Lawmakers in DC and California urge more help for ‘Yolanda’ victims

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo/Redwood City) and Rep. Mike Honda (D-Silicon Valley) introduced a joint resolution Wednesday, to urge Congress to continue to provide assistance to the victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda in the Philippines.

The resolution urges additional support for the victims in the recovery and rebuilding process. Despite an initial release of $25 million in U.N. emergency funds, aid workers report medicine shortages and difficulty accessing fresh water and food.

“The historical and cultural links between the Philippines and the United States run deeper than any flood waters,” said Speier.  “There are so many Filipino families in my district grieving over this and they deserve to know we are doing all we can to help.”

Honda said,  “I am honored to introduce this resolution, and plan on working closely with our federal aid agencies and local relief efforts to ensure that our Filipino brothers and sisters are not – nor will they ever be – forgotten.” There are 60,000 Filipinos in his district.

Meanwhile, in Sacramento, Calif., Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland), the first Filipino American elected to the California Legislature, Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) called on Californians to support Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda relief efforts.

Representatives from the Sacramento Red Cross, CaliforniaVolunteers and the California Office of Emergency Services also vowed to help inform Californians on how they can assist victims of the Super Typhoon.

Speaker Pérez announced that the Assembly website will help direct people to organizations helping victims of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. The website, asmdc.org, also has links to inform Californians on how to prepare for disasters here at home.

“Our hearts go out to those impacted by this devastating typhoon,” said Mark Ghilarducci, director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. “We are working with our counterparts in state and federal government to closely monitor the relief efforts and ensure California is ready to help,” said Ghilarducci.  More information can be found at www.caloes.ca.gov.

For updates on Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda and how to donate to victims of the storm, visit the Assembly’s website (https://asmdc.org), the American Red Cross website (www.redcross.org/ca/sacramento) or the CaliforniaVolunteer website (https://www.californiavolunteers.org/index.php/Disaster_Volunteering/SuperTyphoon_Haiyan/).