Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 102 Part 3.djvu/945

 PUBLIC LAW 100-576—OCT. 31, 1988

102 STAT. 2897

Public Law 100-576 100th Congress An Act Oct. 31, 1988 [H.R. 5389]

Concerning disaster assistance for Bangladesh.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Bangladesh

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

Disaster Assistance Act

This Act may be cited as the "Bangladesh Disaster Assistance Act of 1988". SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds that— (1) as a result of the 1988 floods, two-thirds of Bangladesh has been inundated with flood waters; (2) over 30 million people in Bangladesh are homeless, over 2,000 dead, tens of thousands ill, and potentially millions at risk of waterborne disease and epidemic because of lack of safe water and overcrowding; (3) transportation, communications, and normal commerce in Bangladesh have been seriously interrupted, with a potential cost for replacing destroyed or damaged infrastructure of $500,000,000; (4) agricultural lands have been flooded, with a potential crop loss of nearly $1,000,000,000; (5) the people of the United States have respected and generously supported the efforts of the people of Bangladesh to maintain their independence, promote equitable economic growth, and strive for political pluralism and greater democracy; and (6) the Government of Bangladesh has taken quick action to cope with this disaster, one of the most serious in the history of Bangladesh, but must rely on a generous response from the international community for emergency assistance and, even more importantly, for the expertise and resources needed to prevent the continual recurrence of such disastrous floods. SEC. 3. COMMENDATION BANGLADESH.

OF

AND

SUPPORT

FOR

THE

PEOPLE

OF

The Congress— (1) commends the courage and resourcefulness demonstrated by the people of Bangladesh in response to the 1988 floods; (2) commends the President for the generous provision by the United States of emergency assistance for Bangladesh; (3) commends United States private and voluntary organizations, international organizations, foreign governments, and others for their compassionate response to this natural disaster; (4) expresses its support for the people of Bangladesh at this most critical time;

7 USC 1691 note

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