Commending the efforts and honoring the work of the men and women of USNS Comfort and the United States Navy in the immediate response to those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010.

Thank you, Ranking Member Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, for this opportunity to speak about this important issue of one of America's proud moments of how it helps when the world has need.

On January 12 of this year, we were shocked and saddened by the devastating earthquake in Haiti. More than 230,000 Haitians are dead, perhaps even more we will find, hundreds of thousands injured, a million left homeless. The world responded immediately with food, donations, and rescue workers, but among the first to respond were our military, particularly the crew of the USNS Comfort. This 894-foot-long floating Naval hospital set sail from Baltimore Harbor soon after the earthquake.

Members of the ship's crew, most of whom hailed from the Navy's hospitals in Maryland and Virginia, were soon on board and underway. By the 17th of January, the Comfort was making full speed towards Port-au- Prince. Before its arrival, the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier provided immediate relief to injured Haitians. Today, the 1,200-person Comfort crew, made up of over 550 civilian and uniformed doctors, nurses, and others, is providing the best possible care under very challenging circumstances.

With limited supplies but limitless compassion and skill, surgeons and nurses and a host of other specialties, obstetricians, pharmacists, pediatricians, and Navy personnel from the medical corps, the medical service corps, nursing corps and so many others were there to treat Haitians who came on board with wounds, fractures, and infections. The crew's superb performance is a testament to our Navy and our Marines who are confronting these very, very difficult challenges.

Even before the devastating earthquake of January 12 that took so many lives, Haiti was a country enduring many difficult problems. Nearly four-fifths of its people live in absolute poverty. It has less than 50 hospitals, some of which are only staffed by a pair of nurses and medical interns. The country has fewer than three physicians for every 10,000 people. By comparison, our country has nearly 100 doctors for every 10,000 people.

The absence of a medical infrastructure made treating Haitians even more challenging, where doctors in the pediatric ward estimated that a fifth of the children in their care had untreated, and in many cases previously undiagnosed, medical conditions.

The USNS Comfort docked near Port-au-Prince on January 20 with 250 medical beds, but the crew quickly realized it would serve as the primary place of treatment for a country with hundreds of thousands of injured people. The Comfort transformed itself into a thousand-bed facility, with 880 ward beds, 80 intensive care units, 20 post- anesthesia care unit beds, 12 operating rooms.

On the second day of the Comfort's mission, Lieutenant Commander Erika Beard-Irvine and Lieutenant Commander Shannon Lamb delivered a premature baby, a 4-pound, 5-ounce baby girl named Esther, whose mother during the earthquake, after a building collapsed upon her, had severe injuries. Her mother went without treatment, but surgeons couldn't repair her fractures without threatening the baby's life, so on that day they delivered a healthy baby. She was seven weeks early, but right on time for a ship that had never before witnessed an onboard delivery in its 22 years of service.

The Comfort already had infants aboard, brought to the ship by mothers unable to find post-natal care in Haiti. One of the ship's youngest male patients is Vinson, named for the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, where his mother gave birth to him.

At the end of its second day, the Comfort had seen 184 patients, a third of whom saw surgery. Said Lieutenant Commander Don D'Aurora, director of the ship's receiving ward and division officer of the emergency department at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda to the Baltimore Sun, quote, ``I saw more patients in six hours today than I would normally see in 24 hours back home. This is what we train for. This is what it is about for all of us.''

Even with the crew sleeping in shifts, helicopters dropping supplies from dawn until dusk, and the crew running around-the-clock operations at everything from the barber shop to the mess hall, wave after wave of critically injured patients pushed the limits of the Comfort's capabilities. Some were stories about senses of helplessness, physical pain, or feelings of despair and the loss of loved ones, but some provide inspiration.

Due to the work of a Port-au-Prince native, fireman Jean Rabel, a Navy translator aboard the Comfort, and Joe Fiscus of Rochester, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, Haitian national Antonio Jeanite was reunited with his 3-month-old daughter, Christ-Yarah, on February 2. He said, ``I am very happy. It has been seven days since I sent my daughter to another hospital.''

The Comfort's crew knows that someday its mission will end, the ship will return to Baltimore Harbor, and the best medical care in the Caribbean Sea will depart with it. That is why the Comfort is making arrangements with a stateside hospital for continuing care to treat seriously burned patients who require months of medical attention.

The Comfort has cared for over 2,000 Haitians, and much work remains to be done. I know that the crew and its able commander, Captain Jim Ware, are up to the task. I commend them for their diligence, and call for us to honor their unbreakable spirit by passing this resolution.

