H. Res. 816 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

October 14, 2009. 

Whereas, on September 29, 2009, at 1748 UTC, a powerful 

earthquake struck below the ocean about 140 miles 

southwest of Pago Pago, American Samoa, and 125 miles 

south of Samoa, centered only 11 miles below the seabed; 

Whereas the earthquake registered 8.3 on the Richter scale 

and is recognized as the world’s largest earthquake of 

2009; 

Whereas a second earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 occurred at 1808 UTC in the vicinity of the first one; 

Whereas the first undersea earthquake created a massive tsunami that crashed into American Samoa, Samoa, and 

neighboring Tonga, sweeping cars and people out to sea 

as survivors fled to high ground; 

Whereas the tsunami, with towering waves that reached up 

to 20 feet in height and penetrated one mile inland, 

caused death and destruction on a nearly unprecedented 

scale; 

Whereas the death toll, as of October 7, 2009, is estimated 

at 32 in American Samoa and 135 in the Independent 

State of Samoa; 

Whereas many individuals and families affected in this region 

are now lacking basic survival necessities and there re-
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mains the risk of numerous additional deaths due to 

shortages of clean water, adequate shelter, food, sanitation, and basic healthcare; 

Whereas the human cost of this disaster transcends mere statistics and has resulted in deeply personal tragedies for 

numerous families and communities in the region and 

throughout the world; 

Whereas children in the United States Territory of American 

Samoa running for home unknowingly ran in the direction of the tsunami; 

Whereas the villages of Fagamalo, Poloa, Amanave, Fai’lolo, 

Nua, Se’etaga, Afao, Asili, Amaluia, Leone, Fagasa, 

Fagatogo, Pago Pago, Aua, Afono, Vatia, Masefau, 

Faga’itua, Pagai, Utusia, Alofau, Auto, Alao, and Tula 

in American Samoa were devastated by the disaster; 

Whereas in response to this disaster and call for assistance, 

the people of the United States have responded with a 

generous and heartfelt outpouring of aid; 

Whereas a team of more than 300 responders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the 

American Red Cross, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 

and other Federal agencies is on the ground in American 

Samoa coordinating relief and recovery operations; 

Whereas the United States Navy (USN), the United States 

Coast Guard (USCG), the Hawaii Air National Guard, 

and the U.S. Army Reserve American Samoa, under the 

leadership of Admiral Timothy J. Keating, Commander, 

U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), and Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Iuniasolua T. Savusa, Senior Enlisted Leader, PACOM, with the support of Major Gen-
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eral Robert G.F. Lee, the Adjutant General, State of Hawaii, provided critical transport of the life-saving and lifesustaining supplies and equipment to meet the immediate 

needs of the survivors, including more than 26,000 

meals, 14,000 liters of water, 1,800 blankets, 800 tents, 

more than 800 cots, and 9 pallets of medical supplies and 

medical equipment in support of American Samoa’s mass 

care operations; 

Whereas foreign governments, including Kazakhstan, the 

People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Palau, 

Thailand, Samoa, Fiji, Grenada, Hungary, Uzbekistan, 

Republic of China (Taiwan), Indonesia, Nauru, Australia, 

Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan, Pacific Islands Forum members, and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) 

sent messages of support and offers of aid to the people 

of American Samoa; 

Whereas organizations including the Li Ka Shing Foundation, the Hanwha Group, Save the Children, the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Latter-day Saint 

Charities, Catholic Charities, the American Jewish Joint 

Distribution Committee (JDC), National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, StarKist, Bumble Bee, the 

National Football League (NFL), and many others are 

providing assistance; 

Whereas the Samoan community in areas such as California, 

Utah, Washington, and Hawaii have been instrumental in 

helping their ‘‘aiga’’ abroad; 

Whereas President Barack H. Obama telephoned the Governor of American Samoa and American Samoa’s Delegate to the United States House of Representatives to 

personally extend his and the First Lady’s condolences to 

the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives 
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in the earthquake and tsunami in American Samoa and 

the region, and to assure the Governor and the Delegate 

that he would speed the deployment of resources and provide the tools necessary for a full, swift, and aggressive 

response; 

Whereas Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton also telephoned American Samoa’s Delegate in his capacity as 

Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee 

on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment to convey her sympathy and offer her full support which subsequently included the authorization to airlift emergency 

supplies to Samoa; 

Whereas Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi issued a press 

statement on behalf of the entire Congress promising to 

quickly address the needs of American Samoa and the 

Americans who live there; and 

Whereas Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, Chairman John F. Kerry of 

the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Chairman 

Howard L. Berman of the House Committee on Foreign 

Affairs, Chairman Nick J. Rahall, II, of the House Committee on Natural Resources, as well as many other 

Members of Congress also offered expressions of support 

in the aftermath of the devastating tsunami: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) mourns the loss of life caused by the earthquakes and tsunamis that occurred on September 29, 

2009, in American Samoa, Samoa, and Tonga; 
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(2) offers its deepest sympathy and condolences to 

the families of the many earthquake and tsunami victims, and to Head of State His Highness Tui Atua 

Tupua Tamasese and Prime Minister Tuilaepa 

Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi of Samoa, as well as to 

His Majesty King George Tupou V and Prime Minister 

Feleti Vaka’uta Sevele of Tonga; 

(3) pledges its full support to the people of American Samoa and the villages of Fagamalo, Poloa, 

Amanave, Fai’lolo, Nua, Se’etaga, Afao, Asili, Amaluia, 

Leone, Fagasa, Fagatogo, Pago Pago, Aua, Afono, 

Vatia, Masefau, Faga’itua, Pagai, Utusia, Alofau, Auto, 

Alao, and Tula as they begin the long and difficult process of rebuilding their homes and lives; 

(4) recognizes the humanitarian response that is 

currently underway and commends the efforts of all persons and relief organizations who continue to alleviate 

the suffering by providing financial and material support; 

(5) urges continued attention by donors and relief 

agencies to the needs of vulnerable populations in the 

stricken areas, particularly the children and elderly who 

have been devastatingly affected by this disaster; 

(6) expresses gratitude and appreciation to the foreign governments from around the world that are lend-
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ing their support to the United States Territory of 

American Samoa; 

(7) commends the over 100,000 Samoans residing 

in the United States from American Samoa and Samoa 

for coming to the aid of their ‘‘aiga’’ in the affected islands; and 

(8) pays tribute to the people of American Samoa 

and Samoa for their strength of spirit and their deep 

and abiding faith in God which brings hope to all of us. 

Attest: 

Clerk.