IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 816 
Mourning the loss of life caused by the earthquakes and tsunamis that 
occurred on September 29, 2009, in American Samoa and Samoa. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 8, 2009 
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA (for himself, Mr. BERMAN, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. RA-
HALL, Ms. RICHARDSON, Mr. ACKERMAN, Ms. BORDALLO, Mrs. 
CHRISTENSEN, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. MAN-
ZULLO, Mr. FLAKE, Mr. HASTINGS of Washington, Mr. BURTON of Indi-
ana, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. WAMP, Mr. SIRES, Mr. 
MCDERMOTT, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. MURTHA, Mr. BROWN of South Caro-
lina, 
Ms. 
ROYBAL-ALLARD, 
Mr. 
ORTIZ, 
Mr. 
PIERLUISI, 
Mrs. 
NAPOLITANO, Mr. HONDA, Mr. CAO, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. 
SERRANO, Mr. GONZALEZ, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Mr. HINCHEY, Mrs. 
CAPPS, Mr. CHAFFETZ, Ms. CHU, Mr. WU, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. KIND, 
Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, 
Mr. COSTA, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Ms. DEGETTE, and 
Mr. PAYNE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Mourning the loss of life caused by the earthquakes and 
tsunamis that occurred on September 29, 2009, in Amer-
ican Samoa and Samoa. 
Whereas, on September 29, 2009, at 1748 UTC, a powerful 
earthquake struck below the ocean about 140 miles 
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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 oc-
curred at 1808 UTC in the vicinity of the first one; 
Whereas the first undersea earthquake created a massive tsu-
nami that struck in American Samoa, Samoa, and neigh-
boring Tonga, sweeping cars and people out to sea as 
survivors fled to high ground; 
Whereas the tsunami, with 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-
mains the risk of numerous additional deaths due to 
shortages of clean water, adequate shelter, food, sanita-
tion, and basic healthcare; 
Whereas the human cost of this disaster transcends mere sta-
tistics 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 direc-
tion of the tsunami; 
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Whereas the villages of Fagamalo, Poloa, Amanave, Failolo, 
Afao, Asili, Amaluia, Leone, Fagasa, Faga’alu, Fagatogo, 
Pago Pago, Afono, Vatia, Lauli’i, Faga’itua, Masefau, 
Alao, Tula, and Aoa 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 Fed-
eral 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 Ser-
geant Major (CSM) Iuniasolua T. Savusa, Senior En-
listed Leader, PACOM, with the support of Major Gen-
eral Robert G.F. Lee, the Adjutant General, State of Ha-
waii, provided critical transport of the life-saving and life- 
sustaining 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, 
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Republic of China (Taiwan), Indonesia, Nauru, Australia, 
Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan, Pacific Islands Forum mem-
bers, 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 Founda-
tion, Save the Children, the American Red Cross, Habitat 
for Humanity, Latter-day Saint Charities, Catholic Char-
ities, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee 
(JDC), National Voluntary Organizations Active in Dis-
aster, StarKist, Bumble Bee, the National Football 
League (NFL), and many others are providing assist-
ance; 
Whereas the Samoan community in areas such as California, 
Utah, Washington, and Hawaii have been instrumental in 
helping their ‘‘aiga’’ abroad; and 
Whereas President Barack 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 people 
of American Samoa: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) mourns the loss of life caused by the earth-
quakes and tsunamis that occurred on September 
29, 2009, in American Samoa and Samoa; 
(2) offers its deepest sympathy and condolences 
to the families of the many earthquake and tsunami 
victims; 
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(3) pledges its full support to the people of 
American Samoa and the villages of Fagamalo, 
Poloa, Amanave, Failolo, Afao, Asili, Amaluia, 
Leone, Fagasa, Faga’alu, Fagatogo, Pago Pago, 
Afono, Vatia, Lauli’i, Faga’itua, Masefau, Alao, 
Tula, and Aoa 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 ma-
terial support; 
(5) urges continued attention by donors and re-
lief 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 
lending their support to the United States Territory 
of American Samoa; 
(7) commends the over 100,000 Samoans resid-
ing in the United States from American Samoa and 
Samoa for coming to the aid of their ‘‘aiga’’ in the 
affected islands; and 
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(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. 
Æ 
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