves to this great humanitarian effort, and we
would call upon all who can hear my voice to participate in helping us
pursue that. This
[[Page H6712]]
resolution is a very important statement that says to the American
people and to our colleagues that we are supporting the people of
Pakistan who need our help.
I do again want to acknowledge the partnership of the Congressional
Pakistan Caucus and the Pakistani American Leadership Center that is
bringing these Pakistan relief workers here to discuss the devastating
conditions in Pakistan.
I also want to mention Ambassador Anne Patterson, who is still in
Pakistan, who has been a stalwart of representation of the United
States, who has been through the earthquake, who has been through the
tragedy of the loss of Benazir Bhutto and now this unspeakable tragedy
of flooding and has maintained the leadership of the United States.
I am very glad that we have this resolution on the floor of the
House. I want to thank my friend and colleague who likewise has given a
very important statement, as well as the gentleman from Georgia, to
acknowledge this resolution to express our commitment to the people of
Pakistan.
I look forward to visiting Pakistan to see firsthand the extent of
the devastation and to assess and assist in the relief efforts. With
the need for reconstruction and recovery efforts growing, I believe it
is vital that we lead a congressional humanitarian mission to Pakistan,
which will signal to those people that the friendship between the
United States and Pakistan remains unbroken as we fight the war on
terror and continue to hope to improve the lives of the men, women and
children of this great nation.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1613,
``Expressing condolences to and solidarity with the people of Pakistan
in the aftermath of the devastating floods that began on July 22,
2010.'' I would like to thank my colleague, Chairman Berman, for
introducing this important and timely resolution.
On July 22, 2010, Pakistan experienced one of the heaviest monsoon
rains in at least 80 years in the region. The massive amount of rain
triggered both flash floods and river flooding throughout Pakistan,
leading to widespread displacement, infrastructure damage and
contamination of water sources. The flooding has caused a humanitarian
crisis of unprecedented proportions that has affected over 20 million
people, which aid agencies assert is a greater human impact than
Pakistan's earthquake in 2005, the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, and
the recent earthquake in Haiti combined. More than 1,750 people have
been killed, 2,700 have been injured, and millions of men, women, and
children are displaced. Moreover, the flooding is expected to intensify
as rains continue. In Sindh and Punjab provinces, for example, earlier
rainfall in the north has led to rising water levels in the Indus River
and is expected to coincide with increased rainfall.
The flood disaster, which started two months ago as a result of heavy
monsoon rain, has left more than 20 million people suffering in ravaged
conditions. One fifth of Pakistan is submerged in water, destroying
critical infrastructure, schools, homes, hospitals, businesses, and
farms. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families in Pakistan and
those individuals here in the United States who have loved ones in the
affected areas. I am urging our government to offer any resources and
expertise, including assistance with recovery efforts, to help our
friends in Pakistan make it through this tragic episode. I have been
working with the State Department to increase humanitarian relief funds
for Pakistan and have asked for additional funds that have already been
authorized for Pakistan to be reprogrammed in order to bolster relief
and reconstruction efforts. I also wrote a letter to President Obama
with Rep. Dan Burton, my fellow Co-Chair of the Congressional Pakistan
Caucus, expressing our deep concern for the humanitarian tragedy in
Pakistan and asking him to expedite the flow of U.S. aid, supplies, and
workers into the region.
I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage President
Obama to add Pakistan to his trip to South Asia, which is planned for
this fall. In light of the recent devastation affecting Pakistan and
our important alliance with Pakistan in our anti-terrorism efforts in
both Pakistan and Afghanistan, I think President Obama's visit
would communicate to both the people and government of Pakistan the
extent of our national commitment to their welfare.
Madam Speaker, the scale of the devastation is so large that it will
take months before we know the actual death toll and be able to assess
the damage of the flood. Hospitals are overwhelmed with the injured and
thousands of people are stuck on their rooftops and in higher areas as
they try to escape rushing floodwaters. Thousands of victims require
additional shelter with the cold weather approaching; falling
temperatures, food shortages, and water-borne diseases are making it
necessary for Pakistan to shelter, cloth, and feed the millions of
displaced and homeless before freezing temperatures arrive.
As Co-Chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus, I am extremely
concerned with the security of the region. It is critical that the
United States offer the economic and humanitarian assistance necessary
for Pakistan in its recovery efforts. In a region of political and
religious turmoil, the United States must do all it can in order for
Pakistan's fragile democracy to survive and thrive.
