[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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