[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1021 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 1021

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                      January 21, 2010.
Whereas on January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the country of 
        Haiti;
Whereas according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) the earthquake 
        epicenter was located approximately 10 miles southwest of the capital, 
        Port-au-Prince;
Whereas the earthquake has been followed by dangerous aftershocks, including two 
        of 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude, and with the most severe to date, at 6.1, 
        coming on January 20, 2010;
Whereas casualty estimates, still being compiled, as well as infrastructure 
        damage, including to roads, ports, hospitals, and residential dwellings, 
        place this earthquake as the worst cataclysm to hit Haiti in over two 
        centuries;
Whereas an estimated 3,000,000 people have been directly affected by the 
        disaster in Haiti, nearly one-third of the country's population, who are 
        currently at risk of long-term displacement and vulnerability;
Whereas the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) 
        headquarters collapsed with approximately 150 staff members inside, 
        including the head of the mission, Hedi Annabi, causing the largest loss 
        of life in United Nations history;
Whereas an unknown number of individuals remain trapped under collapsed 
        buildings, as rescue teams work around-the-clock to locate and extract 
        survivors;
Whereas the destruction of infrastructure, particularly to the port, airport, 
        roads, and telecommunications, continues to hinder the immediate 
        delivery of humanitarian assistance in Haiti;
Whereas Haiti is the poorest, least developed country in the Western Hemisphere, 
        and prior to the earthquake was ranked 149 out of 182 countries on the 
        United Nations Human Development Index;
Whereas prior to the earthquake, Haiti was still in the process of recovering 
        from a ruinous recent series of hurricanes and tropical storms, food 
        shortages and rising commodity prices, and political instability, but 
        was showing encouraging signs of improvement;
Whereas in addition to the pressure to secure communities and prevent looters 
        from causing further harm to their citizens who are struggling to 
        recover, Haiti's penitentiary collapsed and spilled untold numbers of 
        criminals into an already disturbing security situation;
Whereas a number of children legally confirmed as orphans are eligible for 
        intercountry adoption, and the uncertain welfare of children who are 
        already in the process of being adopted is of urgent concern to their 
        prospective adoptive parents in the United States;
Whereas it is in the interests of these orphans and their prospective adoptive 
        parents to facilitate and expedite legal adoptions of Haitian orphans to 
        the United States;
Whereas President Obama vowed the ``unwavering support'' of the United States 
        and pledged a ``swift, coordinated and aggressive effort to save lives 
        and support the recovery in Haiti'';
Whereas the response to the tragedy from the global community has been 
        overwhelmingly positive;
Whereas the initial emergency response of the men and women of the United States 
        Government, led by the United States Agency for International 
        Development and United States Southern Command, has been swift and 
        resolute;
Whereas MINUSTAH peacekeepers, while still trying to rescue their colleagues in 
        their headquarters, have taken a leading role to assist in clearing 
        roads and providing security around Port-au-Prince to facilitate aid 
        into the earthquake disaster zone;
Whereas the United States Department of Homeland Security has temporarily halted 
        the deportation of Haitian nationals to Haiti in response to the 
        devastation caused by the earthquake;
Whereas the United States Department of Homeland Security granted the 
        designation of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals who are 
        in the United States and unable to return to their country due to the 
        destruction and humanitarian crisis in Haiti;
Whereas individuals, businesses, and philanthropic organizations across the 
        United States and throughout the international community have responded 
        in support of Haiti and its populace during this time of crisis, 
        sometimes in innovative ways such as fundraising through text messaging;
Whereas throughout this terrible calamity, the Haitian people continue to 
        demonstrate unwavering resilience, dignity, and courage; and
Whereas once proper surveys and assessments are conducted, the initial and 
        crucial emergency relief response will likely move to a comprehensive 
        mission requiring sustained assistance from the United States and the 
        international community for reconstruction and development efforts: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses its deepest condolences and sympathy for the horrific 
        loss of life and the physical and psychological damage caused by the 
        earthquake of January 12, 2010;
            (2) expresses solidarity with Haitians, Haitian Americans, and all 
        those who have lost loved ones or have otherwise been affected by the 
        tragedy, including United States Embassy personnel, United Nations 
        peacekeepers, and humanitarian workers;
            (3) commends the efforts and honors the sacrifice of the men and 
        women of the Government of Haiti, the United States Government, the 
        United Nations, and the international community in their immediate 
        response to those affected by this calamity;
            (4) commends the efforts of the American people, including the 
        Haitian-American community, to provide relief to families, friends, and 
        unknown peoples suffering in the country;
            (5) supports the efforts of the Administration to provide and 
        coordinate international humanitarian assistance and to provide relief 
        to affected communities;
            (6) expresses support for the recovery and long-term reconstruction 
        needs of Haiti;
            (7) recognizes that the recovery and long-term needs of Haiti will 
        require a sustained commitment by the United States and international 
        community based on comprehensive assessments of the development needs 
        for Haiti;
            (8) urges those who hold debt against Haiti, including the Inter-
        American Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and all 
        other regional and international institutions and countries, to 
        immediately suspend further debt payments, and to develop processes to 
        cancel all remaining debt; and
            (9) urges the President--
                    (A) to continue to make available to United States agencies, 
                nongovernmental organizations, private voluntary organizations, 
                regional institutions, and United Nations agencies the resources 
                necessary to confront the effects and consequences of this 
                natural disaster;
                    (B) to provide, when the emergency subsides, assistance in 
                partnership with the Government of Haiti and in coordination 
                with other donors to begin the reconstruction of Haiti;
                    (C) to undertake comprehensive assessments of the long-term 
                needs for recovery and development in Haiti, ensure transparency 
                and accountability, and lead coordination efforts with 
                international actors who share in the goal of a better future 
                for Haiti and are willing to support the costs of meeting those 
                needs; and
                    (D) to utilize new and innovative thinking in providing 
                long-term assistance to Haiti, including tapping into the 
                insight and immense potential of the Haitian Diaspora, to help 
                Haitians rebuild upon the strongest possible foundation, in 
                order to promote a stable and sustainable future for Haiti.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.