[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1241 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1241

Calling for the establishment of a comprehensive, long-term development 
               program to rebuild the Republic of Haiti.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 17, 2024

 Ms. Schakowsky (for herself, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, and Ms. Clarke 
of New York) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Calling for the establishment of a comprehensive, long-term development 
               program to rebuild the Republic of Haiti.

Whereas Haiti's revolution was the first successful slave revolt in the Americas 
        and led to the establishment of Haiti as the first independent Black 
        empire under the Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines in 1804, then, in 1806, 
        the first independent Black republic in the Western Hemisphere in 1804;
Whereas, prior to the Haitian Revolution, the United States was Haiti's second-
        largest trade partner;
Whereas Haiti has played a pivotal role in African struggles toward freedom in 
        America, the Caribbean, and African countries;
Whereas Haitian American leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois, cofounder of the National 
        Association for the Advancement of Colored People, have contributed to 
        the civil rights movement both in the United States and Africa;
Whereas, in 1825, Haiti was forced to pay a ``ransom'' to France for its 
        independence, amounting to at least $21,000,000,000 in current value;
Whereas the United States only recognized the newly independent nation of Haiti 
        until 1862, and then militarily occupied the country from 1915 to 1934;
Whereas Haiti has endured a long and troubled history marred by political 
        instability, economic underdevelopment, natural disasters, and external 
        interference;
Whereas, despite this proud heritage, Haiti has struggled to consolidate 
        democratic governance, with multiple coups, foreign interventions, and 
        lapses in the rule of law undermining the country's development;
Whereas, in 2010, a devastating earthquake killed hundreds of thousands and 
        displaced more than a million Haitians, prompting countries from across 
        the world to pledge more than $10,000,000,000 for relief and 
        reconstruction efforts;
Whereas the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021 exacerbated 
        the ongoing political crisis, leaving the country without an elected 
        government to date;
Whereas the power vacuum created by the lack of stable, democratic governance 
        and the absence of a social contract has enabled criminal armed groups 
        to seize control over large swaths of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and 
        surrounding areas, perpetrating heinous acts of violence including 
        kidnappings, murders, rapes, and blocking the delivery of vital 
        humanitarian aid;
Whereas, according to United Nations estimates, there are approximately 200 
        active criminal armed groups operating in Haiti, many of whom have 
        longstanding connections with the political and economic elite;
Whereas this unprecedented violence has displaced over 500,000 civilians, 
        created a severe humanitarian crisis, and crippled the country's already 
        fragile economy and public services;
Whereas, according to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), 
        since the beginning of the year, there have been more than 2,500 deaths 
        and injuries related to gang violence, a 53-percent increase from 
        October through December 2023;
Whereas a 2023 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report found that most 
        illegal firearms seized in Haiti came from the United States, notably 
        Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Texas, and California;
Whereas, in 2024 alone, kidnappings have risen to at least 504 victims, 294 of 
        these being women, 11 girls, and 9 boys, in addition to the 3,000+ 
        persons reportedly kidnapped in 2023;
Whereas the United Nations, and other experts, report that the raping of women 
        and girls is routine, and these groups of individuals disproportionately 
        suffer from the crisis in their country, and at least 64 women and girls 
        suffered from sexual violence;
Whereas gangs are using sexual violence to create fear, obtain money, gain 
        power, and punish local communities, and this violence includes 
        trafficking, sexual exploitation, and sexual slavery;
Whereas, according to the United Nations Populations Fund, at least 380,000 
        people have been internally displaced, including more than 180,000 
        children who are facing severe malnutrition;
Whereas approximately 5,000,000 Haitians, including 1 out of 2 children, are 
        facing acute levels of food insecurity;
Whereas, according to the United Nations, 30 to 50 percent of armed groups have 
        minors in their ranks;
Whereas the complete breakdown of law, order, and functional governance in Port-
        au-Prince now poses a direct threat to regional security and stability 
        in the Caribbean;
Whereas the Haitian people have shown remarkable resilience in the face of these 
        compounding crises;
Whereas the United States has longstanding historical, economic, and cultural 
        ties to Haiti, with millions of Americans tracing their heritage to the 
