By Senators McAuliffe, Jayapal, Mullet, Cleveland, Rolfes, Fraser, Ranker, Hasegawa, Sheldon, Parlette, Pedersen, Ericksen, Fain, Litzow, Warnick, Chase, Dansel, Hatfield, Billig, Nelson, Becker, Conway, Darneille, Hewitt, Dammeier, Bailey, Benton, and Kohl-Welles

WHEREAS, On April 25, 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook and shattered Nepal 50 miles west of Kathmandu; and

WHEREAS, More than 7,500 people lost their lives, thousands were left homeless, and many more were grievously wounded in the earthquake, which was the most powerful earthquake in Nepal in over 80 years; and

WHEREAS, Tent cities have been fashioned for the hundreds of thousands who have lost their homes or cannot return home for fear of aftershocks; and

WHEREAS, The destruction of Durbar squares laden with Hindu temples and Buddhist stupas in the Kathmandu Valley has resulted in irreparable damage to Nepal's cultural heritage; and

WHEREAS, Courageous first responders, the Government of Nepal and its military, and civilians have worked tirelessly and selflessly to save the lives of those stranded on mountain tops, cut off in remote villages, and buried under rubble; and

WHEREAS, Nepal is a country blessed by the awe-inspiring magnificence of snowcapped Himalayas, the glacial foaming of roaring rivers, and the cleansing purity of verdant valleys; and

WHEREAS, The people of Nepal are icons of bravery, and their homes legendary for their instant warmth and hospitality; and

WHEREAS, In the aftermath of this calamity, the thing that stands out is the instant compassion and can-do resourcefulness: The push cart vendor who gave all his fruit to tent city occupants, the selfless nurses and doctors working without rest, the thousands of volunteers braving the odds to work tirelessly through the night to rescue those trapped under rubble; and

WHEREAS, The full extent of the damage from this tragedy is still unknown; and

WHEREAS, The United States is home to more than 100,000 people of Nepali ancestry, with Seattle having one of the largest communities in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Nepali-Americans and others in Washington State have close family members and relatives who have been affected or lost in this tragedy, and are still coping with its after-effects; and

WHEREAS, There continue to be at least two Washingtonians—both recent high school graduates—who remain lost; and

WHEREAS, Several organizations based in Washington State have numerous staff members living in Nepal, contributing to relief efforts and also suffering the effects of the earthquake; and

WHEREAS, Even in the grim aftermath of this disaster, hope shines through for the people of Nepal;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate express its deepest and most heartfelt condolences for the people of Nepal's unfathomable loss, especially for those Washingtonians who are closely connected to Nepal; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate thank those Washingtonians who contribute to and aid in the relief efforts in Nepal through financial contributions to reputable agencies, volunteering of their professional medical skills and time, and other contributions that help the health and safety of those affected.