Members of Congress from Utah say the United States is looking for a few - well, actually many - good American firms interested in helping to rebuild Kuwait.
"It's clear the need for help is massive," said Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, estimated the rebuilding cost at $100 billion - and says Utah firms should bid for some of it."Telecommunications, power plants, pipelines for water and fuel, housing construction, airfields and highways and public buildings will be priorities," Hatch, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said.
He and Hansen added that as time passes, medical, computers and food processing equipment and supplies will also be needed.
Hatch said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been awarded a $46 million contract by Kuwait to identify and restore essential services. He said contracts for rebuilding work will be awarded both by the Corps and directly from the Kuwaiti government.
Hatch and Hansen urged interested businesses to write for information to: Commander, Transatlantic Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 2250, Winchester, VA 22601-1450.
Hatch also said they may wish to write to Dr. Ibrahim al-Shaheen, director, Kuwait Emergency Recovery Program, Embassy of Kuwait, 1490 Tilden Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008. Hansen suggested they also contact the Salt Lake City office of the U.S. Commerce Department for more information.
Hansen said, "Utah's participation in Operation Desert Storm has been excellent. I now encourage our continued participation in helping with Kuwait's reconstruction."