Responding to the Earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria on February 2023

Floor Speech

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Ms. DEAN of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Keating for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this important resolution responding to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Turkiye and Syria as a result of the devastating earthquakes on February 6 and the many, many aftershocks.

The death toll from this tragedy is approaching 50,000 men, women, and children. Thousands more are injured, hundreds of thousands of buildings are destroyed, and millions of survivors have been displaced from their homes--many now residing in temporary shelters with inadequate food, heat, water, and medical care.

I commend the gentleman making this resolution. I commend the Biden administration for its swift response to this crisis. Through USAID and the State Department, the United States Government quickly mobilized search-and-rescue teams, allocated $185 million in humanitarian assistance, and continues to deliver vital relief supplies to first responders.

Rebuilding from this disaster will not be easy, and the road ahead is long. We call upon the governments in this area to support the people, to support their recovery, and to support their rebuilding.

This resolution is a symbol of our commitment to ensuring we continue to deliver assistance to those so gravely impacted by this tragedy.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Wilson, and I thank Congressman Keating for his leadership in this important resolution.

God bless the people of Turkiye and Syria.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, again, it is so refreshing to see colleagues of both political parties across the country from South Carolina to Massachusetts to Pennsylvania. Actually, it is reflective of the deep affection that the people of America have as we appreciate, in particular, Turkiye, a NATO ally, that it is always to be cherished because when you visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial here on the mall in Washington, Mr. Speaker, you see the Allies who stood together to oppose the Communist aggression of June 1950, and the first country that is listed is Turkiye. It is an ever-present reminder of our appreciation and then our recognition of Kemal Ataturk and his success in creating a democracy in the Middle East.

Over and over again there is such a great affection, and the significance of the Turkish-American community and the Syrian-American community what they have meant as entrepreneurs across our country is so positive.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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