IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1130 

Expressing support for the people affected by the natural disasters on Madeira 

Island. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 2, 2010 

Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts (for himself, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. TIERNEY, Mr. 

OLVER, Mr. COSTA, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. CARDOZA, Mr. LYNCH, and Mr. 

NUNES) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the people affected by the natural 

disasters on Madeira Island. 

Whereas, on February 20, 2010, a powerful storm hit Madeira Island, the largest of the islands that comprise the 

Madeira Autonomous Region of Portugal, resulting in a 

series of devastating flash floods and mudslides; 

Whereas the storm caused boulders, trees, and earth to be 

hurled against buildings, carried away vehicles, and 

washed away roads and bridges on the south side of Madeira Island, an area that includes Funchal, the capital 

of the Madeira Autonomous Region; 


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•HRES 1130 IH 

Whereas 42 people have lost their lives, 151 people have received treatment for injuries at the main hospital in 

Funchal, and hundreds of people have been displaced; 

Whereas the storm destroyed a large portion of the water and 

communication infrastructure on Madeira Island; 

Whereas Jose ́ So ́crates, the Prime Minister of Portugal, has 

promised ‘‘all necessary aid’’ to Madeira, and Alberto 

Joa ̃o Gonc ̧alves Jardim, the President of the Madeira Autonomous Region, has consulted with European Commission President Jose ́ Manuel Barroso to seek further assistance; 

Whereas a Portuguese Navy frigate has dispatched troops to 

Madeira Island, with Portuguese divers and a medical 

team also arriving to offer emergency assistance; 

Whereas the Government of Portugal has announced 3 days 

of national mourning for those who lost their lives in this 

disaster; 

Whereas the United States is providing assistance through 

the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance of the United 

States Agency for International Development; 

Whereas there are approximately 400 citizens of the United 

States on Madeira Island, with United States officials 

continually working to ensure their safety and well-being; 

and 

Whereas a community of approximately 1,500,000 Portuguese-Americans, strongly represented in Rhode Island, 

Massachusetts, California, and other States maintain 

deep and enduring ties with Portugal and Madeira Island: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


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•HRES 1130 IH 

1 (1) mourns the loss of life and expresses its 

2 deepest condolences to the families of those killed 

3 and injured by floods and mudslides resulting from 

4 the storm that hit Madeira Island on February 20, 

5 2010; 

6 (2) expresses solidarity between the people of 

7 the United States and Madeira, recognizing the his8 torical ties between Portuguese-Americans, Portugal, 

9 and the Madeira Autonomous Region; and 

10 (3) applauds the courageous rescue efforts of 

11 fire, medical, and military personnel and other vol12 unteers in response to the flooding and mudslides. 

Æ 


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