Expressing sympathy to and pledging the support of the House of Representatives and the people of the United States for the victims of Cyclone Sidr in southern Bangladesh.

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 842, expressing sympathy to and pledging the support of the House of Representatives and the people of the United States for the victims of Cyclone Sidr in southern Bangladesh, introduced by my distinguished colleague from New Jersey, Representative Rothman. This important resolution reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the people of Bangladesh in the wake of the devastation of Cyclone Sidr.

Mr. Speaker, Bangladesh has long been a valued ally of the United States; and a key Muslim democracy in a region where adherence to democratic principles is at a premium. Recently, I met with Mr. Don Haque, nephew of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. After listening to his concerns and insights, it is my hope that Bangladesh will move swiftly toward regaining its status as a thriving, emerging democracy and set an example for its neighbors and the rest of the world.

The region has been undergoing serious political and economic changes, with several nations undergoing significant political upheaval. Key among these is Bangladesh, where emergency rule was declared by President Iajuddin Ahmed following opposition protests during the run-up to the January 2007 elections. This military-backed caretaker government, currently headed by Fakhruddin Ahmed, is expected to continue to hold power through 2008, though some observers have estimated that elections will not actually take place until 2009 or later.

It is my sincere hope that the military-backed caretaker government currently in power in Bangladesh will promptly lift the state of emergency and move expeditiously toward holding free and fair elections. It would also be my expectation that the caretaker government will abide by internationally recognized standards of human rights and due process in its activities. I am personally concerned by reported events in Bangladesh, including the ban on political and union activity; the restrictions on free movement, free assembly, free association, free speech and a free press; and the denial of bail and other due process rights to more than 200,000 jailed individuals, according to some accounts.

In this key period of political change, one that will hopefully ensure a more free and fair democratic Bangladesh, the nation has been hit by an unthinkable natural disaster that has affected all ways of life. On November 15, the southern coast of Bangladesh was struck by Cyclone Sidr with raging winds of 155 miles-per-hour smashing tens of thousands of homes, damaging roads and buildings, and causing a 16 foot tidal surge that has destroyed thousands of hectares of crops.

This natural disaster is estimated to have affected over 4 million people thus far, with millions being evacuated from their homes due to loss or damage. The Bangladesh Disaster Ministry now estimates that some 750,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in the aftermath of Cyclone Sidr. As a Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I am especially concerned by the internal displacement of millions of Bangladeshis, over 400,000 of whom are children below the age of five. The catastrophic death toll has already reached 3,500, though the Bangladesh Red Crescent has warned that the number of deaths may climb as high as 10,000 in what is being called the greatest destruction from a cyclone in Bangladesh in 16 years.

It appears we are only just beginning to see the effects of this great human catastrophe. While Cyclone Sidr is responsible for widespread destruction, the five provinces of Patuakhali, Barguna, Bagerhat, Barisal, and Pirojpur that sit on the southern coast of Bangladesh were the most drastically affected. The nation's capital, Dhaka, which is located over 130 miles away from the country's devastated coastline, still lost access to power and food for days following the storm. Hundreds of thousands of people in southern Bangladesh's remote areas have been cut off from relief operations leading to massive suffering and starvation due to the current lack of access to drinking water and medicines. One relief worker in Bagerhat went so far as to say that the region looked like a ``valley of death.'' Unfortunately, the worst may be yet to come. Health officials have begun to warn against the serious threat posed by cholera, dysentery, and other waterborne diseases as a result of the limited access to water supplies and sanitation facilities that millions of Bangladeshis will face.

As a member of the international community, the United States must offer its support and assistance to a nation that has been devastated by such a tremendous natural disaster. The United Nations World Food Program has appealed to the international community to provide aid to the peoples of Bangladesh, noting that food supplies have been severely disrupted by the cyclone leading to an increased and very real threat of famine. This resolution is significant because it reaffirms the commitment of the United States to provide relief aid to the victims of Cyclone Sidr as its effects continue to unfold. Furthermore, this resolution calls upon the United States to immediately make available any and all appropriate assistance that has been requested by the Bangladeshi authorities.

I believe that it is imperative that the United States government express its heartfelt sympathy and support to the people of Bangladesh in the wake of this terrific disaster, which is why I am a proud cosponsor of this legislation. I urge my colleagues to join me in strongly supporting this legislation, and to call for still more to be done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 842, a resolution that I introduced. This legislation expresses sympathy to and pledges the support of the House of Representatives and the people of the United States to help the victims of Cyclone Sidr in Southern Bangladesh.

Cyclone Sidr struck southern Bangladesh with 155-mile-an-hour winds on November 15th. Since then, its impact has been felt by more than 8.7 million Bangladeshis--more than 3,000 of whom were killed by this storm, 1.5 million who have lost their homes and livelihoods, and thousands of children who have lost one or more parents, their schools and their access to food and water.

The damage caused by Cyclone Sidr was widespread. In fact, the southern districts of Bangladesh were so devastated by the cyclone that one relief worker commented that Bagerhat--one of the districts most damaged--looked like a ``valley of death'' in the days after the storm. Even Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh that is located more than 130 miles away from the southern coastline, was impacted by the storm-- losing access to power and water for days.

In addition to the human loss of life and livelihood caused by this storm, another great loss was felt by the flora and fauna of Bangladesh. During the cyclone, a massive tidal wave hit the Sunderbans, the world's biggest mangrove forest and the home of the endangered Royal Bengal tiger. While researchers have yet to verify how many of these endangered tigers were killed in the storm, the damage that resulted from the cyclone has led experts to declare the forest an ``ecological disaster.''

