[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 25, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H4141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE NEW MEXICO WILDFIRES

  (Ms. STANSBURY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, we pause in prayer for the people of 
Ruidoso, Mescalero, Lincoln, and Otero Counties.
  Our hearts break for those who have lost their lives and the 29 who 
are still missing from the South Fork and Salt fires.
  These fires have displaced nearly 9,000 people and burned tens of 
thousands of acres and hundreds of homes. Despite the devastation, New 
Mexico has, as it always has, risen to the occasion, donated countless 
hours and truckloads of supplies, housed those most in need, and 
bravely stood on the front lines to fight these fires because we are 
New Mexico Strong.
  On behalf of the people of New Mexico, we thank all who have stepped 
up to help and to our first responders who are on the front lines 
fighting these fires.
  To all who have lost a loved one, their home, or their business, we 
are here with them in our hearts and in our prayers.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Vasquez).
  Mr. VASQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege to represent the 
Second District of New Mexico, home to the storied Mescalero Apache 
Reservation, a place that has lost time immemorial, history, memories, 
culture, and patrimony from the most devastating fire that we have seen 
in the Lincoln National Forest in the history of New Mexico.
  It is devastating not only for the economy but for who we are as New 
Mexicans. As a delegation, we stand strong and support the rebuild of 
the economy of not just the Mescalero Apache Reservation but the 
surrounding Lincoln and Otero Counties.
  It was the interjurisdictional cooperation between Tribal 
governments, the BIA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. 
Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land 
Management, and local county officials that allowed us to have a quick 
response to contain the fires, to limit damage, and right now, to 
recover from one of the most devastating fires that we have ever seen 
in southwest New Mexico.
  The message I have to the folks out in Mescalero Apache country, the 
place that I represent, is that we have their back. We will honor that 
sovereign-to-sovereign relationship that we owe them.
  For other Members of Congress that have gone through devastating 
wildfires just like ourselves, we will be seeking Federal resources. We 
will be seeking funds from the emergency declaration that President 
Biden has granted us to be able to rebuild these communities.
  We are thankful, we are grateful, and we can say that we expect more 
of this across the West, in other counties and other States that will 
be impacted by a changing climate.
  We are New Mexico Strong. We will be New Mexico Strong. We will 
rebuild together. We will honor the promise that we have made to Indian 
Country. We will make sure that we rebuild from one of southern New 
Mexico's worst wildfires that we have ever seen.
  Mr. Speaker, I request a moment of silence for those who have passed.

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