Date: 2001-03-20
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Madam Speaker. I thank the gentleman from North Carolina . my friend. for yielding me the time. Madam Speaker. I rise today as the sponsor in support of H. Con. Res. 41. a resolution which expresses sympathy for the victims of the devastating earthquakes that struck El Salvador on January 13. 2001. and February 13. 2001. and supports ongoing aid efforts. Twd devastating and deadly earthquakes rocked the Central American nation of El Salvador on January 13 and February 13. The first quake measured 7.6 on the Richter scale and had a depth of 96 miles and occurred off the El Salvadoran coastline 65 miles southwest )f San Miguel. Th- second quake measured 6.6 on the Richter scale and had a depth of about 20 miles. and it occurred 48 miles east of San Salvador. Neighboring countries of Guatemala and Honduras also felt this quake. These devastating earthquakes were responsible for over 1.100 deaths and more than 8.000 injuries. In addition. the quakes destroyed 150.000 homes and damaged another 185.000 houses. In total. over 1.5 million El Salvadorans have been affected by these national catastrophes. The humanitarian needs of our neighbors in El Salvador are substantial. El Salvadorans need clean water. health facilities. homes. schools and paved roads. These needs are compounded by severe poverty. particularly in the rural areas. which affects 63 percent of El Salvadors rural families. The damage assessments continue to rise. The USAID reports that the cost of rebuilding after the two earthquakes will be more than $2.8 billion. Adding to the devastation are the aftershocks that continue to occur in El Salvador. The United States Geological Survey reports that hundreds of landslides have occurred. making the roads impassable in many places around lakes. while debris flowing around such lakes have altered drainage patterns which will cause sediment dams to form during the rainy season. In addition. many roads and bridges have been washed out or blocked by landslides or mudslides. As of March 15. the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that over 70.000 people lack adequate drinking water and must depend on clean water transported by trucks. Currently. UNICEF is organizing the distribution of water and working closely with the PanAmerican Health Organization and the World Health Organization. After years of brutal civil war and unrest. El Salvador has emerged as one of the most stable nations in Latin America. Not only has El Salvador developed a thriving economy. but it also has instituted many significant democratic reforms. I am deeply concerned that the damage and human suffering caused by these earthquakes may threaten the future stability and economic success of El Salvador. We cannot allow this tragedy to result in sociopolitical backsliding. The Washington. D.C. metropolitan. area is home to approximately 135.000 SalvadoranAmericans. which is the secondlargest Salvadoran community in the United States. only behind Los Angeles. California. I want to take this opportunity to commend the El Salvadoran immigrants who live inAmerica. work honest jobs. contribute- to our local economies. and also save enough to send home to their families in El Salvador. Salvadoran immigrants contributions to their home land is laudable and substantial. They send an estimated $2 billion annually to their families. making their remittances El Salvadors main source of foreign exchange. Saint Anthonys of Padua Catholic Church in Falls Church. Virginia. is a shining example of the community and the Church working together to bring relief to those who need it most. The congregation is where 5.000 SalvadoranAmericans worship weekly. By the end of January. almost $93.000 was collected during the Sunday services. Subsequent to this collection. Reverend Father Jose E. Hoyos and his congregation have collected food. drinking water. blankets. and other basic necessities to distribute to earthquake victims. Father Hoyos traveled to El Salvador in early February to inspect the damage and to report back to his parishioners on recovery efforts. In addition. Father Hoyos brought a check for $88.276 made out to the Catholic charity. Caritas. for the archdiocese of San Salvador. Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Chairman BALLENGER). the gentleman from Illinois . and the gentleman from Ohio for their support in quickly moving this resolution through their committees. Finally. I believe H.-Con. Res. 41 is an important resolution that deserves the support of every Member. and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of this resolution.