IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 120

Commending the outstanding efforts by members of the Armed Forces and 

civilian employees of the Department of State and the United States 

Agency for International Development in response to the earthquake 

and tsunami of December 26, 2004. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 17, 2005

Mr. BLUMENAUER (for himself and Mr. LEACH) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, 

and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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 

RESOLUTION

Commending the outstanding efforts by members of the 

Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department 

of State and the United States Agency for International 

Development in response to the earthquake and tsunami 

of December 26, 2004.

Whereas on December 26, 2004, an earthquake and tsunami 

struck the Indian Ocean basin, killing over 250,000 people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Somalia, 

Burma, Maldives, Malaysia, Tanzania, Bangladesh, and 

Kenya; 
2

•HRES 120 IH 

Whereas the response by members of the Armed Forces and 

civilian employees of the Department of State and the 

United States Agency for International Development 

(USAID) was immediate, invaluable, and courageous; 

Whereas civilian employees of the Department of State and 

USAID showed great leadership in helping to coordinate 

relief efforts among donors, United Nations agencies, 

international organizations, aid agencies, and host governments; 

Whereas civilian employees of the Department of State and 

USAID who were on vacation in some of the hardest hit 

areas used their expertise and specialized skills to provide 

immediate assistance to victims and survivors of the tsunami; 

Whereas civilian employees of the Department of State and 

USAID set up remote assistance operations in the affected areas in order to best provide service to United 

States citizens and citizens of other countries who were 

affected by the tsunami; 

Whereas United States consular officers worked around the 

clock to locate and identify United States citizens affected by the tsunami, reconnect them with their loved 

ones, and facilitate their return to the United States, despite the loss of their passports, other identification, and 

belongings as a result of the tsunami; 

Whereas members of the Armed Forces volunteered their 

unique resources to assess the situation and deliver aid 

when and where other relief efforts could not; 

Whereas the sight of members of the Armed Forces providing 

aid to tsunami victims and survivors has provided an important boost to the image abroad of the United States; 
3

•HRES 120 IH 

Whereas members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of USAID worked together to bring clean water from 

Navy ships to victims and survivors in need; and 

Whereas the coordinated effort by members of the Armed 

Forces and civilian employees of the Department of State 

and USAID saved lives, made a crucial contribution to 

recovery, and set the stage for a long-term United States 

commitment to increased peace and security across South 

and Southeast Asia: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) commends the outstanding efforts in re3 sponse to the earthquake and tsunami of December 

4 26, 2004, by members of the Armed Forces and ci5 vilian employees of the Department of State and the 

6 United States Agency for International Develop7 ment; 

8 (2) recognizes that the actions of these individ9 uals went above and beyond the call of duty; and 

10 (3) thanks them for their service.

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