Expressing support for the people of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador as they persevere through the aftermath of Tropical Storm Agatha which swept across Central America causing deadly floods and mudslides.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1462, support for the people of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador as they persevere through the aftermath of Tropical Storm Agatha which swept across Central America causing deadly floods and mudslides. I would like to thank Mr. Mack for introducing this resolution underlining our heartfelt support for our North American neighbors in their time of desperate need.

Mr. Speaker, the countries of Central America have suffered devastating damage and loss of life at the hands of Mother Nature. Tropical Storm Agatha has left over 200 dead and over 95,000 in shelters, most of them in Guatemala. The powerful storm has inflicted over $475,000,000 in damages throughout the region, destroying critical water and sanitation infrastructure. Combined with recent droughts, high food prices and a dramatic drop in remittances from the United States, Guatemala in particular has suffered severe food insecurity that will likely increase due to the effects of the storm.

I join my fellow members in expressing our most heartfelt condolences for the loss of life and suffering the Guatemalan, Honduran and Salvadoran people have endured in the wake of the storm. We mourn for those who are no longer with us, and extend our deepest sympathies to those they have left behind, in many cases without food or shelter. It is a tragedy for anyone to lose their home, their father, their mother, their children, their friends. We will do everything we can to help them recover from this disaster.

But we also commend the people of these ravaged countries for their bravery, and for standing tall in the face of adversity. In spite of the frustration and sadness that come in the aftermath of a disaster, they are fighting hard to recover. They could certainly use our help.

The international community and the United States have already responded. Countries, NGOs and humanitarian aid agencies from around the world have generously contributed millions of dollars in medicine and aid, and mobilizing to transport and deliver support and supplies. The United States continue to assert and strengthen our commitment to participate in the global outpouring of support to our devastated neighbors to the south.

After all, we are no strangers to the effects of natural disasters, and many of our cities have suffered through more than their fair share. As a Representative of the good people of Houston, Texas, many of the Atlantic hurricanes and tropical storms that wreak havoc every summer hit very close to home. From

Ike to Ivan to Wilma to Katrina, we know all too well the devastation that befalls those unfortunate enough to be standing in the path of one of the North Atlantic's deadly hurricanes or tropical storms. We have seen the destruction first hand; I have spoken to the victims; we have known the pain and suffering those natural disasters can cause.

We know the road of recovery can be long and fraught with challenges. But we have recovered, and so shall the people of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. And the United States must help ensure that they do.

As such, I am proud to stand behind my fellow members in calling upon the Congress to urge the Secretary of State and the United States Agency for International Development to continue working on a strategic plan to promote food security and recovery efforts, with the aim of mitigating current and future effects of the recent natural disasters that have devastated Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

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

I rise today as a proud cosponsor of House Resolution 1462, which expresses the support of the United States to the people of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Agatha.

Having already declared a state of emergency following a volcano eruption just 50 miles from Guatemala City days earlier, Guatemala was hit by Tropical Storm Agatha on May 29, 2010. Floods and mudslides devastated parts of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador as a result of the storm. Hundreds of lives were lost, hundreds of thousands of survivors left in shelters.

Immediately following this disaster, as we always do, the United States, as a government and as a people, was standing by to lend a helping hand. The United States Southern Command, SOUTHCOM, located in my home district in Miami, Florida, deployed four helicopters from Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras to conduct aerial assessments and transport emergency relief supplies to areas impacted by the disaster.

The ability of SOUTHCOM to utilize resources from the Soto Cano Air Base demonstrates the important role that Honduras plays in enabling the United States to provide support for security and disaster purposes. SOUTHCOM also sent personnel from Miami to join a humanitarian assessment team on the ground in Guatemala. And I was proud to see Royal Caribbean Cruises, also of Miami, work with the Pan American Development Foundation to help transport food to the tens of thousands of survivors in the days following the storm.

The growing security challenges facing Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador as a result of narcotraffickers and vicious gangs have only been complicated by this recent natural disaster. It will be critical for the United States to work with responsible democratic nations in the region to ensure that this does not become a window of opportunity for criminals.

The success we have seen in Colombia and the ongoing efforts being taken in Mexico against the drug cartels have created an unfortunate sandwich effect in Central America. But only through a united hemispheric-wide approach that is based on a shared commitment to democracy, to security, to prosperity, will we achieve success against the narcotraffickers and organized crime.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who suffered as a result of Tropical Storm Agatha. As the brave people of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador continue to recover from this tragic disaster, please know that we have you in our hearts and in our prayers.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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 resolution and yield myself such time as I may consume.

On May 29, 2010, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador experienced devastating floods and mudslides caused by Tropical Storm Agatha. Agatha has left 174 dead and directly affected more than 62,000 families in Guatemala, killed 22 and forced nearly 8,000 into shelters in Honduras, and left 11 dead and 12,000 in shelters in El Salvador. And to make matters worse, over 2,000 Guatemalans were displaced with little forewarning following the eruption of the Pacaya volcano on May 27, 2010.

The combination of the tropical storm and the volcano has devastated Guatemala's landscape leaving behind sinkholes and mudslides across the country. In addition, due to recent droughts, erratic rainfalls and high food prices, a sharp drop in remittances, Guatemala now faces severe food insecurity, and this is expected to increase in the wake of Tropical Storm Agatha.

Guatemalan officials are estimating that damages will surpass $475 million. In Honduras, the loss in the agriculture sector could be close to $18.5 million. In all three countries, critical infrastructure relating to water and sanitation has been destroyed.

The United States has provided relief for the victims of Tropical Storm Agatha by deploying United States Southern Command support helicopters and frigates to assist with the transport of food, water, and emergency supplies. Humanitarian aid agencies in the United States and countries and NGOs around the world are mobilizing to provide much- needed assistance to the relief and the recovery efforts.

The resolution before us recognizes the assistance efforts already under way and urges the Secretary of State in coordination with the administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, to continue to develop a strategic plan with the goal of mitigating the effects of the recent natural disasters that have devastated these three countries. Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador face a major challenge as they recover and rebuild. They deserve our continued support.

For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1462, stating our nation's unequivocal support for those people of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador who have been affected by Tropical Storm Agatha. In the aftermath of the storm, mudslides and sinkholes formed, not only marring the natural beauty of these countries, but also causing immense amounts of damage and suffering.

Hundreds of people lost their lives, and tens of thousands were displaced from their homes. Food shortages, destruction of infrastructure, economic losses in agriculture, and damages to vital buildings will inevitably adversely affect these countries for a long time to come.

These Latin American nations represent crucial U.S. allies in the region and key economic trading partners. It is in the interest of our economic stability and national security to help them through these tough times.

Our own experiences from Hurricanes Rita and Katrina remind us that we are all vulnerable to the cruel whims of nature. We will never forget how many countries around the world stood with us during those trying times for our nation, and we need to stand with Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador now.

I commend the United States Southern Command for providing food, water, and necessary supplies to the victims of these natural disasters. We have not been alone in providing assistance to the disaster areas; the international community has come together in support of those who have been affected, contributing millions of dollars in medical supplies and other assistance.

I urge the House of Representatives to keep in mind today those lives and livelihoods that have been destroyed in the aftermath of this disaster by supporting this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1462) expressing support for the people of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador as they persevere through the aftermath of Tropical Storm Agatha which swept across Central America causing deadly floods and mudslides, as amended.