Maxine Waters: “I rise in favor of H. Res. 431. This resolution supports the efforts of the United States to provide disaster assistance…”

“I rise in favor of H. Res. 431. This resolution supports the efforts of the United States to provide disaster assistance to Mozambique in the aftermath of two consecutive cyclones resulting in torrential rains and severe flooding. The resolution also encourages the international community to continue to provide emergency relief, and urges the International Monetary Fund and other international creditors to fully accelerate debt reduction efforts for Mozambique. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this resolution. Upon learning of the severe flooding, I immediately contacted Assistant Secretary Susan Rice for Africa, and I immediately sent a letter to President Clinton encouraging swift and substantial relief for Mozambique and the other surrounding countries. I wanted to make sure we did not make the mistake of waiting too long. I did not want the kind of delay we had experienced with Rwanda, a different kind of disaster, but indeed a disaster that could have been mitigated had we moved faster. Mozambique is experiencing its worse flooding in 50 years.”