[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 88 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 88

 Expressing the sense of the Congress that temporary protected status 
    for Haitian nationals should be extended until that country has 
demonstrably recovered from the 2010 earthquake, the cholera epidemic, 
                Hurricane Matthew, and other disasters.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 27, 2017

Ms. Wilson of Florida (for herself, Ms. Sewell of Alabama, Mr. Ellison, 
  Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Rush, Ms. Lee, Mr. Conyers, Mr. 
 Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. 
   Hastings, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Clay, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Veasey, Ms. 
Jackson Lee, Mr. Payne, Mr. Lawson of Florida, Mr. Evans, Mr. Thompson 
  of Mississippi, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Ms. Fudge, Ms. 
Clarke of New York, Ms. Moore, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Mr. Richmond, Ms. 
   Bass, Mrs. Beatty, and Ms. Clark of Massachusetts) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for 
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Congress that temporary protected status 
    for Haitian nationals should be extended until that country has 
demonstrably recovered from the 2010 earthquake, the cholera epidemic, 
                Hurricane Matthew, and other disasters.

Whereas the Republic of Haiti experienced a devastating earthquake on January 
        12, 2010, that claimed an estimated 300,000 lives, displaced more than 
        1,500,000 people, and caused approximately $14,000,000,000 in damage, 
        nearly twice the country's $7,000,000,000 gross domestic product (GDP);
Whereas former President Barack Obama extended his deepest condolences to the 
        people of Haiti and pledged unwavering United States support;
Whereas three days after Haiti faced one of the worst disasters in its history, 
        then-Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano 
        designated Haiti for temporary protected status (TPS), providing refuge 
        for some 46,000 Haitian nationals who would be endangered by returning 
        to Haiti;
Whereas in October 2010, just months after this unprecedented natural disaster, 
        United Nations peacekeepers from Nepal, who were infected by cholera and 
        engaged in unsanitary practices, caused a man-made disaster in the form 
        of a cholera outbreak;
Whereas the United Nations abdicated responsibility for the cholera outbreak and 
        invoked absolute immunity for more than half a decade;
Whereas, to date, the United Nations-caused cholera epidemic has killed nearly 
        10,000 people and infected nearly 1,000,000 people in Haiti;
Whereas a 5-year long, multinational campaign led by cholera victims and their 
        families, that included widespread protests and litigation, compelled 
        the United Nations to finally admit its role in the cholera epidemic, 
        issue an apology, and announce a two-part, $400,000,000 plan to address 
        cholera and assist victims;
Whereas the United Nations had managed to raise only $2,670,000 of its 
        $400,000,000 pledge to spur Haiti's recovery from the cholera epidemic 
        and provide redress to victims through May 2017;
Whereas in stark contrast to former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's promise of a 
        victim-centered response to the cholera epidemic, the United Nations has 
        not effectively engaged cholera victims in the remedial process 
        according to numerous reports;
Whereas Haiti's challenges were exacerbated on October 4, 2016, after Category 4 
        Hurricane Matthew left a trail of damage and destruction of a level not 
        seen since the 2010 earthquake, causing damage estimated at one-third of 
        the nation's GDP, $2,700,000,000, causing hundreds of deaths, and 
        leaving an additional 1,400,000 people in urgent need of humanitarian 
        assistance;
Whereas according to the World Bank, Haiti's economic growth has contracted to 
        less than one percent, the unemployment rate remains above 40 percent, 
        and the overwhelming majority of Haitians (60 percent) continue to live 
        well below the national poverty line of $2.42 per day;
Whereas in 2016, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, in 
        coordination with other United States agencies, conducted on-the-ground 
        assessments and reaffirmed the persistence of the conditions which 
        prompted Haiti's TPS designation;
Whereas these conditions include acute housing and food shortages, debilitating 
        economic conditions, political instability, susceptibility to 
        environmental disasters, disproportionate security risks faced by women 
        and children, gutted infrastructure, and inadequate access to health 
        care;
Whereas the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti estimates that Haitian 
        TPS holders contribute $1,300,000,000 to Haiti's economy through 
        remittances, about 15 percent of GDP, and support up to 500,000 
        relatives;
Whereas the Immigrant Legal Resource Center estimates that termination of TPS 
        for Haiti, which would deprive Haitian nationals of employment 
        authorization, threaten the viability of their businesses, and require 
        the United States to expend nearly $500,000,000 to deport Haitian 
        nationals, would cost the United States more than $2,700,000,000 in GDP 
        and $428,000,000 in Social Security and Medicare contributions over 10 
        years;
Whereas just as their ancestors valiantly fought alongside our troops and 
        contributed to our victory in the American Revolutionary War, Haitian 
        TPS holders contribute to every aspect of society in the United States 
        and are deeply woven into our communities;
Whereas Haitian TPS holders' contributions include raising United States-born 
        children and Haitian-American families, creating jobs as entrepreneurs, 
        making significant contributions to Social Security, Medicare, and other 
        programs as taxpayers, improving our workforce and global 
        competitiveness through their pursuit of higher education, and 
        supporting vulnerable Americans;
Whereas President Donald Trump has commended Haitians for their contributions to 
        American society, acknowledged Haiti's lingering challenges, and 
        committed to being the ``greatest champion'' for Haitians;
Whereas following a long advocacy campaign supported by more than 100 Members of 
        Congress from both sides of the aisle, Governors, State and local 
        legislators, activists, and various other leaders, the Department of 
        Homeland Security extended Haiti's temporary protected status through 
        January 22, 2018;
Whereas the short-term extension and ensuing statements have triggered 
        widespread uncertainty and panic among Haitian TPS holders;
Whereas extending Haiti's temporary protected status for 18 months would remove 
        this uncertainty, enable beneficiaries to continue making valuable 
        contributions to Haiti and the United States, hasten Haiti's recovery 
        from the disasters that prompted the TPS designation, provide United 
        States agencies adequate time to conduct on-the-ground assessments; and
Whereas an 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti would 
        reaffirm a core American value: compassion: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the people of the United States stand in solidarity 
        with the people of Haiti and support efforts to help Haiti 
        recover and develop into a prosperous democracy;
            (2) Haiti has not demonstrably recovered from the natural 
        and man-made disasters, which prompted the Secretary of 
        Homeland Security to designate Haiti as a temporary protected 
        status (TPS) country;
            (3) the Secretary of Homeland Security should extend 
        Haiti's TPS designation, which is scheduled to expire on 
        January 22, 2018, by 18 months, and should strongly consider 
        economic, political, and environmental conditions, closely 
        examine the implementation of anti-cholera efforts, and 
        thoroughly assess the contributions of Haitian TPS holders to 
        Haiti and the United States in making extension determinations;
            (4) the Secretary of State should urge the United Nations, 
        in close consultation with cholera victims and stakeholders, 
        expeditiously to fulfill its pledge to treat and eliminate 
        cholera, improve long-term access to clean water and 
        sanitation, and provide material assistance to victims; and
            (5) a democratic and equitably prosperous Haiti will be 
        better positioned to provide opportunities for its citizens, 
        address crises, meet its obligations, and advance interests and 
        values shared by the United States and Haiti.
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