[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 74 (Monday, May 19, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H4220-H4221]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING HAITIAN-AMERICANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Haitian-
Americans. Yesterday, May 18, marked the 200th year of Haitian history, 
that country's Flag Day celebration. They celebrated in Haiti, and not 
only in Haiti but also in Miami, Florida, in the place we know as 
Little Haiti.
  This was a celebration of a very proud people, a people that have 
invested so much into our democracy that we have here in the United 
States, and not only now but in the beginning. America was founded on 
the basic democratic beliefs of cultures and values, of people from 
every country in the world.
  There are over 1.2 million Haitians living in the United States 
today, with 700,000 of them in Florida. I honor those Americans, those 
Haitian-Americans who continue to believe in the guiding principles of 
their country. Flag Day represents unity and strength. That unity has 
been seen throughout American history since the 1700s during the 
American Revolution at Savannah. Haitian-Americans fought side by side, 
prevailing against Britain and creating an independence of 13 colonies. 
Haitian-Americans are woven within the very history and fabric of this 
country.
  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am not alone on this floor this 
evening in introducing this Sense of Congress to establish a Haitian-
American Heritage Month; and so I yield to my colleague, the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Deutsch).
  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, I too join with my colleague in supporting 
this resolution, but also speaking out really to help educate our 
colleagues in the country about the 200th adversary of Haitian Flag 
Day. It is a significant event, the bicentennial of the second oldest 
republic in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti, that joined the United 
States in seeking its freedom from European colonialists in the early 
1800s.
  The Haitian people have fought for 200 years, have been part of a 
movement towards democracy not just fighting side by side with 
Americans but side by side with other Western Hemisphere countries in 
seeking their own democracy. We have had a community also in south 
Florida as well as throughout the country that has grown and prospered 
and, in fact, many of their friends and relatives today still seek that 
opportunity that all of us have sought in the United States of America.
  Today, we have Haitian-Americans that are detained in Krome, in 
prison really, in the United States, in Miami-Dade County, some of 
whom, by court order, have been ordered to be released, and yet 
Attorney General Ashcroft has prevented their release by categorizing 
Haiti as a terrorist State at this point in time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I would now 
yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne).
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman for bringing this 
very important issue to the floor. I too would like to add my support.
  Haitian-Americans, Haiti in particular, had a great deal to do with 
the development of this country during our fight for independence in 
the Revolutionary War. There was a battalion in the Savannah battles 
where Haiti sent troops to fight alongside the colonies against the 
British.
  Also, I think that because of Haiti's battle against Napoleon, one of 
the first countries to defeat the Napoleon Army, France was very 
strapped for cash, and it therefore had to sell the Louisiana Territory 
to the United States for a very, very low sum of money because they 
needed money

[[Page H4221]]

after their wars. That opened up the great West. If it had not been for 
the Haitian country depleting funds from the French Government, the 
progress of moving west would not have happened so soon. So we are tied 
together.
  As a matter of fact, Simon Bolivar lived in Haiti; and he went to 
liberate South America. So Haiti has had a tremendous importance in the 
growth and development of not only this country but the entire Western 
Hemisphere, and I appreciate the gentleman yielding to me.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time once again, I 
want to thank both the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) and my 
colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutsch), for joining in; 
and we would ask other Members to join us in this resolution.
  Yesterday, May 18, marking the 200th year of Haitian history, Haitian 
Americans and the country of Haiti celebrated their Flag Day. They 
celebrated in the country of Haiti with great fanfare on the grounds of 
the Haiti's capitol. In the United States Haitian Americans celebrated 
Flag Day with cultural events, including ceremonies, concerts, and 
prayer vigils. Haitian Americans in my district celebrated countywide 
and particularly in an area that is fondly known as ``Little Haiti'' to 
commemorate their Flag Day.
  America is founded on basic democratic beliefs and cultural values of 
people from every country in this world. There are over 1.2 million 
Haitians living in the United States today, with over 700,000 in 
Florida. I honor Haitian Americans for continuing to believe in the 
guiding phrase that is included below the country arms in Haiti's flag, 
``In Union There Is Strength.''
  That unity has been seen throughout American History since the 1700s. 
During the American Revolution at Savannah, Haitians and Americans 
fought side by side prevailing against Britain and creating the 
independence of the 13 colonies.
  Haitians Americans are woven into the fabric of American culture, 
economy, and politics. They are owners of newspapers, and radio 
stations, and have television programming and varied commercial 
businesses nationwide.
  In the month of May, in addition to Flag Day, Haitian Americans also 
celebrate Labor Day on May 1 and Haiti's Mother's Day is the last 
Sunday in May.
  It is my request that my colleagues offer their support for the 
legislation I introduce today expressing the sense of this body that 
there should be established a ``Haitian-American Heritage Month.'' I 
deem it only befitting that the month of May be designated as an 
official month of ceremonies and celebrations, as it holds such 
historical significance to Haitian Americans in our great Nation.

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