IV

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. RES. 405

Recognizing the recent natural disaster in Venezuela, commending the people

and Government of Venezuela for its disaster recovery efforts, and calling

on the United States Government and the international community to

consider providing additional disaster assistance.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 27, 2000

Mr. GALLEGLY (for himself, Mr. BALLENGER, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr.

SOUDER, Mr. DAVIS of Florida, Mr. GILLMOR, and Mr. GEJDENSON)

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee

on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the recent natural disaster in Venezuela, commending the people and Government of Venezuela for

its disaster recovery efforts, and calling on the United

States Government and the international community to

consider providing additional disaster assistance.

Whereas on December 16, 1999, the Government of Venezuela declared a state of emergency for 7 states after 2

weeks of unrelenting rain led to flash flooding in northern Venezuela;

Whereas the December floods, determined to be the worse

natural disaster to hit Venezuela in the century, left an
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•HRES 405 IH

estimated 30,000 dead and an estimated 500,000 persons

affected or displaced;

Whereas the disaster resulted in the damage to or the destruction of many roads, bridges, and other elements of

Venezuela’s infrastructure and the damage or destruction

of over 100,000 homes and businesses;

Whereas the flooding has affected over 35,000 hectares of

farmland and destroyed an estimated 60 percent of the

agriculture harvest for this year;

Whereas the flooding left thousands of Venezuelans homeless

and without essential food, water, shelter, and medical

supplies;

Whereas on December 16, 1999, the United States Ambassador to Venezuela declared a disaster for flooding, thus

releasing immediate financial and material assistance

from the United States;

Whereas the United States Agency for International Development, the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, and the

Department of Defense have actively provided support to

the Government of Venezuela in the search, rescue, and

recovery efforts thus far;

Whereas the United States Government has provided approximately $3.75 million in emergency disaster assistance

and an additional $20 million in Department of Defense

assistance;

Whereas the international community, as reported by the

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, has contributed approximately $10 million

for emergency relief;
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•HRES 405 IH

Whereas the United States should continue to play a leading

role in responding to international disasters and to encourage others to contribute to the recovery effort; and

Whereas Venezuela is an important neighbor, friend, and ally

in the Hemisphere and is in need of help: Now, therefore,

be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) recognizes the significant death and de3 struction in parts of northern Venezuela as a result

4 of the devastating floods of December 1999 and ex5 presses its deepest sympathy to the people of Ven6 ezuela who have suffered as a result of these floods;

7 (2) commends the Government of Venezuela for

8 its determined and quick response to the disaster

9 and its rescue and relief efforts as well as the people

10 of Venezuela for coming together in this time of na11 tional emergency and need to help in the rescue and

12 relief efforts of their fellow citizens;

13 (3) commends the United States Ambassador to

14 Venezuela, the Agency for International Develop15 ment, the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, and

16 the Department of Defense for their swift reaction

17 to the disaster and the timely assistance thus far

18 provided to the people and Government of Venezuela

19 for rescue and relief operations; and
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•HRES 405 IH

1 (4) pledges the continued support of the United

2 States and urges the administration to seek addi3 tional emergency relief funds, if appropriate, to con4 tinue to assist the people of Venezuela to recover

5 from this disaster and urges the Administrator of

6 the Agency for International Development to encour7 age other international donors to continue to con8 tribute to the relief efforts in Venezuela.

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