I would also like to recognize the crews of the Vinson (CVN-70); the USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), a dock landing ship; the USS Bataan (LHD 5), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship; the USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), another dock landing ship; and several other ships, the Higgins (DDG- 76), the Underwood (FFG-36), the Normandy (CG-60), the Bunker Hill (CG- 52), the Gunston Hall (LSD-44), the Grasp (T-ARS-51), and so many other Navy personnel and Marines who worked around the clock providing care to so many.

You know, when one of us feels overcome with doubt or confusion, let us think about those fatigued corpsmen and doctors and nurses aboard the Comfort who carefully and skillfully bring their patients back, sometimes from the brink of death, hours after hours of work with very little sleep, pushing themselves to the limits. Let's remember those sailors and Marines and Air Force personnel and Army soldiers who went to Haiti, establishing the logistics, rescuing patients, taking them out of broken buildings.

And one final story for us to remember. Rico Duprevil spent 13 days buried alive in the rubble of a collapsed house. His legs were crushed, his pelvis dislocated. He could not move.

He said, ``There was darkness all around, all of the time. I could not move inside. I could hear distant voices, but they could not hear mine.''

With only a few sips of water available, he stayed alive. Almost 2 weeks later he was discovered. He said, ``I was never scared because God was on my side. I survived by thinking of Him and praying. I thought about my family.''

He was taken to a local hospital for basic triage. A day later he arrived at Port-au-Prince for evaluation and possible transfer to the Comfort. Due to the quick collection of information by Captain Richard Sharpe, an on-site medical commander, he was transferred within just an hour to the proper ward care above the Comfort.

All of us are proud of the great work that so many do in their armed services. We oftentimes talk about them, but this is a great moment of pride for

our Nation. In particular, I'd like to salute my colleagues in the Navy where I serve, also at the Bethesda National Naval Medical Center, but thank the Navy, the Marines, the Army, the Air Force, the Coast Guard and all the civilians who reached out and showed the compassion that is one of America's bright moments, and show the world what America is all about. When the world needs us, when tragedy strikes, Americans gather together and support them. And today, we salute those Americans who have helped so many of those in need in Haiti.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1048. This resolution commends the efforts and honors the work of the men and women of USNS Comfort and the United States Navy in the immediate response to those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010.

As you know, on Tuesday, January 12, a massive, 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti near the capital of Port-au-Prince. There is still no official estimate of death or destruction but the damage to buildings is extensive and the number of injured or dead is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands.

America is responding, and will continue to respond with immediate humanitarian assistance to help the people of this struggling island nation rebuild their livelihoods. I send my condolences to the people and government of Haiti as they grieve once again in the aftermath of a natural disaster. As Haiti's neighbor, I believe it is the United States' responsibility to help Haiti recover, and build the capacity to mitigate against future disasters.

To date the United States Government has contributed over $402 million in earthquake response funding for Haiti. It has also deployed approximately 17,000 military personnel in support of the relief effort. Subsequently, as part of the new Government of Haiti-led effort, the U.N. World Food Program will provide commodities, non- governmental organizations will manage distributions, and the U.S. military will provide security escorts.

American and her allies have already initiated a comprehensive, interagency response to the earthquake. The State Department, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard, USAID--all worked overnight to ensure critical resources were positioned to support the response and recovery effort, including efforts to find and assist American citizens in Haiti.

Within days of last week's devastating earthquake, U.S. Southern Command deployed a team of 30 people to Haiti to support U.S. relief efforts in the aftermath of one of the largest natural disasters in the western hemisphere. The team included U.S. military engineers, operational planners, and a command and control group and communication specialists arriving on two C-130 Hercules aircraft. Since, there has been a tremendous interagency response with support and partnering with U.S. Embassy personnel as well as Haitian, United Nations and international officials to assess the situation and facilitate follow- on U.S. military support.

Within hours of the earthquake, the United States mobilized a multi- agency response that included our armed forces and civil service. With their hospitals reduced to rubble, Port-au-Prince was unable to treat the hundreds of thousands of injured people seeking help. In response, the U.S. efforts included the hospital ship USNS Comfort as well as naval helicopter ships such as the USS Carl Vinson. Arriving on station less than 72 hours after the quake, Carl Vinson immediately rendered assistance. Over two weeks, Vinson and its embarked 19 helicopters flew more than 2,200 sorties, delivering more than 166 tons of food, 89,000 gallons of water and 38,700 pounds of medical supplies to earthquake victims. Additionally, Vinson's helicopters conducted 476 medical evacuations, MEDEVACs, and the ship's doctors and corpsmen treated 60 patients in its medical ward.

