Congressional Statements

Rep. Ackerman to Explore Reconstruction Assistance for Earthquake-Stricken Gujarat

Press Release
January 31, 2001

Congressman Gary L. Ackerman (D-N.Y.), a leading member of the House International Relations Committee, said today that he would soon be initiating consultations with his colleagues for a legislative bid to boost U.S. aid for funding the reconstruction of earthquake-stricken Gujarat state in India.

Rep. Ackerman, the former cochairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, said: "The full extent of the January 26 earthquake's damage is as yet unknown, but the numbers of dead are in the tens of thousands, the number of injured in the hundreds of thousands and the number of displaced is over half a million. The estimate of property damage now tops $5 billion."

Leading the Democrats on the floor of the House during a discussion on the Indian earthquake, Rep. Ackerman asserted that the "destruction was on a staggering scale," adding: "Mere numbers cannot capture the extent of the devastation, nor the horror at the loss of life and loved ones."

Rep. Ackerman, a strong supporter of the Indian American community and India, said: "We have to help our friends and allies in India, especially in Gujarat, to roar back to normalcy. We have to ensure that Gujarat, especially the areas devastated by the earthquake, springs back to life. We have to help our friends in the tough task of reconstruction of Gujarat. It is a challenge and, I am confident, it can be met. And the United States must show the way."

Toward this end, the popular lawmaker from New York said: "I am going to explore the possibilities of assisting India with emergency financial aid to the tune of $100 million for the reconstruction of Gujarat. I will begin consultations with my colleagues to see how this could be accomplished."

Rep. Ackerman, the floor manager for the Democrats during the discussion, said: "I want to express my personal condolences to all of those in India for the tragic losses they have suffered. I also want to express my condolences to those Indian-Americans whose family or friends have been affected by the earthquake.

"I know that the Indian-American community has mobilized since the earthquake to provide donations to those organizations that are assisting relief operations on the ground in India and the community should be commended for its efforts."

By an overwhelming 406-1 vote (and 26 members not voting), the House passed a resolution (H. Con. Res. 15) expressing sympathy for the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck India on Jan 26, 2001 and support for aid efforts.