[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 120 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
April 5, 2005.
Whereas on December 26, 2004, an earthquake and tsunami struck the Indian Ocean
basin, killing over 250,000 people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India,
Thailand, Somalia, Burma, Maldives, Malaysia, Tanzania, Bangladesh, and
Kenya;
Whereas the response by members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of
the Department of State and the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) was immediate, invaluable, and courageous;
Whereas civilian employees of the Department of State and USAID showed great
leadership in helping to coordinate relief efforts among donors, United
Nations agencies, international organizations, aid agencies, and host
governments;
Whereas civilian employees of the Department of State and USAID who were on
vacation in some of the hardest hit areas used their expertise and
specialized skills to provide immediate assistance to victims and
survivors of the tsunami;
Whereas civilian employees of the Department of State and USAID set up remote
assistance operations in the affected areas in order to best provide
service to United States citizens and citizens of other countries who
were affected by the tsunami;
Whereas United States consular officers worked around the clock to locate and
identify United States citizens affected by the tsunami, reconnect them
with their loved ones, and facilitate their return to the United States,
despite the loss of their passports, other identification, and
belongings as a result of the tsunami;
Whereas members of the Armed Forces volunteered their unique resources to assess
the situation and deliver aid when and where other relief efforts could
not;
Whereas the sight of members of the Armed Forces providing aid to tsunami
victims and survivors has provided an important boost to the image
abroad of the United States;
Whereas members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of USAID worked
together to bring clean water from Navy ships to victims and survivors
in need; and
Whereas the coordinated effort by members of the Armed Forces and civilian
employees of the Department of State and USAID saved lives, made a
crucial contribution to recovery, and set the stage for a long-term
United States commitment to increased peace and security across South
and Southeast Asia: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends the outstanding efforts in response to the earthquake
and tsunami of December 26, 2004, by members of the Armed Forces and
civilian employees of the Department of State and the United States
Agency for International Development;
(2) recognizes that the actions of these individuals went above and
beyond the call of duty; and
(3) thanks them for their service.
Attest:
Clerk.