SRES4TSUNAMIsJAN7

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending January 7, 2005

Senate Resolution 4 expressing the sympathy and pledging the support of the United States Senate and the people of the United States for the victims of the powerful earthquake and devastating tsunami that struck Bangladesh, Burma, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, the Maldives, the Seychelles, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, and other areas of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa, on December 26, 2004

MAP LINKS (including information on affected countries): South Asia, Bangladesh, Burma, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, the Maldives, the Seychelles, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand....Indian Ocean

BRIEF

The Resolution reviews the origins and impacts of the disaster and reaffirms the US long term commitment to help the countries rebuild.

S. Res. 4

Whereas on December 26, 2004, a tremendous earthquake, registered at 9.0 on the Richter scale and centered 100 miles off the coast of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, triggered a deadly tsunami that swept throughout the Indian Ocean and beyond, devastating cities, towns, and communities, and killing or injuring persons in Southeast Asia and South Asia, through the island nations of the region, to Eastern Africa;

Whereas, as a result of the earthquake and ensuing tsunami, more than 140,000 people have lost their lives to date, tens of thousands of people are injured or missing, and the final death toll could climb into the hundreds of thousands;

Whereas the victims also include thousands of nationals who were visiting the region when the tsunami hit, including significant numbers from Europe and North and South America;

Whereas millions of people throughout Southeast Asia and South Asia have been left without food, shelter, or clean water, and now face deadly diseases such as cholera, dengue fever, dysentery, malaria, and typhoid;

Whereas thousands of children have been killed or injured, by this disaster;

Whereas, as a result of this tragedy, thousands of children have been separated from their families or orphaned and are in need of re-unification or adoption;

Whereas whole coastal communities and cities throughout the region were obliterated;

Whereas recovery, reconstruction, and clean-up of the devastated areas likely will take years, billions of dollars, and the concerted leadership of the United States working together with the international community;

Whereas the people of the United States immediately responded and expressed their sympathy and concern by sending financial aid and other assistance currently totaling more than $100,000,000, through nongovernmental organizations and other means, to the victims of this disaster, and by offering to volunteer in the disaster rescue, recovery, and rebuilding;

Whereas soon after the earthquake and tsunami hit the region, the United States

Government expressed its condolences and invoked six disaster declarations for the nations hardest hit by this natural disaster, thus triggering the release of emergency funding to these countries;

Whereas less than 24 hours after these tragedies became known, the United States announced an initial pledge of $15,000,000 for emergency humanitarian assistance, which was increased to $35,000,000 in the following days as the scope of the tragedy unfolded;

Whereas President George W. Bush also dispatched more than 20 United States military cargo and patrol aircraft, redirected a Marine expeditionary unit and a carrier task force, and deployed several hundred United States military personnel to the region to assist with the disaster response, recovery, and delivery of relief supplies;

Whereas, in response to an early appeal by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent for $7,500,000, the United States provided $4,000,000 for the distribution of emergency shelter materials and other relief commodities, and provided more than 3,000 metric tons of rice to the United Nations World Food Program for use in the affected region;

Whereas President George W. Bush has established a regional core group with Australia, Canada, India, Japan, and the Netherlands, with the United Nations, to help coordinate relief efforts, and sent a senior delegation of experts, led by Secretary of State Colin Powell and Florida Governor Jeb Bush, to meet with regional leaders and international organizations to assess what additional aid can be provided by the United States;

Whereas on December 31, 2004, President Bush increased the United States pledge to $350,000,000 in aid and stated that the United States' contributions to disaster relief and recovery ``will continue to be revised as the full effects of this terrible tragedy become clearer'';

Whereas pledges of assistance from all international organizations, multilateral development banks, and governments, including the United States, now exceed $2,000,000,000; and

Whereas, on January 3, 2005, the President appointed former Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton to lead a nationwide charitable fund-raising effort to elicit greater relief and assistance to the victims of the powerful earthquake and devastating tsunami: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) expresses its heartfelt sympathy for the victims of the powerful earthquake and devastating tsunami that struck cities, towns, and communities throughout Southeast Asia, South Asia, Eastern Africa, and the region on December 26, 2004;

(2) conveys its most sincere condolences to the families, communities, and governments of the more than 140,000 people that lost their lives in this terrible natural disaster;

(3) expresses its gratitude and respect for the courageous and committed work of all aid and relief personnel, including United States military personnel, who are saving lives and providing relief assistance in the devastated areas of the region;

(4) supports President George W. Bush's pledge of $350,000,000 in direct financial assistance, and tens of millions of dollars in additional indirect assistance through the dispatch of United States military aircraft, naval vessels, and personnel, and through the United States Government's substantial voluntary and annual contributions to international organizations and bodies;

(5) commends the ongoing international relief effort that includes the work of individual countries, numerous international organizations, and various relief and other nongovernmental entities;

(6) reaffirms that the United States Government is committed to providing relief and assistance in the most effective and efficient means possible, and will continue to assess, anticipate, and provide further assistance as needed in the weeks and months ahead;

(7) recognizes that the support of the United States Government will be greatly supplemented by private donations and assistance from thousands of United States citizens, charitable organizations, religious groups, and corporations that routinely provide generous and significant amounts of aid, support, and volunteers; and

(8) fully supports the long-term commitment and engagement of the United States to provide financial aid and other forms of direct and indirect assistance to the countries and peoples of the region impacted by the powerful earthquake and the devastating tsunami.

Sponsor: Senator Bill Frist (R-TN)

Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent (Jan. 4, 2005)