Diaz-Balarts and Ros-Lehtinen ask President to support Chile

Washington, DC- Representatives Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), sent the following letter to President Obama today requesting support for earthquake stricken Chile:

Dear Mr. President:

We write to express our deep concern over the devastation suffered by the people of Chile as a result of the magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck near the city of Concepcion on February 27, 2010. The earthquake and subsequent aftershocks have led to the deaths of nearly eight hundred people and have caused damages affecting nearly two million people.

We appreciate your prompt offer of support to President Michelle Bachelet on the day of the earthquake. We also deeply appreciate that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton personally provided twenty-five satellite phones to President Bachelet during her recent trip; that was an especially commendable gesture. We also understand that cash assistance, hundreds of rolls plastic sheeting, and additional personnel have already been provided by the U.S. State Department and USAID to assist with Chile’s recovery efforts.

We respectfully urge you to expeditiously follow through on the Secretary’s promise to send additional communications equipment, water purification units, electricity generators, medical supplies and portable bridges. Furthermore, we urge you to send additional equipment, such as portable kitchens and helicopters, which Secretary Clinton indicated may also be sent and which would be a great help to the people of Chile.

Thank you for your support and timely outreach to the people of Chile during this trying time. We hope that your administration will continue to make every effort to support them as they seek to rebuild their country in the wake of the devastating earthquake.

Sincerely,

Lincoln Diaz-Balart Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Mario Diaz-Balart