[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 78 (Wednesday, May 20, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H3398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            DO UNTO OTHERS AS WE WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO US

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Al Green) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the great Mahalia Jackson was a 
gospel singer. The great singer and civil rights activist Mahalia 
Jackson, once proclaimed by Harry Belafonte to be the most powerful 
woman in America, the great Mahalia Jackson gave us some words to live 
by, some words that can add meaning to life. She, in one of her songs, 
indicated that, and I shall paraphrase, if I can help somebody as I 
travel along, then my living shall not be in vain. Live not in vain; 
help somebody--that is the essence of the message that she presented.
  I am here today to speak of persons who are in harm's way and who are 
suffering. The people of Nepal have had two earthquakes visited upon 
them: one a 7.8 magnitude, the other a 7.3 magnitude. These two 
earthquakes have done great damage. More than 8,000 people are dead. I 
am looking at the statistical information: more than 16,000 injured, 8 
million persons affected, nearly 500,000 homes destroyed, another 
200,000-plus damaged. They are still in harm's way, but there is 
something we can do. We can do unto others as we would have them do to 
us if we had suffered a similar tragedy.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a great opportunity for us to do something to 
help without actually expending a lot of American dollars, although we 
have spent quite a bit. I am proud to say that the United States has 
accorded approximately $40 million to this effort--$40 million. It will 
take a lot more, but the United States is involved in doing its part. 
We have had our rescue teams there; and one of our rescue teams, 
unfortunately, suffered some tragedy. One of our military helicopters 
went down. We have lost lives there. People have been there living not 
in vain, trying to do what they can to be of assistance, doing unto 
others as we would have them do for us under similar circumstances.
  One of the things that we can do is sign on to a bill that will allow 
those persons who are in this country from Nepal, who are here 
lawfully, to stay in this country for an extended period of time while 
their country is recovering. H.R. 2033 affords Nepalese who are in the 
United States of America to stay for a while longer. They will not have 
their status in the country change. They won't become persons on a 
pathway to citizenship. They will simply have more time here. We will 
not send them back in harm's way. We will do unto them what we would 
have them do unto us if we were in a similar circumstance.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill has many persons who are supporting it. More 
than 50 persons have supported this piece of legislation. I am proud to 
say that some of the persons who have supported it are persons who have 
great Nepalese communities, and there are others who do not. They just 
want to be of help.
  I want to mention a few whose names I did not mention when I 
mentioned names previously, or I did not state them correctly. This is 
a chance for me to correct the Record: Congressman Mike Capuano, 
Congressman Tony Cardenas, Congressman Joe Crowley, Congressman Mark 
DeSaulnier, Congressman Raul Grijalva, Congressman Luis Gutierrez, 
Congressman Jared Polis, Congressman Charles Rangel, Congressman Cedric 
Richmond, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, and Congresswoman Linda 
Sanchez--all persons who are supportive, along with many others, nearly 
50.
  I am proud to say that the community in Houston, the Nepalese 
community has come together, and they have a goal of raising $100,000. 
They have exceeded that goal, under the leadership of Mr. Ghimirey and 
Mr. Nepal. They have exceeded the goal of $100,000, and they are still 
raising additional funds.
  I believe that H.R. 2033 affords all of us to live not in vain. I 
think this is a great opportunity to do unto others as we would have 
them do unto us. I ask that we support H.R. 2033 and live not in vain. 
Help somebody as we travel along our way.

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