[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 537-538]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       COLOMBIA FLOODING DISASTER

  (Mr. CICILLINE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my thoughts and 
prayers to the people of Colombia in light of the devastating flooding, 
heavy rain, and destructive landslides that, even as I speak, continue 
to ravage that country.
  This natural disaster, ongoing for several months now, has taken more 
than 300 lives and damaged or destroyed more than 2,000 homes. In 
total, more than 2 million victims have been affected by the flooding, 
and some reports are calling this the worst natural disaster in 
Colombia's history.
  My district in northern Rhode Island is home to many wonderful 
Colombian families. In fact, Colombians make up the fourth largest 
Latino group in Rhode Island, most of whom have loved ones in the 
affected areas of their native country.
  So on behalf of the people of the First District of Rhode Island, I 
would like to express my sympathies to all of those who have been 
affected by this

[[Page 538]]

devastating flooding. We remember those who have died and express our 
sympathies to those who have lost loved ones, been injured, or lost 
their homes as a result of this destruction.
  I express my wishes for a rapid reconstruction of the damaged areas 
and return to safety for the families affected by this tragic natural 
disaster.

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