[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1104 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1104
To measure the progress of recovery and development efforts in Haiti
following the earthquake of January 12, 2010, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 6, 2013
Mr. Nelson (for himself, Ms. Landrieu, and Mr. Cardin) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
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 makes the following findings:
(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
citizens of the United States 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 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 nongovernmental organizations, 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 320,000 people remain in spontaneous
and organized camps in Haiti, and reports by the General
Accountability Office, the Inspector General for the United
States Agency for International Development, and civil society
organizations indicate that the pace of recovery and
development has lagged significantly behind the emergency
relief phase.
(7) 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.
(8) 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.
(9) The United States Government has appropriated
approximately $3,600,000,000 for relief, recovery, and
development in Haiti since the earthquake, of which
$2,600,000,000 had been disbursed as of March 2013. The United
States Government has also provided more than $95,000,000 in
aid to combat the cholera epidemic and care for the victims.
(10) Significant challenges remain in Haiti, which will
require continued recovery and development aid from the
international community for the foreseeable future.
(11) 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) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days 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) Content.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
the following elements:
(1) An assessment of the progress of recovery and
development efforts, as embodied in the Haiti Rebuilding and
Development Strategy, compared to what remains to be achieved
to meet specific goals, including--
(A) the amount of funds disbursed 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 the prime level and
at the subprime level of $25,000 and above, and
disbursement data from prime 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 time frames, that comprise the Strategy
at the program level.
(2) An assessment of the manner in which the Department of
State and the United States Agency for International
Development are working with ministries and local authorities
in Haiti, including the extent to which the Government of Haiti
has been consulted on the establishment of goals and time
frames and on the design and implementation of new programs
under the Strategy.
(3) An assessment of the extent to which civil society and
grassroots organizations in Haiti have been consulted on the
establishment of goals and time frames and on the design and
implementation of new programs under the Strategy.
(4) An assessment of efforts to increase the involvement of
the private sector in Haiti in recovery and development
activities.
(5) An assessment of how consideration for vulnerable
populations, including internally displaced persons, 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 people in
Haiti.
(10) An assessment of the steps the Government of 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.--Funding for the report
required under subsection (a) shall be made available from existing
funds appropriated to the Department of State and the United States
Agency for International Development for assistance to Haiti, and shall
not exceed $75,000.
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