The USNS Comfort, a floating hospital, brought to Haiti a 550-person medical staff that included trauma surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, head and neck surgeons, eye surgeons, and obstetricians and gynecologists. The USNS Comfort and its crew of 1,200 have provided 24-hour care for nearly 500 Haitians, ranging from newborns to critically ill patients. As of January 24, 2010, the medical staff of the USNS Comfort had performed over 100 surgeries.

The skill and perseverance displayed by these men and women are extraordinary. The USNS Comfort medical staff has saved the lives of 98 percent of the ship's patient population as of January 25, 2010.

Madam Speaker, over a month has passed since the earthquake, the search and rescue missions have ended, and Haiti has transitioned to long-term reconstruction and

development. Because our Navy cannot remain off of Haiti's coast forever, we must work with the Haitian government to rebuild the capacity of Haiti's medical system. Although this mission will take time, I am confident that Haiti will build their health care system back to be more comprehensive and robust than before the earthquake. This will be an especially critical part of the Haitian government because the thousands injured by the earthquake will need long-term medical care.

Recently, I proposed a plan that would increase the ability of the U.S. to assist Haiti in its efforts toward reconstruction and stabilization to Dr. Rajiv Shah, the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

This plan would create an oversight position within the USAID that would coordinate and regulate faith-based and non-profit organizations operating in the reconstruction efforts in Haiti. I also recommended the creation of a U.S. civilian corps, an extension of the American Peace Corps, that would be tasked the specific mission of assisting reconstruction efforts in Haiti. This civilian entity would serve as a supplemental contingent which could be incrementally dispatched as needed by U.S. Government agencies or nongovernment organizations.

Once again I stand in solidarity with the people of Haiti and will do everything in my power to assist them with rebuilding their country and livelihoods. I am proud of our first responders, and pledge that America's long-term commitment to Haiti will live up to the standard that the first responders set.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1066--to honor the extreme bravery, responsiveness and effectiveness demonstrated by our United States Armed Services, local first responders and other members in support of Operation Unified Response led by USAID.

As you know, on Tuesday, January 12, a massive, 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti near the capital of Port-au-Prince. There is still no official estimate of death or destruction but the damage to buildings is extensive and the number of injured or dead is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands.

Within hours of the earthquake, the United States sent world-class teams of first responders and search and rescue teams to help search for survivors. These teams, from all across the country, comprised roughly one-third of the entire international search and rescue effort in Haiti. In total, the United States sent over 511 rescue workers. These rescue workers worked tirelessly to search for survivors, and found and rescued more than 130 people from under the rubble. Without these search and rescue units, it is possible that these people would not have been located in time to save their lives.

In the following days, U.S. Southern Command deployed a team of 30 people to Haiti to support U.S. relief efforts in the aftermath of one of the largest natural disasters in the western hemisphere. The team included U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. military engineers, operational planners, and a command and control group and communication specialists arriving on two C-130 Hercules aircraft.

Shortly thereafter, U.S. Southern Command had established Joint Task Force-Haiti to oversee U.S. military relief efforts in which was commanded by U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ken Keen. From the initial response forward more than 13,000 U.S. military personnel, 19 ships and more than 60 aircraft are supporting operations to provide relief and care to more than three million Haitians who were affected by the January 12 earthquake.

U.S. military forces are currently supporting efforts to provide shelter, establish settlements, and conduct debris removal as well as ensuring the delivery of aid to the Haitian people. They are also assisting the World Food

Program's food distribution surge while continuing to work with the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti, MINUSTAH, the international community and local responders to alleviate human suffering and support humanitarian relief efforts.

The hospital ship USNS Comfort, embarked with nearly 1,000 medical personnel, is treating a steady stream of Haitian patients. Comfort's hospital capabilities include fully-equipped operating rooms, digital radiological services, a medical laboratory, a pharmacy, an optometry lab, a CAT-scan and two oxygen-producing plants. Comfort's bed capacity is about 1,000.

Members supporting Operation Unified Response are also helping move thousands of pounds of medical aid to various distribution points and are working with local officials to address long-term rehabilitation of the Haitian public health system.

