[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23580]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF NATURAL DISASTERS

  Mr. KAUFMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 305, which was 
introduced earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 305) expressing support for the 
     victims of the natural disasters in Indonesia, Samoa, 
     American Samoa, Tonga, Vietnam, Cambodia, and the 
     Philippines.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. KAUFMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate, and that any statements relating to this measure be printed in 
the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 305) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 305

       Whereas on September 30, 2009, an earthquake measuring 7.6 
     on the Richter Scale hit Padang, a city of nearly 1,000,000 
     people on the Indonesian island of Sumatra;
       Whereas on October 1, 2009, another earthquake measuring 
     6.6 on the Richter Scale struck south of Padang;
       Whereas the earthquakes have destroyed hundreds of homes, 
     businesses, schools, hospitals, and hotels;
       Whereas John Holmes, the United Nations Under-Secretary-
     General and Emergency Relief Coordinator, has estimated that 
     more than 1,100 people have lost their lives due to the 
     earthquakes;
       Whereas the United States has responded to this tragedy by 
     providing $300,000 in aid, sending a disaster relief team to 
     the area, and setting aside an additional $3,000,000 in 
     assistance;
       Whereas on September 29, 2009, following an earthquake 
     measuring 8.3 on the Richter Scale, a tsunami hit Samoa, 
     American Samoa, and Tonga, killing 177 people and affecting 
     approximately 30,000 people;
       Whereas the United States has sent a 245-member disaster 
     response team to American Samoa, as well as 20,000 meals, 
     13,000 liters of water, and 800 tents that have been provided 
     by the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
       Whereas on September 26, 2009, Typhoon Ketsana hit Manila, 
     Philippines, resulting in the worst flooding in 4 decades and 
     leaving the homes of approximately 2,000,000 people under 
     water;
       Whereas approximately 700,000 people in the Philippines 
     have sought shelter in emergency relief centers;
       Whereas 246 people have died as a result of the flooding, 
     with the number of dead expected to rise;
       Whereas the Government of the Philippines has estimated 
     that the typhoon has caused at least $100,000,000 in damage;
       Whereas on September 29, 2009, Typhoon Ketsana hit Vietnam, 
     killing more than 100 people, damaging more than 170,000 
     homes and forcing 350,000 people to evacuate, and resulting 
     in approximately $168,000,000 in damage; and
       Whereas 11 lives were lost in Cambodia due to Typhoon 
     Ketsana: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) mourns the loss of life resulting from the earthquakes 
     in Indonesia, the tsunami in Samoa, American Samoa, and 
     Tonga, and Typhoon Ketsana in the Philippines, Vietnam, and 
     Cambodia;
       (2) expresses its deepest condolences to the families of 
     the victims of these tragedies;
       (3) expresses its sympathies to the survivors who are still 
     suffering in the aftermath of these natural disasters;
       (4) supports the efforts already provided by the United 
     States Government, relief agencies, and private citizens; and
       (5) urges the United States Government and the internal 
     community to provide additional humanitarian assistance to 
     aid the survivors of these natural disasters and support 
     reconstruction efforts.

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