[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 125 (Thursday, September 16, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1672-E1673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO PAKISTANI PEOPLE AFTER FLOODS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 15, 2010

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, as an original sponsor of this 
resolution, I join Chairman Berman, Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen and my 
colleagues in strong support of H. Res. 1613, a resolution expressing 
our condolences and support to the Pakistani people as they face a 
humanitarian disaster of monumental dimensions.
  Today, a fifth of the country of Pakistan is under water as the 
country endures the greatest flooding in a century. More than 1,750 
people have lost their lives, over 2,700 people have been injured and 
almost 2 million homes have been destroyed--displacing millions of men, 
women and children. Hundreds of bridges have been destroyed, cutting 
off communities from relief supplies. And many communities lie 
vulnerable to cholera and other epidemics as access to clean drinking 
water diminishes. This disaster has impacted the lives of tens of 
millions of people.
  Acting swiftly, the U.S. government joined forces with the Pakistani 
government to provide immediate assistance. American military 
helicopters were redirected to rescue efforts within hours of the 
Pakistani Government's request for help. American military aircraft 
began delivering hundreds of thousands of meals and millions of pounds 
of relief supplies to the affected areas. We have provided heavy-duty 
waterproof sheeting to construct temporary shelters for more than 
100,000 people, rescue boats, construction equipment, water filtration 
units, and even prefabricated bridges. We are working hand-in-hand with 
the Pakistan National Disaster Management Authority to ensure this 
assistance is delivered expeditiously to those in need.
  Additionally, the U.S. has pledged more than $150 million toward 
emergency flood relief. Approximately $92 million of that total is in 
direct support of the UN relief plan. USAID and the State Department 
are also working together to redirect $60 million of the $7.5 billion 
Pakistan development aid package to flood recovery and reconstruction 
efforts. And, in light of fast moving events on the ground, USAID 
Administrator Shah has expressed an intention to re-evaluate future 
uses of the Pakistan aid package.
  This is a time of great crisis for the Pakistani people and they 
urgently need our help. This resolution expresses our support for the 
people of Pakistan as they face this unprecedented catastrophe and 
encourages the Obama Administration to re-examine its priorities for 
using funds under the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009 in 
light of the crisis.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

[[Page E1673]]



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