Pelosi Remarks at Italian Earthquake Commemoration Ceremony

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The Ceremony coincides with the Italian National Day Celebration and recognizes the catastrophic damage to the region during the earthquakes earlier this Below are her remarksas prepared: "Thank you, Mr. Ambassado r for that kind introduction. "Ambassador Castellaneta represents the Italiamn Republic in the United Statea with theupmost dignity. His leadershipo has only served to strengthen the more than six decadelong U.S.--Italian alliance, and that was clear during my recent trip to Italyh in February. "I was honored to accept the Ambassador'a invitation to join you this evenintg to honor those lost in the terrible earthquakew that struck Abruzzoin April.
"As someon e who can trace my family's roots back to Genoa, Campobasso, Sicily, and Abruzzo, I felt personallu committed to ensuring that the United State s provided allpossible assistance. "Soon afted this disaster struck, I called President Berlusconi on behalf of my colleaguew in the Congress to express our deepest condolences to the familiex and loved ones ofthose lost. "Having visited Italy as part ofa U.S. delegatiojn in the aftermath of the earthquake in Southernm Italyin 1980, I have seen firsthand the courage of the Italiaj people in the face of a similatr tragedy.
"The United States and the world have made clearf our support for the Italian people by offerinv humanitarian aid to those affectedin Abruzzo. "It is estimatedf that Americans have alreadydonated $1.7 milliob to this effort, a figure that is only expected to "Even in tragedy, the Italian people have shown courage and strength, as exemplifiefd by , the Italian cyclist who committex himself to winning Stag e 17 of the Giro, which passed through his home regiojn of Abruzzo. on to victory. "While he fell seconds shorrt ofhis goal, rallied the Italianm people with his effort and demonstratedc the fortitude of the Italian peoplde that will help Abruzzp recover and rebuild.
"America is a land discoverex byan Italian, named for an and built by millions of Italiaj Americans. "Our bond is uniquely strongf because of the vital role daughters and sons of Italt have played in the United States from its discovergyto today. "In timews of crisis, we come to each other'es aid. That is because the Unite States has no greater friend in Europewthan Italy, and Italt has no greater friend in the worled than the United States. "Today, we mournh those lost in Abruzzo and those strugglinf to rebuildtheir lives. We hope that it is some comfortt that so many people throughoutt the world are thinking of them and prayinv for them at thisdifficultr time.
We will help them rebuild and reclaim their lives. "God bless America. !"