Furthermore, as Co-Chair of the Pakistani Caucus, I have taken the
initiative to work with several Pakistani organizations and members of
the Pakistan community in Houston and throughout the United States to
increase awareness and coordinate relief efforts in Pakistan. I have
organized meetings and briefings in both Houston and Washington, D.C.
as well. This includes a photo exhibit that is occurring in the Rayburn
House Office Building foyer today that is being hosted by the
Congressional Pakistan Caucus and the Pakistani American Leadership
Center (PAL-C) illustrating the extent of the damage caused by the
floods in Pakistan. My commitment to the people of Pakistan is
unwavering, and I look forward to visiting Pakistan soon to see
firsthand the extent of the devastation and to assess and assist in the
relief efforts. With the need for reconstruction and recovery efforts
growing, I believe it is vital to lead a Congressional humanitarian
mission to Pakistan, which will signal to the people and the nation of
Pakistan the extent of our commitment to addressing the challenges they
face in the recovery efforts.
Congress of the United States,
Washington, DC, September 8, 2010.
Hon. Barack Obama,
President of the United States of America, The White House,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. President: As co-chairs of the Congressional
Pakistan Caucus we remain deeply concerned about the
humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Pakistan due to the recent
historic floods. We respectfully ask you to do everything
possible within your authority to help expedite the flow of
U.S. and international aid supplies and workers into the
region.
By all accounts, the flooding in Pakistan has now affected
more than 20 million people, which aid agencies say is a
greater human impact than Pakistan's earthquake in 2005, the
Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, and the recent earthquake in
Haiti combined. Sadly, despite the commendable generosity of
the American people and the international community to date,
the situation appears to remain perilous. Reports indicate
that waterborne disease is rapidly spreading among tens of
thousands of flood victims. In addition, food shortages are
becoming a major concern as the market prices of essential
foods have skyrocketed after billions of dollars worth of
crops were destroyed by the flood waters.
We commend the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) for immediately undertaking an aid
mission to the region; however, we concur with John Holmes,
the UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs'
opinion that ``these unprecedented floods pose unprecedented
logistical challenges, and this requires an extraordinary
effort by the international community.'' The United States
has an historic opportunity to reshape America's image in
Pakistan by taking the lead in aggressively addressing
Pakistan's immediate relief needs as well as forging
international consensus to address Pakistan's longer-term
reconstruction needs. For example, last year Congress
authorized $7.5 billion in civilian aid to Pakistan; of which
approximately $1 billion was set aside for democracy
building. While we strongly support efforts to strengthen
Pakistan's democratic institutions, relief and rehabilitation
of the floods victims is a more pressing need. Reprogramming
those funds for humanitarian relief would immediately
quadruple U.S. aid funds--hopefully spurring other nations to
follow suit--and it would do so at no additional cost to the
U.S. taxpayer.
We also respectfully urge you to give all due consideration
to using the power of the Presidency's bully pulpit to
highlight the plight of Pakistanis to the U.S media and
encourage Americans to consider donating to the relief
effort. The American people are extremely generous. Time and
time again, whenever they have been asked, the American
people have rallied to help people around the world. We are
confident that the American people will once again
demonstrate their generosity by donating to the Pakistani
relief efforts if they are made more aware of the tragedy;
and a statement from the White House is certain to garner
such media attention. To that end, we respectfully ask you to
consider making a public appeal to the American public on
behalf of the people of Pakistan.
Mr. President, the global fight against extremists who
exploit the religion of Islam is not only a military struggle
but a struggle to win the hearts and minds of the Muslim
world; particularly the young people. We
[[Page H6713]]
know that the U.S. response to the 2005 earthquake in
Pakistan led to a short-term positive increase in public
opinion of the United States in Pakistan. A significant and
long-term commitment by the United States to help Pakistan
recover from these devastating floods could have an even more
profound affect. If we do not seize this opportunity we
significantly increase the chances that Pakistan may fall
under the influence of extremist elements; that would be
disastrous for our future security. We must address the human
tragedy unfolding in Pakistan now before it is too late. So
once again, we respectfully ask you to everything possible
within your authority to help expedite the flow of U.S. and
international aide supplies and workers into the region.
We thank you for giving your personal time and attention to
this critically important matter.
Sincerely,
Dan Burton,
Member of Congress.
Sheila Jackson Lee,
Member of Congress.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, we support the passage of this
resolution. Our hearts and prayers go out to the people of Pakistan who
are dealing with untold tragedies and difficult situations. I urge
passage of this resolution.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, seeing that we have no other
speakers, let me simply conclude by thanking my distinguished friend
from Utah. We worked together on other issues.
If I might take a point of personal privilege, I have never doubted
his commitment when we speak of these humanitarian issues, and I want
to thank you for that. As well, I want to thank Mr. Barrow for his
leadership on the issue and hope that he will join us as we work on
these devastating conditions in Pakistan.
I ask my colleagues to support this very important legislation.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Barrow) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1613, 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.
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam 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.
____________________