[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 161 (Monday, December 15, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APPROPRIATIONS ACT--H.R. 2607

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. MAJOR R. OWENS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 12, 1997

  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, once again the U.S. Congress has exhibited a 
double standard toward the people of Haiti. The District of Columbia 
appropriations conference report provides a badly needed resolution to 
the District's financial problems. This conference report also contains 
certain immigration policy provisions that are intended to counteract a 
provision in the extreme, mean-spirited immigration reform legislation 
passed by the Republican-led 104th Congress. I commend the efforts made 
by House and Senate conferees to stop the potential deportation of 
hundreds of thousands of Central American and Eastern European 
immigrants; however, they specifically left thousands of Haitian 
immigrants out in the cold. This is tragically unfair and must not be 
overlooked. The only discernible difference between Haitians and these 
other refugees is that Haitians are black. I cannot believe that in 
1997 the U.S. Congress has chosen to make critical policy decisions in 
this irrational manner.
  The United States Government helped create conditions in Nicaragua, 
Guatemala, and El Salvador that resulted in great numbers of people 
from these countries fleeing their homelands and searching for relief 
on our shores. In spite of this, Republicans in Congress have attacked 
immigrants on all fronts, including those from these Central American 
nations. In addition to cutting back on the types of social services 
and benefits immigrants could apply for, the ill-conceived Illegal 
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 created new 
rules for Central American refugees which would effectively disqualify 
the vast majority of these immigrants from attaining citizenship and 
set them up for deportation. Before the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 was passed, these immigrants were 
permitted to apply for suspension of deportation and then apply for 
permanent residence if they met several rigorous requirements. They had 
to follow a painstaking, labyrinthine process to become American 
citizens. American citizenship is so prized by our Central American 
neighbors that they were happy to play by these complicated rules. The 
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 
changed the rules for these immigrants midstream and would have forced 
many of them to return to their homelands even though many have 
established themselves as productive members of our society. The 
District of Columbia appropriations legislation treats all these groups 
with compassion.
  The conference report even provides relief for refugees from certain 
Eastern bloc countries in which we did not become involved to create a 
refugee situation. Inexplicably, Haitians were not afforded the same 
treatment, even though their plight was just as terrible and their 
desire to become American citizens is just as great.
  The United States must acknowledge that its support for previous 
Haitian regimes has forced thousands of Haitian refugees to seek relief 
here in America. Since the military coup in Haiti, the United States 
has allowed thousands of these refugees to apply for citizenship. 
Haitians are still endangering themselves, risking death in order to 
reach our shores. Clearly, the situation in Haiti is not that much 
better than it is in Central America and the former Eastern bloc 
countries. The Haitian Government continues to be in disarray. The 
country's infrastructure continues to decay at a rapid rate while more 
than $1 billion in foreign assistance remains unspent. More than half 
the population eligible for work is estimated to be jobless at the same 
time that the cost of living is rising at an alarming rate. The 
situation in Haiti clearly calls for more compassionate action by the 
United States. Unfortunately, a proposal by Congresswoman Carrie P. 
Meek and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus [CBC] to 
provide relief for Haitian immigrants was not included in the District 
of Columbia appropriations conference report. This CBC-backed proposal 
would simply grant Haitians the same treatment given to Nicaraguans 
under the District of Columbia appropriations conference report. Like 
Central Americans and Eastern Europeans, Haitian immigrants have a 
powerful desire to become American citizens. They have established 
families and provided American businesses with skilled, dedicated 
workers. In my district in particular, Haitians are a vital part of the 
local economy and culture. Why are they not afforded the same treatment 
by American policy makers? It is unthinkable that Haitians were treated 
differently solely because they are black; however, the circumstances 
leave me no choice but to conclude that this Congress considers the 
suffering of black people to be of less importance.
  We have settled in this country refugees from many war-torn nations. 
The people of Haiti have suffered long enough from the excesses of 
their former despotic leaders and the shortsightedness of our foreign 
policy. I plan to dedicate the second session of the 105th Congress to 
working with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and other 
Members of Congress to ensure that equal treatment of Haitian 
immigrants is achieved. I challenge the House leadership and the 
administration to make justice for Haitians a priority in 1998. It is 
time that we settle this moral debt that we owe the people of Haiti.

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