[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 474 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 474

        Honoring the 210th anniversary of Haiti's independence.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 5, 2014

Ms. Waters (for herself, Mr. Engel, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Sires, 
Mr. Meeks, Ms. Bass, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. 
Wilson of Florida, Mr. Conyers, and Mr. Rangel) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
        Honoring the 210th anniversary of Haiti's independence.

Whereas the people of Haiti celebrated the 210th anniversary of the independence 
        of Haiti on January 1, 2014;
Whereas Haiti declared its independence from France on January 1, 1804;
Whereas Haiti achieved its independence as the result of a revolt among African 
        slaves against their French colonial masters;
Whereas Haiti is the only country to have achieved its independence as the 
        result of a successful slave rebellion;
Whereas Haiti first received diplomatic recognition from the United States in 
        1862, during the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln, who also presided over 
        the emancipation of slaves in the United States;
Whereas Haiti and the United States have each struggled throughout their history 
        to achieve racial equality;
Whereas Haiti has struggled throughout its history to become a stable democracy 
        with respect for human rights and economic opportunity for the Haitian 
        people;
Whereas many Haitians have risked their lives to oppose dictatorships and 
        supported the restoration of democracy in Haiti;
Whereas many United States citizens have worked hard to advocate respect for 
        human rights and support the restoration of democracy in Haiti in 
        solidarity with the Haitian people;
Whereas the people of Haiti have endured numerous natural disasters and continue 
        to be at high risk for hurricanes and tropical storms;
Whereas, on January 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by a devastating 7.0 magnitude 
        earthquake;
Whereas according to the Government of Haiti, more than 316,000 people died as a 
        result of the earthquake;
Whereas according to the United Nations and the International Organization for 
        Migration, an estimated 3,000,000 people were directly affected by the 
        earthquake and 1,300,000 people were displaced to settlements;
Whereas the United States House of Representatives passed House Resolution 1021 
        on January 21, 2010, on a vote of 411 to 1, expressing its ``deepest 
        condolences and sympathy for the horrific loss of life'' and ``support 
        for the recovery and long-term reconstruction needs of Haiti'';
Whereas the United States Congress passed H.R. 4573, the Haiti Debt Relief and 
        Earthquake Recovery Act of 2010, which urged the Secretary of the 
        Treasury to instruct the United States Executive Directors at certain 
        international financial institutions to use the voice, vote, and 
        influence of the United States to cancel immediately and completely 
        Haiti's debts to such institutions, and this bill was signed into law by 
        President Barack Obama on April 26, 2010;
Whereas according to the United States Agency for International Development 
        (USAID), the United States disbursed $2.9 billion in Haiti for post-
        earthquake assistance as of September 30, 2013, including $1.3 billion 
        for humanitarian relief and $1.5 billion for recovery, reconstruction, 
        and development;
Whereas according to the United States Department of State, the United States is 
        Haiti's largest trading partner;
Whereas according to the Congressional Research Service, more than 470,000 
        Haitians migrated to the United States between 1980 and 2011;
Whereas the people of Haiti have survived slavery, repression, and natural 
        disasters;
Whereas the people of Haiti have demonstrated tremendous courage throughout 
        their history and continue to work to improve their lives and create a 
        better future for themselves, their families, and their fellow citizens;
Whereas the people of the United States stand in solidarity with the people of 
        Haiti in their desire for effective democratic governance and economic 
        growth and development; and
Whereas the people of the United States and the people of Haiti are united by 
        their commitment to the values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and 
        racial equality: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) congratulates the people of Haiti upon the 210th 
        anniversary of the independence of Haiti;
            (2) reaffirms the enduring friendship between Haiti and the 
        United States;
            (3) recognizes that Haiti and the United States share a 
        common history and a commitment to freedom, democracy, human 
        rights, and racial equality; and
            (4) encourages Haiti and the United States to continue to 
        pursue strong bilateral relations and mutually beneficial 
        growth and development.
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