H. Res. 1048 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

February 23, 2010. 

Whereas, on January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake 

struck the country of Haiti; 

Whereas casualty estimates, upwards of 150,000, as well as 

damage to roads, ports, hospitals, and homes, make this 

earthquake one of the worst catastrophes to hit Haiti in 

over two centuries; 

Whereas an estimated 3,000,000 people have been directly affected by the disaster in Haiti, nearly one-third of the 

country’s population, who are currently at risk of longterm displacement and vulnerability; 

Whereas Haiti is the poorest, least developed country in the 

Western Hemisphere; 

Whereas prior to the earthquake, Haiti was recovering from 

a terrible string of hurricanes and tropical storms, food 

shortages and rising commodity prices, and political instability, but was showing signs of improvement and resolve; 

Whereas President Obama vowed the ‘‘unwavering support’’ 

of the United States and pledged a ‘‘swift, coordinated 

and aggressive effort to save lives and support the recovery in Haiti’’; 
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•HRES 1048 EH 

Whereas the people of Haiti have shown remarkable resilience 

and courage in the face of epic tragedy; 

Whereas the United States Navy responded within hours of 

the earthquake to swiftly provide the Haitians with aid; 

Whereas the USNS Comfort and its crew of more than 1,200 

has provided 24-hour care for over 900 Haitians, ranging 

from newborns to critically ill patients; 

Whereas the USNS Comfort’s over 550-person medical staff 

includes trauma surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, head and 

neck surgeons, eye surgeons, and obstetricians and gynecologists; 

Whereas the medical staff of the USNS Comfort, as of February 18, 2010, had performed over 755 surgeries; 

Whereas the extraordinary USNS Comfort medical staff has 

saved countless lives; 

Whereas the people of the United States empathize with the 

medical staff of the USNS Comfort who must make agonizing decisions about the use of scarce resources for 

critically ill patients; 

Whereas prior to the arrival of the USNS Comfort, the USS 

Carl Vinson dutifully provided initial triage of patients; 

and 

Whereas the USNS Comfort and the USS Carl Vinson have 

been aided in their efforts by other Navy vessels, including the crews of the USS Higgins, the USS Underwood, 

the USS Normandy, the USS Bunker Hill, the USS Bataan, the USS Carter Hall, the USS Gunston Hall, the 

USS Fort McHenry, the USNS Grasp, the Navy Underwater Construction Team One, and the Navy Mobile Diving Salvage Unit Two: Now, therefore, be it 
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•HRES 1048 EH 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) expresses its deepest condolences and sympathy 

for the horrific loss of life and the physical and psychological damage caused by the earthquake of January 12, 

2010; 

(2) expresses solidarity with Haitians, HaitianAmericans, and all those who have lost loved ones or 

have otherwise been affected by the tragedy; 

(3) commends the efforts of the people of the 

United States, including the Haitian-American community, to provide relief to families, friends, and unknown 

peoples suffering in the country; and 

(4) commends the efforts and honors the work of 

the men and women of USNS Comfort and the United 

States Navy in the immediate response to those affected 

by this calamity. 

Attest: 

Clerk.