[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 14, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H7787-H7788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PLIGHT OF THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Crying, vomiting, and 8 months pregnant, the young 
woman walked for an hour in labor pains in search of an ambulance. She 
was 23 years old.
  Her journey did not end with that. She finally got to a place where 
she found a taxi. She had to convince this taxi driver in the midst of 
confusion, desperation, lack of food, to take her--12 hours in labor--
to a place where she could deliver her baby.
  That is the plight of almost 650,000 women in Pakistan, where the 
flood waters are monstrosities that you would not imagine.
  In visiting Pakistan over the last 10 days with the Congressional 
Pakistan Caucus, I could see water as far as the eye could see. The 
devastation is overwhelming: 33 million people displaced, more than 
600,000 homeless, but more than that, hungry.
  I continue to thank the Biden administration for its initial support 
of the U.N. fund of $30 million and the additional funding of $20 
million. After our briefing in Islamabad and working with the 
administration, the United States military joined in in delivering 
300,000 tents.
  To my colleagues, more is needed. I will be introducing legislation 
that reflects the delegation's work and, as well, their efforts; and 
that is, we need additional funding for these devastating conditions.
  We have to realize, as I visited the people in Dadu, children are 
without schools, pregnant women are without medical care, and as I 
indicated, more and more women will be giving birth over the next 6 
weeks. This can turn into a medical crisis.
  The water is not moving, primarily because this water is without a 
place to drain. There are no drainage facilities, if you will, in that 
area. So we will also have water-borne diseases, like hepatitis, dengue 
fever, malaria.
  The people of Pakistan need our help. The Pakistani Americans have 
risen to their call. So many in my Congressional district are providing 
and offering to help send medical care, if you will. Doctors are 
leaving various places in America to head in that direction. But it is 
very important for the United States Congress to go on record in 
recognizing the devastation that the people are facing every single 
day.
  Would you imagine, even in the trials and tribulations that we have 
in the United States, that you have populations of people who are 
isolated by dirty water and that there are people who are living in the 
outlying areas with no shelter whatsoever. The people are hungry, the 
lack of food is rising. The pregnant women are fearful for the 
unbelievable challenges they have in giving birth.
  Madam Speaker, I am calling upon Congress, as I introduce this 
legislation dealing with the devastation of the floods in Pakistan, to 
join me in supporting the legislation and, as well, recognizing the 
dire conditions that our friends in Pakistan are having.
  Our final point is to be reminded that Pakistan has been a friend and 
has helped us in the evacuation of Afghan refugees; helped us in the 
war on terror, where they lost Pakistani military in the war on terror. 
And, of course, the huge and very engaging Pakistani diaspora, 
Pakistani Americans who are both respected and, of course, energized to 
be collaborative with their government here in the United States to try 
to save the lives of babies and children, women and men, people who are 
sick, who need kidney transplants, who can't get their medicine, it is 
imperative that we rise up to this occasion.
  Let me thank the members of the Pakistan Caucus who joined us, Mr. 
Suozzi and Mr. Green. We are grateful for all of our members who have 
been so energetic in advocating for strong Pakistan-U.S. relations.
  I also recognize the USAID, the embassy staff, and of course, the 
President and Prime Minister, and other leaders of government who 
opened their doors in the midst of this crisis for us to be briefed and 
to see the ongoing devastation that is going on there.
  Madam Speaker, I will come back to the floor again because I am in 
fear of the devastation of pregnant women being stranded in places 
around that region who cannot be reached.

[[Page H7788]]

  This 23-year-old traveled 12 hours, out of her mind, if you will, to 
get to a place.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me.

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