[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23649-23650]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   AUSTRALIA'S MESSAGE OF SUPPORT TO THE PEOPLE OF AMERICAN SAMOA IN 
                    AFTERMATH OF DEVASTATING TSUNAMI

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 6, 2009

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I submit the following message of 
support from Ambassador Dennis Richardson of Australia in response to 
the massive tsunami that struck American Samoa on Tuesday, September 
29, 2009.

                                         Embassy of Australia,

                                  Washington, DC, October 5, 2009.
     Hon. Eni F.H. Faleomavaega,
     Chairman, Sub-Committee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global 
         Environment, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman, I am writing to extend my condolences for 
     the loss of lives and large-scale damage experienced in 
     America Samoa following the 30 September 2009 earthquake and 
     the resulting tsunami.
       Australia was pleased to be able to respond immediately to 
     requests for assistance from our Pacific neighbours Samoa and 
     Tonga, both of which were also devastated by the earthquake. 
     Australia is providing both countries with disaster relief 
     items, including food, clothing, shelter and medical 
     supplies, and stands ready to offer further assistance as 
     needed.
       I understand you travelled immediately to American Samoa to 
     survey the damage first

[[Page 23650]]

     hand and lend your support to relief efforts. I wish you well 
     in these endeavours.
       I have attached a 30 September 2009 statement by the 
     Australian Prime Minister, the Honourable Kevin Rudd, in his 
     capacity as the current Chair of the Pacific Island Forum, 
     conveying his deepest condolences to Samoa, American Samoa 
     and Tonga for the tragic loss of life as a consequence of the 
     tsunami.
           Yours sincerely,
     Dennis Richardson.

                          ____________________