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Asks Bush For Fire Help The deadly fires that raged across Greece over the past week will leave an enduring physical scar on the country itself, but the emotional and economic damage these conflagrations caused will reverberate far beyond its borders. In my district, which boasts the largest urban Greek population outside Greece, the worry and sympathy is palpable, visible in the faces of store and restaurant owners in my neighborhood. I am writing to ask for your support to aid Greece in this troubled time, not only to help a valued national ally, but also to ease the concern among the proud Greek Americans here at home. These infernos are the worst the country had suffered in a hundred years, leaving dozens dead, thousands destitute and an area the size of Rhode Island scorched to the ground. Early estimates put the casualties at 64, with 1,500 houses destroyed and 4,000 people left homeless, but as more figures are reported and the fires continue to blaze, officials expect those number could easily double or triple. Already economic damages have been assessed at roughly $1.6 billion, almost 1 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product. The Greek treasury will be further burdened with relief payments to the victims of this terrible tragedy, who have already flooded in from the countryside to seek funds from local banks. I feel a responsibility to lend as much as assistance as we can not only to extinguish the fires, but also salve the many burns- both physical and metaphorical- this disaster has left.
I hope with the long history our two countries have shared, and with the large number of Greeks that reside with our own country, we can find it in our hearts to help save this country in its time of need. I implore the executive and legislative branches to formulate a bipartisan plan to ease the suffering in Greece. Thank you very much, and I look forward to working with you on this important relief effort. |
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