s-press_032_006_021_tr.txt

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This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas
http://dolearchives.ku.edu

News from Senator BOB DOLE
(R - Kansas) SH 141 Hart Building, Washington, D.C. 20510

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 21, 1989

CONTACT: WALT RIKER
(202) 224-5358

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

SENATE APPROVES DOLE AMENDMENT FOR MORE U.S. FUNDS ARMENIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF $5 MILLION ADDED TO FOREIGN APPROPRIATIONS BILL

WASHINGTON - AN AMENDMENT AUTHORED BY SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER BOB DOLE THAT CALLS FOR $5 MILLION IN NEW U.S. AID FOR EARTHQUAKE-TORN ARMENIA WAS APPROVED BY THE FULL SENATE ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20.

THE DOLE AMENDMENT EARMARKS $5 MILLION IN ESE (ECONOMIC SUPPORT FUNDS) TO BE USED FOR THE HUMANITARIAN RELIEF, MEDICAL CARE, EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING OF VICTIMS OF THE DISASTROUS EARTHQUAKE WHICH STRUCK ARMENIA LAST DECEMBER 7.

THE MONEY WOULD BE USED TO FUND THE WORK OF AMERICAN PRIVATE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES (PVO'S). NONE OF THE MONEY WOULD GO TO THE SOVIET OR THE ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT. ALL OF THE MONEY WILL END UP DIRECTLY BENEFITING EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS.

"I VISITED ARMENIA IN AUGUST AND I CAN CONFIRM, FROM THE EVIDENCE OF MY OWN EYES, THAT THE NEED FOR HELP IS ENORMOUS," DOLE SAID. "I'M PLEASED THE SENATE AGREES WITH ME.

"I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO PUT IN THE RECORD AT THIS POINT THE TEXT OF AN OP ED I RECENTLY DID FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, URGING THE PROVISION OF MORE AMERICAN AID FOR ARMENIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF.

"LET ME CITE JUST ONE STATISTIC: IN A SOVIET REPUBLIC WITH A TOTAL POPULATION OF 3.3 MILLION PEOPLE -- 700,000 ARE HOMELESS; AND WINTER -- A WINTER THAT WILL BRING SNOW AND BITTER COLD TO THE MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS MOST AFFECTED BY THE QUAKE -- WINTER IS ONLY WEEKS AWAY.

"THE U.S. HAS ALREADY RESPONDED GENEROUSLY, ESPECIALLY THROUGH PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS. PRIVATE CITIZENS AND GROUPS HAVE CONTRIBUTED ABOUT $45 MILLION ALREADY. MANY GROUPS SUCH AS PROJECT HOPE ARE DOING GREAT WORK IN ARMENIA -- I WAS PRIVILEGED TO CARRY MORE THAN $50 THOUSAND IN MEDICAL AND OTHER SUPPLIES TO PROJECT HOPE ON MY AUGUST VISIT. AND MANY DEDICATED AMERICANS ARE WORKING LONG, HARD DAYS IN ARMENIA, TO DO WHAT THEY CAN TO HELP.

"AS A GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE RESPONDED QUICKLY, BY PROVIDING ABOUT $4.4 MILLION IN RELIEF, ALMOST ALL OF IT DELIVERED IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THE QUAKE.

"BUT I WOULD NOTE THAT OTHER GOVERNMENTS HAVE DONE MUCH MORE. ITALY, I BELIEVE, HAS BEEN THE MOST GENEROUS, WITH A TOTAL CONTRIBUTION OF ABOUT $26 MILLION. I VISITED A HOUSING PROJECT DONATED BY THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT. MANY OF OUR OTHER ALLIES HAVE DONE A GREAT DEAL, TOO.

"THE UNITED STATES HAS SPECIAL TIES TO ARMENIA. ARMENIAN-AMERICANS HAVE MADE A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COUNTRY -- IN HUMANITARIAN WORK, BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT.

"THE UNITED STATES ALSO HAS A REMARKABLE HISTORY OF GENEROUSLY RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD STRICKEN BY NATURAL DISASTER, POVERTY, AND DISEASE.

"I BELIEVE WE SHOULD RESPOND AGAIN, NOW, TO THE REAL NEEDS OF THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE.

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