[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 24801]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                WE ARE OUR BROTHERS' AND SISTERS' KEEPER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your kindness 
and generosity.
  I rise today for a number of thank yous and acknowledgments.
  First of all, I think it is very important to acknowledge, when 
tragedy occurs, how important it is that this country, as it has often 
done, rallies around those around the world to help them in their time 
of need.
  I want to pay tribute to one of our colleagues--to the delegate from 
American Samoa, Congressman Faleomavaega--who has in the last couple of 
weeks been subjected to terrible tragedies at home, for on September 
29, 2009, American Samoa and other areas in the surrounding areas were 
impacted by an 8.3 earthquake, 8.3 on the Richter scale, which was 
recognized as the world's largest earthquake of 2009. Out of that 
earthquake came a terrible tsunami, one that struck American Samoa, 
Samoa and neighboring Tonga, sweeping people and cars out to sea as 
survivors fled to high ground.
  We remember the tsunami of some years ago that impacted Sri Lanka, 
Indonesia and India in parts. I traveled to Sri Lanka, and realized 
that the devastation was enormous. So, when there was a tsunami with 
waves that reached up to 20 feet in height and that penetrated 1 mile 
inland, we knew how devastating that had to be. It caused death and 
destruction of a nearly unprecedented amount. The death toll as of 
October 7 is estimated at 32 in American Samoa and 135 in the 
independent state of Samoa.
  Many individuals and families have suffered and are impacted, now 
lacking basic survival necessities, and they remain at risk of 
additional death due to the shortage of clean water and of adequate 
shelter and food. My colleague who represents the area has been working 
without ceasing, but the deep human disaster is evident.
  So I rise today to thank the 300 responders from FEMA; the American 
Red Cross; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the Department of Health 
and Human Services; and from other Federal agencies which rushed 
forward to help our fellow world citizens: The United States Navy; the 
United States Coast Guard; the Hawaii Air and National Guard; the U.S. 
Army Reserve; American Samoa under the leadership of Admiral Timothy J. 
Keating, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command; many, many others; and 
the foreign governments who came to their aid.
  So it is important that we recognize that we are, in fact, our 
brothers' and sisters' keeper, and we thank those who have already come 
forward, but we look forward in this Congress to continue to work, as 
we have worked before, to ensure that they are re-stabilized. We must 
recognize the humanitarian response that is currently underway. We are, 
in essence, commending them, but it is important that we continue to 
encourage donors and other relief agencies to work with these 
vulnerable organizations in stricken areas because we know, having 
experience in the United States with the fires in California, with the 
floods in the Midwest, and with the terrible hurricanes in Florida, 
Louisiana and Texas, and we understand disaster. We are grateful for 
those who have helped, but we want and we need continued help.
  We commend the over 100,000 Samoan residents in the United States 
from American Samoa and Samoa for coming to the aid of their fellow 
brothers and sisters. It is important for this Congress to not only pay 
tribute but to recognize that people are still hurting.
  Let me end this by again thanking our American Representative--our 
delegate from American Samoa--and by thanking him for his strength.
  Just for a moment, Mr. Speaker, I turn very briefly to join with my 
colleague who spoke earlier, Congresswoman Kaptur, to say this point: 
Americans are still suffering. Foreclosures are still happening. Small 
businesses are still not getting access to capital. I beseech those who 
have received the larger part of the bailout because it was necessary 
to restore capital markets in a capitalistic system. None of us adhere 
to socialism, but we do adhere to helping ourselves and helping our 
brothers and sisters across America.
  It is crucial for the banks of America to lend to Americans--to 
taxpayers, to homeowners, to business owners. Let them expand. Let them 
add new employees. Let them keep their homes. The tight credit market 
is choking us. It is killing hardworking Americans who, as I said, are 
the beneficiaries but yet the benefactors of those who are in need 
around the world, and it is important for our banks to listen. They 
were bailed out. They'd better listen to the American people.

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