IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 139 
Expressing condolences to the people of New Zealand for the terrible loss 
of life and property suffered as a result of the deadly earthquake that 
struck on February 22, 2011. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 2, 2011 
Mr. MANZULLO (for himself, Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California, Mr. 
BRADY of Texas, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. MEEKS, Mr. 
LARSEN of Washington, and Mr. SABLAN) submitted the following resolu-
tion; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing condolences to the people of New Zealand for 
the terrible loss of life and property suffered as a result 
of the deadly earthquake that struck on February 22, 
2011. 
Whereas on February 22, 2011, a massive earthquake meas-
uring 6.3 magnitude on the Richter scale struck the Can-
terbury region of New Zealand at 12:51 p.m. local time, 
causing tremendous loss of life and devastation in a re-
gion already struggling to rebuild as a result of an earlier 
quake; 
Whereas by March 2, 2011, the death toll had climbed to ap-
proximately 250 people with a significant number still 
missing; 
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•HRES 139 IH 
Whereas numerous personal accounts detail the heroism of 
survivors helping victims escape the rubble and destruc-
tion, many of whom were tourists and children; 
Whereas the damage to Christchurch was exacerbated as a 
result of an earlier earthquake, measuring 7.1 magnitude 
that struck the region on September 4, 2010, and which 
was followed by hundreds of aftershocks; 
Whereas one-third of the buildings in Christchurch’s central 
business district are deemed unsafe, 755 buildings face 
demolition, and 625 properties in Christchurch’s sur-
rounding suburbs are damaged beyond repair; 
Whereas roads buckled and water pipes burst, flooding 
streets and depriving 35 percent of Christchurch’s resi-
dents from access to potable water; 
Whereas the steeple of Christchurch Cathedral, a historic 
landmark, collapsed with an estimated 22 people feared 
trapped in the rubble; 
Whereas 2 commuter buses were crushed under falling debris; 
Whereas Lyttelton Port and the town of New Brighton, both 
closer to the epicenter of the earthquake, are considered 
disaster areas; 
Whereas the collapsed Christchurch Canterbury Television 
building housed an English language school with students 
from Japan, China, Thailand, the Philippines, and South 
Korea, who are among the casualties; 
Whereas New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has de-
scribed February 22, 2011, as one of New Zealand’s 
darkest days and its worst natural disaster in over 80 
years; 
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Whereas the estimated monetary damage to Christchurch and 
the 
greater 
Canterbury 
region 
may 
exceed 
$15,000,000,000 in damages; 
Whereas Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton affirmed 
in the Wellington Declaration on November 4, 2010, that 
‘‘New Zealand and the United States are both Pacific na-
tions. Our governments and peoples share a deep and 
abiding interest in maintaining peace, prosperity, and 
stability in the region, expanding the benefits of freer 
and more open trade, and promoting and protecting free-
dom, democracy and human rights worldwide. We recall 
the long history of shared United States and New Zea-
land sacrifice in battle and we honor those, past and 
present, who have borne that sacrifice’’; 
Whereas the largest congressional delegation ever to visit 
New Zealand participated in the United States-New Zea-
land Partnership Forum, held in Christchurch, to deepen 
the bilateral relationship and promote United States pri-
orities within the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade nego-
tiations, which the delegation left only hours before the 
earthquake struck; 
Whereas the remaining United States delegation at the 
United States-New Zealand Partnership Forum, which 
included senior executive branch officials, former legisla-
tors, and leaders in business and academia, were also af-
fected by the earthquake; 
Whereas the Government of New Zealand offered outstanding 
support in securing and evacuating the United States del-
egation in the aftermath of the earthquake; 
Whereas the United States has affirmed its support and as-
sistance to the people of New Zealand, sending an 80- 
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•HRES 139 IH 
person United States Agency for International Develop-
ment (USAID) Disaster Assistance Response Team; 
Whereas the United States Embassy dispersed to hospitals, 
shelters, triage centers, and public parks in Christchurch 
to search for United States citizens in the aftermath of 
the destruction; 
Whereas Embassy personnel in Wellington, New Zealand, 
opened their homes to house 24 United States evacuees, 
including 8 students; 
Whereas approximately 3,500 United States citizens were be-
lieved to be in Christchurch at the time of the earth-
quake, including delegates to the United States-New Zea-
land Partnership Forum; 
Whereas Australia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Tai-
wan, the United Kingdom, and other nations have sent 
rescue teams to assist in the vast rescue mission; and 
Whereas President Barack Obama expressed his ‘‘deepest 
condolences to the people of New Zealand and to the 
families and friends of the victims in Christchurch, which 
suffered its second major earthquake in just six months’’: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) expresses its condolences to the people of 
New Zealand for the terrible loss of life and prop-
erty suffered as a result of the deadly earthquake 
that struck on February 22, 2011; 
(2) mourns with the people of New Zealand and 
all the countries affected by the earthquake; 
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(3) pledges its full support to New Zealand as 
the rescue and recovery effort continues; 
(4) recognizes the humanitarian response cur-
rently underway; and 
(5) supports the continuing efforts by the 
United States Government and private citizens to 
assist New Zealand as it copes with this natural dis-
aster. 
Æ 
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