[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 96 (Thursday, June 19, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3866-S3867]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 480--EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES AND SUPPORTING ASSISTANCE 
    FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE HISTORIC FLOODING IN THE WESTERN BALKANS

  Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Mr. Portman, and Mr. Murphy) submitted

[[Page S3867]]

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 480

       Whereas record rainfall beginning on May 13, 2014, has led 
     to widespread flooding in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the 
     Republic of Croatia, and the Republic of Serbia, causing 
     thousands of landslides, massive destruction, and loss of 
     life;
       Whereas by May 22, 2014, the flooding caused over 40 deaths 
     and impacted over 500,000 people across the region, 
     particularly in western Serbia and eastern Bosnia and 
     Herzegovina;
       Whereas the equivalent of 3 months of rain fell during the 
     course of 3 days, making this the worst flooding event in 
     Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in 120 years;
       Whereas the flooding has left thousands of people stranded 
     in their homes waiting for assistance, displaced, or without 
     shelter;
       Whereas according to the International Federation of Red 
     Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 300,000 people in Serbia 
     and 50,000 people in Bosnia and Herzegovina were left without 
     clean water or electricity;
       Whereas the Foreign Ministry of Bosnia and Herzegovina has 
     reported that the flooding rendered 100,000 buildings 
     unusable, caused 500,000 people to evacuate or flee their 
     homes, and prompted 14 municipalities to declare a state of 
     emergency;
       Whereas the Government of Serbia has described the 
     situation in that country as ``catastrophic'', and estimates 
     that at least 25,000 people have been forced to evacuate, 
     particularly in the town and municipality of Obrenovac, and 
     that the flooding has caused over 100,000,000 Euros 
     ($140,000,000) in damage to the Kolubara coal mine that 
     supplies the Nikola Tesla power plants;
       Whereas soldiers and energy workers scrambled to erect 
     sandbag barriers to protect the Kostolac power plant and the 
     Nikola Tesla power plants, which provide half of the 
     country's electricity, from the waters of the flooded Sava, 
     Kolubara, and Tamnava Rivers;
       Whereas, according to the International Medical Corps, as 
     many as 120,000 landmines remaining from the Balkan conflicts 
     of the 1990s may have been lost or dislodged due to 
     landslides, causing great concern for public safety;
       Whereas the United States Government has approved or 
     provided $2,060,000 in funds through the United States Agency 
     for International Development's Office of United States 
     Foreign Disaster Assistance, the Department of Defense, and 
     the Under Secretary of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs 
     for the Republic of Serbia.
       Whereas the United States Government has provided 
     $2,740,000 in humanitarian assistance to Bosnia and 
     Herzegovina; and
       Whereas the Governments and people of Bosnia and 
     Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and the Republic of 
     Serbia share an increasing commitment to core democratic 
     values, reconciliation, and European integration: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses deep sympathy to all those affected by the 
     flooding in the Western Balkans for the terrible loss of life 
     and massive destruction;
       (2) expresses solidarity with the people of Bosnia and 
     Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and the Republic of 
     Serbia, as well as a continued desire to provide assistance 
     to help their countries recover from this natural disaster;
       (3) expresses ongoing support for humanitarian and 
     reconstruction assistance provided by relief agencies and the 
     international community as immediate and long-term needs are 
     identified;
       (4) commends local authorities, first responders and rescue 
     personnel, NGOs, volunteers, and everyday citizens for their 
     efforts to organize and deliver disaster relief to 
     communities in need across Bosnia and Herzegovina, the 
     Republic of Croatia, and the Republic of Serbia;
       (5) commends the United States Government agencies, 
     including USAID and the Department of Defense, for their 
     response to the natural disaster; and
       (6) urges additional assistance by other nations and 
     organizations as needed to alleviate the difficult 
     circumstances and suffering of the people of Bosnia and 
     Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and the Republic of 
     Serbia, and to assist them in their recovery efforts.

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