Political Quotes

“I am proud to cosponsor S. Con. Res. 6. This concurrent resolution sends a message of sympathy and support to the people of India, who have been struck by one of the worst natural disasters to afflict their nation in the half-century since Independence. The earthquake which devastated the Western Indian state of Gujarat killed untold thousands. The magnitude of this tragedy is demonstrated by the fact that 30,000 dead is now referred to as an optimistic estimate. Other sources, such as the Indian Minister of Defense, have suggested a worst-case scenario of 100,000 dead. As President Bush noted, a disaster such as this knows no national boundaries. The victims have been the people of India, but the burden of humanitarian relief rests on the shoulders of the entire world community. I congratulate the relief workers, from many nations, who have stepped up to the challenge. The most important work, of course, has been done by the Indians themselves tens of thousands of military and civilian personnel who have labored tirelessly to help save the lives of those trapped in the wreckage. Working alongside them have been search and rescue teams from Britain, Switzerland, Germany, Russia and Turkey. They helped locate victims with state-of-the-art thermal sensors, and with specially-trained canine units.”