As of February 21 the incredible members of Operation Unified Response had delivered more than 2.6 million bottles of water, 2.2 million food rations, 17 million pounds of bulk food and 147,000 pounds of medical supplies into Haiti. Additionally, water production continues as U.S. military and international water purification units produce thousands of gallons of drinkable water daily.

I would like to personally thank the professional team of Sailor, Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen of U.S. Southern Command for their role in providing guidance and securing passage for a Texas- based initial response medical team. These military professionals played a key role in arranging for the doctors and medical personnel from the Forest Park Medical Center to obtain the necessary clearance from the State and Defense Departments to fly jets carrying supplies, seven doctors, six nurses, two techs, and two search and rescue volunteers to Haiti.

The medical team, led by Dr. Richard Toussaint, flew from Dallas Love Field Airport and arrived in Haiti where they treated about 600 patients, including 70 amputations, and 150 surgeries. The team also provided medical and supplies to Haiti's Hospital Sacre Coeur.

America is committed to deliver her support to our neighbor who is still in dire need of our continued and immediate humanitarian assistance. This effort will be a monumental task that will take years to complete but we must be resolute to help the people of this struggling island nation rebuild their livelihoods.

To date the United States Government has contributed over $400 million in earthquake response funding for Haiti. It has also deployed approximately 19,000 military personnel in support of the relief effort. Subsequently, as part of the new Government of Haiti-lead effort, the U.N. World Food Program will provide commodities, non- governmental organizations will manage distributions, and U.S. military will provide security escorts.

America and her allies have delivered a comprehensive, interagency response to the earthquake. The State Department, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard, USAID--all worked vigorously to ensure critical resources were positioned to support the response and recovery effort, including efforts to find and assist American citizens in Haiti.

Once again I am proud of our Armed Services, the first responders and all the members of Operation Unified Relief that deliver an overwhelming successful initial response. We all owe you a debt of gratitude and our undying support.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1066) recognizing the bravery and efforts of the United States Armed Forces, local first responders, and other members of Operation Unified Response for their swift and coordinated action in light of the devastation wrought upon the nation of Haiti after a horrific 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Port-au-Prince and surrounding cities on January 12, 2010.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1066, recognizing the bravery and efforts of the United States Armed Forces, local first responders, and all of those involved in Operation Unified Response. I want to thank my colleagues for bringing this important measure before the House.

On January 12, a massive earthquake struck the nation of Haiti that was followed by a series of very powerful aftershocks that left catastrophic damage in and around the city of Port-au-Prince. The devastation resulted in an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 deaths, including over a hundred Americans reported dead and 3 million Haitians directly affected by the earthquake.

Within 2 weeks, the United States had deployed 25 Navy and Coast Guard ships, 79 helicopters, 290 vehicles, and 21,493 Armed Forces personnel. Medical military assets had treated over 4,000 patients, of which 2,000 were treated aboard the hospital ship USS Comfort. The United States had distributed 1.9 million bottles of water, 1.7 million meals, and over 74,000 pounds of medical supplies.

The United States acted immediately, setting up a whole-of-government response with the U.S. Agency for International Development in the lead and the Armed Forces playing a leading role. Within 24 hours, the U.S. had deployed Air Force special operations forces to secure the Port-au- Prince airport and reestablish airport operations, deployed the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, and started preparing both Army and Marine units for immediate deployment to that region.

This critical contribution to the Haiti relief effort comes at a time when the men and women of our military are already being stretched by two wars. Our troops have once again demonstrated their capability to respond quickly and effectively when disaster strikes.

U.S. military servicemembers and their families make tremendous sacrifices both for our Nation and in working to help people in times of need all over the world.

On behalf of Congress, I want to thank our heroes in uniform and all of those involved in Operation Unified Response for the extraordinary contributions to the Haitian people. I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my friend, my colleague, and the sponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek).

Madam Speaker, before I yield to my friend, the gentlelady from California, let me acknowledge the cooperation of my friend and my colleague, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Berman, for expediting consideration of this resolution. I extend these thanks to the committee's ranking member as well, the gentlelady from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, February 4, 2010.

Hon. Ike Skelton,

Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Rayburn House Office

Bldg., Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning House

Resolution 1066, ``Recognizing the bravery and efforts of the

United States Armed Forces, local first responders, and other

members of Operation Unified Response for their swift and

coordinated action in light of the devastation wrought upon

the nation of Haiti after a horrific 7.0 magnitude earthquake

struck Port-Au-Prince and surrounding cities on January 12,

2010.'' As you know, this measure was referred to the

Committee on Armed Services and, in addition, to the

Committee on Foreign Affairs for a period to be subsequently

determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of

such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the

committee concerned.

