IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1048 

Commending the efforts and honoring the work of the men and women 

of USNS Comfort and the United States Navy in the immediate response 

to those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 

2010. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 27, 2010 

Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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 efforts and honoring the work of the men 

and women of USNS Comfort and the United States 

Navy in the immediate response to those affected by 

the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 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; 


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•HRES 1048 IH 

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’’; 

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 1,200 have provided 24-hour care for nearly 500 Haitians, ranging from 

newborns to critically ill patients; 

Whereas the USNS Comfort’s 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 January 24, 2010, had performed over 100 surgeries; 


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•HRES 1048 IH 

Whereas the extraordinary USNS Comfort medical staff has 

saved the lives of 98 percent of the ship’s patient population as of January 25, 2010; 

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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses its deepest condolences and sym3 pathy for the horrific loss of life and the physical 

4 and psychological damage caused by the earthquake 

5 of January 12, 2010; 

6 (2) expresses solidarity with Haitians, Haitian7 Americans, and all those who have lost loved ones or 

8 have otherwise been affected by the tragedy; 

9 (3) commends the efforts of the people of the 

10 United States, including the Haitian-American comVerDate Nov 24 2008 03:16 Jan 28, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR1048.IH HR1048

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•HRES 1048 IH 

1 munity, to provide relief to families, friends, and un2 known peoples suffering in the country; and 

3 (4) commends the efforts and honors the work 

4 of the men and women of USNS Comfort and the 

5 United States Navy in the immediate response to 

6 those affected by this calamity. 

Æ 


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