[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16282]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       AID FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Rangel) for very informative debate on H. Con. Res. 
175 to focus on the African Americans of Latino descent in the 
Caribbean and places surrounding the United States.
  I rise today to remind my colleagues that our neighbors to the south, 
from Jamaica to the coast of Mexico, certainly Haiti and certainly 
Cuba, over the last 7 days have faced very difficult times with the 
number of hurricanes that have hit their shore. I know that we faced 
enormous impacts last year to the State of Florida, but the resources 
that are utilized in those countries are so unequal.
  As we debate the Foreign Relations Authorization bill, I hope we will 
be reminded of the enormous need. In Cuba, for example, 600,000 people 
were displaced. We come to find out that the offer from the United 
States was only $50,000. I think that America can do better, and I 
would hope that humanitarian aid can really come from the people of the 
United States, somewhat similar to the tsunami relief. These are our 
neighbors. This is the third border of security.
  So Jamaica and Haiti that are in crisis with the hurricane and other 
devastating aspects, I would hope that we would respect the idea that 
we are our brothers and sisters' keeper, and aid these individuals who 
are now suffering because of natural disasters.

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