IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1347 

Praising relief efforts by Chinese individuals and nongovernmental organizations to assist victims of the recent earthquake in the People’s Republic 

of China, recognizing the Chinese Government for allowing such efforts 

to proceed and for allowing open media coverage of the earthquake, 

and encouraging the Chinese Government to continue this new era of 

openness. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 15, 2008 

Mr. MORAN of Virginia (for himself, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, and Ms. LEE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Praising relief efforts by Chinese individuals and nongovernmental organizations to assist victims of the recent earthquake in the People’s Republic of China, recognizing 

the Chinese Government for allowing such efforts to proceed and for allowing open media coverage of the earthquake, and encouraging the Chinese Government to continue this new era of openness. 

Whereas on May 20, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously adopted H. Res. 1195, which expressed 

condolences and sympathy to the People’s Republic of 

China for the grave loss of life and vast destruction 


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•HRES 1347 IH 

caused by the catastrophic earthquake centered in 

Sichuan Province on May 12, 2008; 

Whereas the confirmed death toll from the earthquake has 

risen from 22,000 as of May 20 to 69,181 as of June 

23, 2008; 

Whereas 18,498 people are missing and 374,171 are injured, 

and the death toll is still expected to rise; 

Whereas Chinese nongovernmental organizations, grassroots 

volunteers, and private businesses have joined in—and 

often led—a massive relief effort to provide medical supplies, food, tents, and clothing to the towns and remote 

villages in the disaster zone despite blocked or damaged 

roads and bridges; 

Whereas Chinese nongovernmental organizations are using 

information independent from the Chinese Government 

and are receiving tips from television news, Internet 

Weblogs (or ‘‘blogs’’), and other sources; 

Whereas teams of volunteers from smaller unregistered nongovernmental organizations arrived rapidly in the disaster 

zone, within hours after the earthquake; 

Whereas nongovernmental organizations in China have historically been required to register with the Government 

and larger nongovernmental organizations are more rigidly controlled; 

Whereas, in response to the earthquake, the Chinese Government has accepted the formation and participation of 

both registered and unregistered Chinese nongovernmental organizations—which has never happened before—and has acknowledged that these organizations can 

contribute to the reconstruction of the damaged region; 


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•HRES 1347 IH 

Whereas Chinese nongovernmental organizations, such as the 

Chengdu Urban Rivers Association, have fielded hundreds of calls and e-mails to assist and coordinate relief 

efforts using associates and volunteers who were already 

in the affected area before the earthquake struck; 

Whereas online citizen groups mobilized rapidly to provide assistance to earthquake victims; 

Whereas such groups include Tianya.cn, a leading Chinese 

online community that raised 24 million Yuan ($3.5 million) for disaster relief, mostly from online donations by 

individuals; 

Whereas Ngocn.org, a major information hub for Chinese 

nongovernmental organizations, set up a special bulletin 

board for the nongovernmental organization relief office 

in Chengdu to post announcements and stories for timely, 

extensive, and in-depth coverage of the earthquake; 

Whereas the circulation of these stories of profound sadness 

and compassion generated a sense of national solidarity 

that has energized civic action by Chinese individuals in 

voluntary relief efforts; 

Whereas since the earthquake occurred, the Red Cross Society of China has been carrying out the largest fundraising and relief activities and, as of June 12, 2008, is 

planning to allocate 2.5 billion yuan ($362.32 million) for 

rehabilitation projects in areas hit by the earthquake; 

Whereas the new registered and unregistered Chinese nongovernmental organizations, as well as online and offline 

citizen groups, acted rapidly to help manage the crisis; 

Whereas the Chinese Government has begun to restrict media 

access to areas affected by the earthquake and to censor 

news stories of the earthquake and its aftermath, as eviVerDate Aug 31 2005 02:46 Jul 16, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1347.IH HR1347

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•HRES 1347 IH 

denced by several reported incidences of detention of foreign journalists in the town of Dujiangyan; 

Whereas an open press remains an effective tool to expose 

corruption and improve public accountability; and 

Whereas this massive, quick, and efficient relief effort and an 

open press are important in developing and enhancing 

Chinese civil society: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) praises the Chinese individuals who have 

3 formed voluntary relief efforts for their selfless, al4 truistic commitment to provide aid and support for 

5 the victims of the catastrophic earthquake that oc6 curred on May 12, 2008; 

7 (2) recognizes the Chinese Government for al8 lowing Chinese individuals and nongovernmental or9 ganizations unprecedented latitude in assisting 

10 earthquake victims and for allowing unprecedented 

11 open media coverage of the earthquake; and 

12 (3) encourages the Chinese Government to con13 tinue this new era of openness. 

Æ 


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