However, in the midst of this death and destruction, the U.S. government has been doing invaluable work to help the people of Bangladesh. That is why this resolution also expresses support for the U.S. government's efforts to provide emergency assistance to the people of Bangladesh. In fact, I want to single out the work of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which has thus far provided the people of Bangladesh with more than $19.5 million in emergency food aid and other humanitarian assistance. USAID has also-- in collaboration with the government of Bangladesh--quickly reached over 8 million of the most vulnerable people in the wake of this disaster to provide assistance and help relieve human suffering.

Mr. Speaker, while Cyclone Sidr took away thousands of lives in Bangladesh, it has brought out the best in both American and Bangladeshi aid workers--enabling them to work together to help millions of people hurt by this storm and provide them with humanitarian assistance. I commend them for their efforts and call on my colleagues to join with me in supporting this legislation so that we may express the House's strong sympathy and support for the people of Bangladesh in their time of crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 842, as amended, expressing sympathy and support for the victims of Cyclone Sidr in southern Bangladesh. At the outset, I would like to commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman) for introducing this timely measure, and also extend my appreciation to Chairman Lantos, as well as Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, for helping to expedite its consideration before the House today.

As my colleagues may know, on the 15th of November a powerful, category five-equivalent tropical cyclone struck low-lying areas of Bangladesh from the Bay of Bengal. Mr. Speaker, in the West we call these tropical storms hurricanes, and in the Far East they call them cyclones. Be that as it may, they both have destructive power. Being from southeast Texas on the gulf coast, we call the area ``hurricane alley,'' and we are not unfamiliar with hurricanes. Even this year, Hurricane Humberto, and Hurricane Rita 2 years ago hit my area of the State of Texas.

So, the effects of hurricanes and cyclones are devastating. The effects of Cyclone Sidr has been extremely devastating to the people. Some 6.8 million people have been affected by this disaster, 3,000 people have died, 1,000 people are unaccounted for, and approximately 15,000 people have been injured. In the immediate aftermath of this storm, President and Mrs. Bush offered condolences to the victims, especially those who lost loved ones, people who lost homes and livelihoods in this tragedy.

The United States immediately conveyed to the authorities in Dhaka its willingness to assist in responding to this natural disaster. The United States Agency for International Development provided more than $19 million in emergency funds to support relief and early recovery activities, including shelter and water, sanitation, hygiene programs and emergency food assistance. The United States Department of Defense has also provided invaluable assistance, with 2,400 United States marines and sailors helping the Bangladesh Government provide clean water, medical aid, food, and other relief supplies to the victims of this cyclone. Indeed, more than 162,000 pounds of relief supplies have been delivered to Bangladesh by USS Kearsarge and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit as of early this month.

Mr. Speaker, Bangladesh and the United States have been close friends since 1971. Our hearts go out to those who have suffered so grievously during this disaster, and on behalf of the American people it is fitting that we reiterate our commitment to assist the people of Bangladesh as they recover from this devastating storm, and I urge support of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 842) expressing sympathy to and pledging the support of the House of Representatives and the people of the United States for the victims of Cyclone Sidr in southern Bangladesh, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Let me first thank my good friend and colleague, Mr. Rothman from New Jersey, for introducing this timely resolution. More than 2 years ago, Hurricane Katrina struck our gulf coast with a fury rarely seen. Katrina caused severe loss of life and property to the citizens of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and our Nation continues to deal with the enormous human and financial consequences of this devastating storm.

Unfortunately, halfway across the world, our friends in Bangladesh are undergoing their own nightmare scenario in the aftermath of Cyclone Sidr. Cyclone Sidr struck on November 15, with 155-mile-an-hour winds and 15-foot tidal waves. The destruction that this cyclone left in its wake is the worst Bangladesh has seen in 16 years, and that is not a trivial statement, considering that Bangladesh is a nation that suffered through horrific droughts, floods and other natural disasters on almost an annual basis.

The numbers from Cyclone Sidr are astounding: 3,300 dead, over 800 missing, and 1.5 million houses damaged or destroyed. All told, at least 8.7 million people have been affected, and the economic and social impacts will undoubtedly loom large for years to come.

Just as the world offered their help to us during Hurricane Katrina, Bangladesh needs immediate support from the international community. In that regard, I am proud of the way that the United States Government has responded to this disaster. The U.S. Agency for International Development has already dispatched millions in emergency assistance, and our United States Navy is busy airlifting necessary food and supplies to those that have been affected.

This resolution supports our efforts and reaffirms our commitment to our friends in Bangladesh. I strongly support this resolution and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained for Rollcall votes 1142 through 1144 and ask for unanimous consent to enter into the Record the following statement on the series of votes held on Tuesday, December 11, 2007, beginning with Rollcall 1142.

Unfortunately, I was detained in my district; Missouri's Fifth, due to a massive ice storm, which is crippling our community. My heart goes out to those individuals who have lost power, and I salute the city and utility workers, who are working tirelessly to restore lost utilities in this freezing weather.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have cast the following votes on H. Res. 842, Expressing sympathy to and pledging the support of the House of Representatives and the people of the United States for the victims of Cyclone Sidr in southern Bangladesh; H. Res. 847, Recognizing the importance of Christmas; and H.R. 4343, the Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act of 2007:

Mr. Speaker, had I been present for H. Res. 842, roll No. 1142, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, had I been present for H. Res. 847, roll No. 1143, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. Speaker, had I been present for the H.R. 4343, roll No. 1144, I would have voted ``yea.''