October 4, 1985
The tragedy that has unfolded in Mexico in the past several days is of historic proportion.
Thousands have lost their lives; thousands more have been injured. The devastation done to one
of the world's great cities is massive. Nancy went to Mexico City and saw the damage firsthand.
She saw the depth of the suffering, the extent of the destruction, and the courage and
determination of the Mexican people to overcome the catastrophe that has befallen them.
I am signing House Joint Resolution 394 that expresses our sympathy as a nation for the people
and Government of Mexico. The United States is already providing emergency medical, water
storage, and communications supplies to help alleviate the immediate suffering from this tragic
event. In addition, we stand ready to cooperate with Mexico in long-term efforts to recover from
the effects of the earthquake. A global effort will surely be needed and will surely be forthcoming.
The United States will fully support such an undertaking.
This resolution reflects the spontaneous support that has come from all sectors in the United
States. State and local governments, church groups, schools, businesses, labor unions, and
individual citizens have given generously and freely in an effort to relieve the evident human
suffering. With pride and dignity, the people of Mexico have accepted this help from their
neighbors as they have carried out an impressive effort of their own to save lives and to protect
the well-being of those affected. This tragedy has demonstrated dramatically that, indeed, we are
more than neighbors; we are brothers. Their pain is our pain; their loss is our loss. Throughout the
past several days as citizens of Mexico waited, citizens of the United States also waited for news
of loved ones. Hundreds of thousands called our Department of State to learn the fate of friends
and family members in the earthquake zone.
This tragedy, the shared sorrow, the spontaneous acts of friendship and assistance -- all of these
things clearly demonstrate that our lives, our fortunes, and our futures are inextricably
intertwined. We will respond with sympathy knowing that were the situation reversed, Mexicans
would react with the same compassion for us. As I have said many times, we are all Americans.
And today I say again, todos somos Americanos.
Note: H.J. Res. 394, approved October 4, was assigned Public Law No. 99 - 116.