IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 240 
Supporting the goals and ideals of a national day of prayer and remembrance 
for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and encouraging all Americans 
to observe that day. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 
Mr. CLEAVER (for himself, Mr. BLUNT, Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. OSBORNE, Mr. 
HOYER, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. HIGGINS, Ms. BALD-
WIN, Mr. WYNN, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. SKELTON, and Mr. DAVIS 
of Alabama) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Government Reform 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of a national day of prayer 
and remembrance for the victims of Hurricane Katrina 
and encouraging all Americans to observe that day. 
Whereas on August 25, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made land-
fall on the southeast tip of Florida as a Category 1 hurri-
cane; 
Whereas Hurricane Katrina moved into the Gulf of Mexico, 
rapidly intensifying to a Category 5 hurricane and, on 
August 29, 2005, made landfall on the Gulf coast as a 
Category 4 hurricane with 140 mile-per-hour winds, dev-
astating communities and towns in Alabama, Mississippi, 
and Louisiana;
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Whereas the levees protecting the city of New Orleans, Lou-
isiana from Lake Pontchartrain failed, causing heavy 
flooding in the city and inflicting incredible human and 
material damage; 
Whereas Hurricane Katrina caused the evacuation of the city 
of New Orleans, marking the first time a major American 
city has been completely evacuated; 
Whereas the number of individuals killed by Hurricane 
Katrina is estimated to be in the hundreds; 
Whereas the damage to human life and the fabric of families 
torn apart by Hurricane Katrina is inestimable; 
Whereas Hurricane Katrina has inflicted enormous damage 
to homes and businesses along the Gulf Coast, with dam-
age estimates in the hundreds of billions of dollars; 
Whereas Hurricane Katrina left an estimated five million 
people without power, and it may be months before all 
power is restored; 
Whereas the States of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and 
Florida have received federal disaster declarations; 
Whereas Hurricane Katrina ranks among the worst natural 
disasters in our Nation’s history; 
Whereas years of intense effort will be required to recover 
from the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and to 
rebuild the Gulf Coast; 
Whereas the American people have an inherent spirit of will-
power and strong resilience; 
Whereas the American people have opened their hearts and 
their homes to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, shel-
tering its victims, providing food and medical assistance,
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and donating hundreds of millions of dollars to the relief 
effort; 
Whereas Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco declared Au-
gust 31, 2005, to be a day of prayer in the State of Lou-
isiana, and asked that all Louisianans take time that day 
to pray for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and their 
rescuers; and 
Whereas President George W. Bush has proclaimed Sep-
tember 16, 2005, to be a National Day of Prayer and 
Remembrance for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress supports the goals and ideals 
of a national day of prayer and remembrance for the vic-
tims of Hurricane Katrina and encourages all Americans 
to observe that day. 
Æ