Expressing condolences to the people and Government of Taiwan in the aftermath of the devastating typhoon that struck the central and southern regions of the island on August 8, 2009.

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

I also rise in strong support of this resolution addressing the recent natural disaster of typhoon winds and mudslides that struck Taiwan. This resolution expresses our sincere condolences to our Taiwanese friends who lost loved ones, homes, and businesses due to the devastation which struck the island on August 8. At least 602 people were killed, 81 others are missing, and over 190,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in the fury of the storm and in the aftermath of mudslides. Over 100 inches of rain turned streams into raging rivers which destroyed everything in their path. Whole villages were inundated by floodwaters and mud.

But, Mr. Speaker, the people of the United States feel those sympathies even more deeply today at a time when so many of our fellow Americans are suffering from tragic and deadly flooding in Georgia and Tennessee, and our deepest condolences go to our neighbors in the South.

On Taiwan, it is noteworthy that for the first time since official ties with Taiwan were severed in 1979, the United States dispatched humanitarian relief to the island to aid the victims of the typhoon. In response to this critical emergency for our Taiwan friends, the U.S. Marine Corps, based in Okinawa, sent two C-130s to southern Taiwan to deliver relief supplies. The amphibious transport ship USS Denver was also dispatched to the area and provided helicopters to engage in humanitarian operations as well. Thus, these deeply tragic circumstances served as a means to demonstrate the enduring, the unbreakable ties which exist between the people of the United States and the people of Taiwan.

In this 30th anniversary year of the Taiwan Relations Act, Mr. Speaker, the United States can do no less than to continue to aid the people of Taiwan in their hour of need. I urge all of my

colleagues to join us in vigorous support of this timely and heartfelt resolution.

Mr. Speaker, with that, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart).

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

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey), the author of this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Ros- Lehtinen for yielding me this time, and I rise in strong support of H. Res. 733, expressing condolences to the people and the Government of the Republic of China, Taiwan, in the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot, which struck the central and southern region of the island on August 8, 2009.

Additionally, I want to thank Chairman Berman, Representative Watson, Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen, and the House Foreign Affairs Committee for helping to bring this resolution to the floor today. As one of the four co-Chairs of the Taiwan Caucus, I want to express my gratitude to my fellow co-Chairs, Representatives Shelley Berkley, Lincoln Diaz- Balart, and Robert Wexler, as well as RSC Chairman Tom Price for helping to marshal support for this resolution.

Natural disasters like Typhoon Morakot are never respectful of persons or nations. Their devastation knows no political boundaries nor social divisions. In fact, as we debate this resolution, my mind cannot help but turn to my own home State of Georgia where historic rains and flooding have claimed the lives of 10, at the latest count, and caused hundreds of millions of dollars of damage while ravaging many communities in my district; in fact, four counties. So, Mr. Speaker, I rise not only with a sympathetic heart, but also with an empathetic heart for the people of Taiwan as they move forward after Typhoon Morakot caused flooding and mudslides that have claimed the lives of over 600,000 people and created billions of dollars of damage.

While this resolution expresses condolences to the victims' families and mourns the loss of life, it also honors our Nation's deep ties and dedication to Taiwan. This dedication was reflected in the relief efforts provided by the U.S. military through helicopter and airlift support.

Mr. Speaker, this past March, this House spoke in one voice with the passage of H. Con. Res. 55 that marked the 30th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. It reinforced our Nation's deep-seated commitment to Taiwan and the defense of Taiwan.

This resolution is another demonstration of that commitment and an expression of our sorrow for Taiwan's loss. My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the people of Taiwan, as well as to the people of my home State as these waters begin to recede and its families and communities begin to put their lives back together.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 733, which expresses condolences to the people and government of the Republic of China, Taiwan, in the aftermath of the devastating typhoon that struck the central and southern regions of the island on August 8, 2009. I support this resolution because natural disasters know no boundaries and the tragedy that befell Taiwan appeals to our common humanity.

After Typhoon Morakot landed on Taiwan at midnight on August 8 of this year, it dropped over 100 inches of rain on the island. To put that number in perspective, 100 inches is more than half the average annual rainfall of many places on the island. The torrential rain caused massive mudslides and floods, destroying roads, farms, businesses, and homes. This typhoon was the wettest in the history of Taiwan.

