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
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.