Do Unto Others As We Would Have Them Do Unto Us
Floor Speech
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Mr. Speaker, the great Mahalia Jackson was a gospel singer. The great singer and civil rights activist Mahalia Jackson, once proclaimed by Harry Belafonte to be the most powerful woman in America, the great Mahalia Jackson gave us some words to live by, some words that can add meaning to life. She, in one of her songs, indicated that, and I shall paraphrase, if I can help somebody as I travel along, then my living shall not be in vain. Live not in vain; help somebody--that is the essence of the message that she presented.
I am here today to speak of persons who are in harm's way and who are suffering. The people of Nepal have had two earthquakes visited upon them: one a 7.8 magnitude, the other a 7.3 magnitude. These two earthquakes have done great damage. More than 8,000 people are dead. I am looking at the statistical information: more than 16,000 injured, 8 million persons affected, nearly 500,000 homes destroyed, another 200,000-plus damaged. They are still in harm's way, but there is something we can do. We can do unto others as we would have them do to us if we had suffered a similar tragedy.
Mr. Speaker, this is a great opportunity for us to do something to help without actually expending a lot of American dollars, although we have spent quite a bit. I am proud to say that the United States has accorded approximately $40 million to this effort--$40 million. It will take a lot more, but the United States is involved in doing its part. We have had our rescue teams there; and one of our rescue teams, unfortunately, suffered some tragedy. One of our military helicopters went down. We have lost lives there. People have been there living not in vain, trying to do what they can to be of assistance, doing unto others as we would have them do for us under similar circumstances.
One of the things that we can do is sign on to a bill that will allow those persons who are in this country from Nepal, who are here lawfully, to stay in this country for an extended period of time while their country is recovering. H.R. 2033 affords Nepalese who are in the United States of America to stay for a while longer. They will not have their status in the country change. They won't become persons on a pathway to citizenship. They will simply have more time here. We will not send them back in harm's way. We will do unto them what we would have them do unto us if we were in a similar circumstance.
Mr. Speaker, this bill has many persons who are supporting it. More than 50 persons have supported this piece of legislation. I am proud to say that some of the persons who have supported it are persons who have great Nepalese communities, and there are others who do not. They just want to be of help.
I want to mention a few whose names I did not mention when I mentioned names previously, or I did not state them correctly. This is a chance for me to correct the Record: Congressman Mike Capuano, Congressman Tony Cárdenas, Congressman Joe Crowley, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, Congressman Raúl Grijalva, Congressman Luis Gutiérrez, Congressman Jared Polis, Congressman Charles Rangel, Congressman Cedric Richmond, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, and Congresswoman Linda Sánchez--all persons who are supportive, along with many others, nearly 50.
I am proud to say that the community in Houston, the Nepalese community has come together, and they have a goal of raising $100,000. They have exceeded that goal, under the leadership of Mr. Ghimirey and Mr. Nepal. They have exceeded the goal of $100,000, and they are still raising additional funds.
I believe that H.R. 2033 affords all of us to live not in vain. I think this is a great opportunity to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. I ask that we support H.R. 2033 and live not in vain. Help somebody as we travel along our way.
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