Typhoon Morakot was particularly devastating in central and southern Taiwan. The world watched in horror as the reports came in. In the southern village of Hsiaolin, mudslides had destroyed almost all of the roughly 250 homes in the village, stranded thousands, and buried almost 400 people alive. A rescue helicopter trying to reach villagers stranded in the mountains crashed, killing all three crew members. In all, estimates have put the devastation to infrastructure and farms totaling more than $46 billion and the national death toll over 600. A tragedy of that magnitude traumatized Taiwan and required an official period of 3 days to mourn the lost. This typhoon was the deadliest in Taiwan's history.

I applaud the effort of the United States to help with the relief effort. The U.S. gave humanitarian assistance by providing military aircraft, planes and helicopters, to deliver relief supplies on the island. Our service men and women performed their job admirably and I am thankful for their solid performance.

I would like for the people of Taiwan to know how very sorry we are that they have experienced this tragedy. Having witnessed first-hand the devastation brought by Hurricane Ike on my own district in Houston, Texas, and the surrounding areas, I know how a terrible natural disaster such as a typhoon can cause deep anguish. Moreover, from our experience witnessing Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, we know how the horror of weather-related devastation can scar a nation. My heart goes out to the families and the people of Taiwan.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 733) expressing condolences to the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the aftermath of the devastating typhoon that struck the central and southern regions of the island on August 8, 2009, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which 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 I yield myself such time as I may consume.

This resolution expresses condolences to the victims of the devastating typhoon that struck Taiwan on August 8, 2009. I would like to thank my good friend, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for sponsoring this important resolution that allows the House to voice its support for Taiwan and its people.

Typhoon Morakot hit Taiwan on August 8 and deluged the island with over 8 feet of rain. The loss of life and destruction of property in the wake of the typhoon has been devastating and is the worst that Taiwan has seen in 50 years. The central and southeastern parts of Taiwan were hardest hit by the storm, with floods and mudslides damaging almost 200,000 homes. The official death toll is over 600, and there are still 81 people missing.

The United States assisted recovery efforts in Taiwan by providing humanitarian relief supplies and heavy-lift helicopters to the disaster areas.

I want to extend my deepest condolences to all of the families that lost loved ones caused by the typhoon and to those who have lost their homes. The people of the United States stand in solidarity with the Taiwanese people as they undertake the painstaking process of recovery, and we stand ready to advocate further assistance for the recovery process if needed.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) for sponsoring this resolution, and I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Las Vegas, Nevada (Ms. Berkley).

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 733, which expresses condolences to the people of Taiwan who suffered so much as a result of the devastating typhoon that struck the island last month.

I visited Taiwan on August 20-22, 2009 as member of a congressional delegation led by the Honorable Howard Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. At the time of our visit, Taiwan remained in the early stages of its response to typhoon Morakot, and the extent of the loss of life and damage done had yet to be fully determined. As we now know, Morakot was the deadliest typhoon to strike Taiwan ever recorded. Extreme

amounts of rain from the typhoon triggered enormous mudslides and severe flooding throughout southern Taiwan. In perhaps the worst single tragedy, one of those mudslides buried the entire town of Xiaolin, killing more than 500 people.

Fortunately, during our brief visit to Taipei, all of us in the congressional delegation had a chance to express our personal condolences to the people of Taiwan while in meetings with President Ma Ying-jeou, Foreign Minister Francisco H.L. Ou, and Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng. With this resolution, now all Members of the House--on behalf of the people and government of the United States-- will have a chance to extend their sincerest condolences as well.

As the resolution notes, and as we were told while in Taiwan, the United States was able to provide aircraft, helicopters, and other forms of assistance to speed the recovery efforts. And as we found out, one of the important factors enabling our swift and robust response was President Ma's success in working to reduce tensions across the Taiwan Straits.

Taiwan expects the hard work of repair and reconstruction will continue for the next 3 years. But our friends in Taiwan should know that the United States and the American people understand their suffering and stand ready to continue assisting them as they repair the devastation wrought by the typhoon. For this reason, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 733.