[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1332 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1332

   Encouraging the continuation and further expansion of sister-city 
 relationships between United States and Haitian municipalities as an 
   essential instrument in the ongoing efforts to rebuild Haiti and 
               restore hope and prosperity to its people.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 5, 2010

Mr. Himes submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Encouraging the continuation and further expansion of sister-city 
 relationships between United States and Haitian municipalities as an 
   essential instrument in the ongoing efforts to rebuild Haiti and 
               restore hope and prosperity to its people.

Whereas, on January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the country of 
        Haiti;
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, nearly one-third of the country's 
        population, have been directly affected by the disaster in Haiti and are 
        currently at risk of long-term displacement and vulnerability;
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 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 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 the House of Representatives, in H. Res. 1021, passed on January 21, 
        2010, ``commend[ed] the efforts of the American people, including the 
        Haitian-American community, to provide relief to families, friends, and 
        unknown peoples suffering in the country'', and ``recognize[d] 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'';
Whereas the House of Representatives in H. Res. 1021 urged the President 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.'';
Whereas the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, through its City Council, has 
        demonstrated extraordinary leadership in its assistance to the Haitian 
        people, through its ongoing sister-city relations with the City of 
        Petion-Ville, Haiti;
Whereas in the weeks following the earthquake, the Bridgeport City Council 
        enacted a resolution reaffirming its commitment to the people of Petion-
        Ville, and has continued to expand its humanitarian outreach to the 
        people of Petion-Ville;
Whereas a large number of towns and cities in Connecticut are actively engaged 
        in sister-city relationships in the developing and developed world, 
        relationships which not only provide direct help those sister cities 
        need to meet the humanitarian needs of their people, but also further 
        the United States interest in strengthening its cultural and economic 
        ties in all corners of the globe; and
Whereas Sister City International, a nonprofit organization with roots in 
        President Eisenhower's historic September 1956 White House conference on 
        citizen diplomacy, has helped establish 1,992 sister-city partnerships 
        involving 694 United States municipalities: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives encourages the 
continuation and further expansion of sister-city relationships between 
United States and Haitian municipalities as an essential instrument in 
the ongoing efforts to rebuild Haiti and restore hope and prosperity to 
its people.
                                 <all>