[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1749 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1749

 To measure the progress of recovery and development efforts in Haiti 
 following the earthquake of January 12, 2010, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 25, 2013

Ms. Lee of California (for herself, Ms. Brown of Florida, Mr. Capuano, 
 Mrs. Christensen, Ms. Clarke, Mr. Clay, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Al Green of 
 Texas, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, 
 Mr. McGovern, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Moore, Ms. Norton, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Rush, 
   Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. 
 Waters, Mrs. Beatty, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, 
and Mr. Richmond) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To measure the progress of recovery and development efforts in Haiti 
 following the earthquake of January 12, 2010, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Assessing Progress in Haiti Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) According to the Government of Haiti, more than 316,000 
        people died as a result of the earthquake that struck 15 miles 
        southwest of Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010, including 103 
        United States citizens and more than 100 United Nations 
        personnel.
            (2) According to the United Nations and the International 
        Organization for Migration, an estimated 3,000,000 people were 
        directly affected by the disaster, and more than 2,100,000 
        people were displaced from their homes.
            (3) The Post Disaster Needs Assessment conducted by the 
        Government of Haiti, the United Nations, the World Bank, the 
        Inter-American Development Bank, and others estimated that 
        damage and economic losses totaled $7,804,000,000, 
        approximately 120 percent of Haiti's gross domestic product in 
        2009.
            (4) The initial emergency response of the men and women of 
        the United States Government, led by the United States Agency 
        for International Development (USAID) and the United States 
        Southern Command, as well as of cities, towns, individuals, 
        businesses, and philanthropic organizations across the United 
        States, was swift and resolute.
            (5) According to the Government of Haiti, numerous 
        multilateral agencies such as the United Nations, and 
        international NGOs, Haiti faces an ongoing food crisis as a 
        result of the earthquake and subsequent damage caused by 
        tropical storms and hurricanes, as well as long term neglect of 
        the agriculture sector.
            (6) According to the International Organization for 
        Migration, approximately 350,000 people remain in spontaneous 
        and organized camps in Haiti, and reports by the General 
        Accountability Office, USAID Inspector General, and civil 
        society organizations indicate that the pace of recovery and 
        development has lagged significantly behind the emergency 
        relief phase.
            (7) Haitian civil society organizations have noted a lack 
        of systematic and widespread consultations with Haitian 
        communities for their input in the recovery and development 
        process.
            (8) On October 21, 2010, an outbreak of cholera was 
        detected and according to the Haitian Ministry of Public Health 
        and Population, as of February 17, 2013, more than 8,000 people 
        had died from cholera and more than 647,500 had been infected 
        with the disease.
            (9) The United States has provided more than $95,000,000 in 
        aid to combat the cholera epidemic and care for the victims.
            (10) The United Nations Office of the Special Envoy for 
        Haiti estimates that, including donor pledges and other 
        support, approximately $6,400,000,000 has been disbursed, with 
        an additional amount of $3,800,000,000 committed, to assist in 
        Haiti's recovery and development.
            (11) The United States Government has obligated 
        approximately $3,600,000,000 for relief, recovery and 
        development in Haiti since the earthquake, of which 
        $1,300,000,000 had been disbursed as of April 2013.
            (12) Significant challenges remain in Haiti which will 
        require continued recovery and development aid from the 
        international community for the foreseeable future.
            (13) The Haitian Diaspora has also played an essential role 
        in Haiti's reconstruction and the United States Government 
        should take steps to increase outreach and encourage 
        participation by Haitian Americans in recovery and development 
        activities in Haiti.

SEC. 3. REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than six months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to Congress a report on the status of post-earthquake 
recovery and development efforts in Haiti, including efforts to prevent 
the spread of cholera and treat persons infected with the disease.
    (b) Contents.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
include--
            (1) an assessment of the progress of recovery and 
        development efforts, as embodied in the Post-Earthquake USG 
        Haiti Strategy: Toward Renewal and Economic Opportunity 
        produced by the Department of State, compared to what remains 
        to be achieved to meet specific goals, including--
                    (A) the amount of funds disbursed through country 
                systems and any significant changes to the Strategy 
                since January 2010, with an explanation of such 
                changes;
                    (B) the amounts obligated and expended on United 
                States Government programs and activities since January 
                2010 to implement the Strategy, including award data on 
                the use of implementing partners at both prime and 
                subprime levels, and disbursement data from prime and 
                subprime implementing partners; and
                    (C) a description of goals and quantitative and 
                qualitative indicators to evaluate the progress, 
                achievement, or lack of achievement of such goals, 
                within specific timeframes, that comprise the Strategy 
                at the program level;
            (2) an assessment of the manner in which the Department of 
        State and USAID are working with Haitian ministries and local 
        authorities, including the extent to which the Government of 
        Haiti has been consulted on the establishment of goals and 
        timeframes and on the design and implementation of new programs 
        under the Strategy;
            (3) an assessment of the extent to which Haitian civil 
        society and grassroots organizations have been consulted on the 
        establishment of goals and timeframes and on the design and 
        implementation of new programs under the Strategy;
            (4) an assessment of efforts to increase the involvement of 
        the Haitian private sector in recovery and development 
        activities;
            (5) an assessment of how consideration for vulnerable 
        populations, including IDPs, women, children, orphans, and 
        persons with disabilities, have been incorporated in the design 
        and implementation of new programs and infrastructure;
            (6) an assessment of how agriculture and infrastructure 
        programs are impacting food security and the livelihoods of 
        smallholder farmers in Haiti;
            (7) an assessment of recovery and development coordination 
        among United States Government agencies and between the United 
        States Government and other donors;
            (8) a description of the United States Government's 
        efforts, including diplomatic efforts, to help abate the 
        cholera epidemic in Haiti, in coordination with the Government 
        of Haiti, the United Nations, and other relevant entities;
            (9) a description of mechanisms for communicating the 
        progress of recovery and development efforts to Haitian 
        citizens; and
            (10) an assessment of the steps Haiti is taking to 
        strengthen its capacity to receive individuals who are removed, 
        excluded, or deported from the United States.
    (c) Use of Previously Appropriated Funds.--Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, to carry out this section, the Comptroller 
General of the United States is authorized to use unobligated amounts 
made available to the Government Accountability Office in an amount not 
to exceed $100,000.
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