[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 172 (Thursday, December 5, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H7510-H7511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            THE PHILIPPINES

  (Mr. AL GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address the

[[Page H7511]]

House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Congressman 
Christopher Smith of New Jersey for leading a codel to the Philippines. 
I, along with Congressman Trent Franks, were members of the codel. And 
I want people to know that there is still great work to be done for our 
friends in the Philippines.
  This picture depicts some of the damage that we were able to see 
while we were there in Tacloban, which is a province in the 
Philippines. This is another picture that shows actual homes. This is a 
USAID sign. And these are places where people are actually dwelling at 
this time. The number one problem that they have right now is shelter.
  I will also add that our military has done an outstanding job. I had 
an opportunity to meet with many of our military people who were there 
with heavy equipment, and I commend them for what they have done.
  Finally, I would like to say this. We have a bill, H.R. 3602, which 
would accord people from the Philippines in the United States a 
temporary protective status. This would allow them to stay here, as 
opposed to going home where the income is less than $2 a day for more 
than 40 percent of the people.
  My hope is that we can pass H.R. 3602. It does not give any pathway 
to citizenship. It will only allow them to send money back home while 
they are here working in the United States.

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