        country, and has a vested interest in Haiti's stability and development;
Whereas the restoration of democratic governance through free and fair elections 
        is an essential condition for reestablishing lasting security, economic 
        development, and the national interests of Haiti and the United States;
Whereas, in April 2024, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), with the backing of 
        the United States and the international community, supported the 
        establishment of a Transitional Presidential Council in Haiti with broad 
        political representation and the objective of restoring security and 
        holding free and fair elections;
Whereas Haitian Americans have contributed to the cultural diversity of the 
        United States through their vibrant traditions, music, dance, cuisine, 
        and literature, and Haitian art, literature, and music have influenced 
        United States culture, and events such as Haitian Carnival celebrations 
        have become popular in some United States cities;
Whereas, according to the World Bank, remittances to Haiti totaled over 
        $3,000,000,000 in 2020, accounting for approximately one-fifth of the 
        country's gross domestic product, and these remittances play a crucial 
        role in Haiti's economy, providing a steady source of income for many 
        families and contributing to poverty reduction and household 
        consumption; and
Whereas Haitian Americans play a vital role in Haiti's development efforts, 
        leveraging their resources, expertise, and networks to support 
        education, technology, sustainable development, resilience, and 
        prosperity in their homeland: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) marks 220 years of Haitian independence;
            (2) recognizes that Haiti has contributed significantly to 
        the abolition of slavery and the struggle for human rights in 
        Latin America and in the United States;
            (3) recognizes that Haitian culture, religion, art, and 
        literature contributes significantly to United States cultural 
        diversity;
            (4) recognizes the Haitian diaspora's contribution to the 
        economy of Haiti and the critical role it plays in the future;
            (5) acknowledges that the United States and international 
        community have played a large role in Haiti's instability;
            (6) acknowledges the need to improve United States 
        financial assistance to Haiti by reforming the foreign aid 
        system and ensuring foreign assistance is being distributed to 
        Haitian-led communities;
            (7) recognizes the United States and the international 
        community's moral obligation to support Haiti's struggle for 
        democracy;
            (8) recognizes that Haitian democracy, stability, and 
        economic prosperity is important to the region and to United 
        States strategic interest;
            (9) recognizes that the restoration of democratic 
        governance through free and fair elections is an essential 
        condition for reestablishing lasting security, economic 
        development, and the national interests of Haiti and the United 
        States; and
            (10) expresses the sense that Congress should establish the 
        Louverture Investment Plan, a 10-year, $50,000,000,000 
        development program to rebuild Haiti to stabilize the country, 
        strengthen democratic and judiciary institutions, invest in 
        critical infrastructure, spur economic growth, and improve 
        opportunities for women and youth to secure the welfare of the 
        Haitian people, which should be designed and implemented in 
        consultation with all stakeholders including the Haitian 
        diaspora, and include, but not be limited to, the following 
        components:
                    (A) Supporting the restoration of democratic 
                governance through free and fair elections, 
                strengthening the rule of law, and building the 
                capacity of Haiti's security forces including a 
                disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program 
                for youth formerly enrolled into gangs.
                    (B) Investing in the reconstruction and 
                modernization of Haiti's physical infrastructure, 
                including health care, roads, bridges, ports, power 
                grids, and water and sanitation systems.
                    (C) Promoting sustainable economic development 
                through agricultural modernization and food security.
                    (D) Supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, 
                especially small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs, 
                women, and youth.
                    (E) Improving access to quality health care, 
                education, and social services to address Haiti's acute 
                humanitarian needs.
                    (F) Enhancing Haiti's resilience to natural 
                disasters through improved disaster planning, 
                environmental conservation, and climate change 
                adaptation measures.
                    (G) Encouraging regional integration and greater 
                economic cooperation between Haiti, the United States, 
                and other Caribbean countries.
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