This resolution contains provisions within the Rule X

jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. In the

interest of permitting your Committee to proceed

expeditiously to floor consideration of this important

resolution, I am willing to waive this Committee's right to

mark up this resolution. I do so with the understanding that

by waiving consideration of the resolution, the Committee on

Foreign Affairs does not waive any future jurisdictional

claim over the subject matters contained in the resolution

which fall within its Rule X jurisdiction.

Please include a copy of this letter and your response in

the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure

on the House floor.

Sincerely,

Howard L. Berman,

Chairman.

I yield 3 minutes to my friend, the gentlelady from California (Ms. Lee).

I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Madam Speaker, having no further requests for time, I yield back the balance of my time as well.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1048 which honors the work of the men and women of the USNS Comfort and the United States Navy in the immediate response to those affected by the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010.

The Navy's support is ongoing and to date, the Comfort has treated more than 900 Haitians and has performed more than 750 life saving surgeries. Together with her sister ship, the USNS Mercy, these vessels serve as ambassadors of good-will during periods of desperation all around the world. Their mission is always a benevolent one and their commitment to areas of strife and devastation highlight the best qualities of what it means to be an American--that we stand by always ready to assist and will never forsake those who are in need.

The earthquake that hit Haiti was the most devastating it has seen in 200 years. Words cannot adequately describe the destruction that took the lives of more than 200,000 people, leveled the capital city, and left thousands of survivors with an uncertain future coupled with worries about hunger, disease, and injuries. Into that morass of suffering we stepped in as a nation to assist the good Haitian people with the USNS Comfort and the Navy as part of the vanguard.

The USNS Comfort has a storied history. Among its most notable deployments were:

--In 2007 when it embarked on a four month humanitarian assistance mission throughout Latin America and the Caribbean that treated more than 98,000 people in 12 countries. This type of mission highlights the diplomatic role our military plays as it works in concert with the State Department in being ambassadors of good-will.

--In 2005 when Comfort responded on our own shores after the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, providing treatment to thousands in the Gulf Coast region. Despite regional devastation, the USNS Comfort was able to provide critical emergency hospital services for residents and first-responders before regular service was restored.

--In 2003, when Comfort deployed to war and served as an afloat trauma center for two months during the initial stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

--In 2001, immediately in the aftermath of the 9-11 attacks, when Comfort deployed in support of Operation Noble Eagle and provided meals, housing, medical and psychological services to volunteer and relief workers at New York's ground zero.

This is just a sampling of the ship and crew's operational history since Comfort was delivered to the Navy in 1987. Untold thousands have benefited from these missions.

Madam Speaker, while many know of Comfort and Mercy's life-saving work, few realize that these ships almost did not come into the Navy's fleet. USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy began their lives as oil-tankers a decade before being delivered to the Navy as hospital ships. In fact, they were destined for the scrap yard, if not for the intervention of Congress and specifically the Appropriations Committee. It was a Congressional Initiative that was the catalyst for the birth of the Mercy Class Hospital Ships. My colleagues and I on the Appropriations Committee saw a need for this life-saving capability when others sought to scrap these ships. We saw the value in these Mercy Class Hospital Ships, to provide a unique capability of being some of the largest U.S. trauma centers with the distinction of having world-wide mobility. Even in the face of airfield closures, destroyed infrastructure, and interrupted communications, as long as the sea is navigable, the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy can get there. Once on the scene, a fully crewed ship brings 1,000 medical professionals, a hospital with a full spectrum of surgical and medical services including four X-rays, a CAT scan unit, a dental suite, two oxygen-producing plants, and 5,000 units of blood. The ships have 12 operating rooms and a total bed capacity of up to 1,000. In short, they are fully functional floating hospitals able to give first-rate care where otherwise there would be no treatment options.

Madam Speaker, As we take the time today to honor the men and women who proudly serve this country aboard the USNS Comfort, let us also remember the broad scope of compassionate contributions that our servicemen and women are providing around the world in both non-hostile and hostile environments. Often times we forget that our military performs many humanitarian functions that other agencies and nations depend upon, be it logistical support or whole-scale nation-building. Their efforts and their sacrifice go beyond expressions of remorse and tangibly demonstrate our level of commitment to peace and prosperity for all.