[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 17, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E398-E399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE HELPING THE PEOPLE OF HAITI ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 17, 2004

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
Helping the People of Haiti Act, a bill to renew United States 
financial assistance to Haiti and to urge the international community 
to support Haiti's economic recovery.
  As the international community intervenes to restore peace in Haiti, 
I encourage all of my colleagues to concern yourselves with the 
suffering of its people. The health and welfare of millions of Haitians 
and the stability of a region close to our shores will only get worse 
if we do not seize the opportunity to act responsibly now.
  My bill, the Helping the People of Haiti Act, requires the Secretary 
of the Treasury to direct the U.S. Executive Director at the Inter-
American Development Bank to release the loans already approved for 
Haiti. These funds, amounting to $146 million, provide for health, 
education, water, sanitation, and transportation developments that are 
critical to stabilizing Haiti and improving the plight of its people. 
This bill also requires the Secretary of State to encourage foreign 
governments to strengthen their financial support and help with Haiti's 
economic development.
  For too long, the United States and the international community did 
not intervene to

[[Page E399]]

alleviate the situation in Haiti, conditioning financial assistance on 
the strengthening of democratic institutions, free and fair elections, 
and transparent and accountable government. But it is reasonable to 
assume that these requirements for financial aid will now be met, given 
the international community's intimate involvement in Haiti's political 
affairs for the near future.
  Let us work to alleviate all of Haiti's problems--environmental 
degradation, extreme poverty, starvation, and social chaos--not just 
the political crisis. This is critical to stabilizing the country, 
preventing a mass exodus of refugees, and ensuring that future 
political crises will be weathered not by street violence but by the 
rule of law and democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, where the United Nations once called Haiti a ``silent 
emergency,'' the plight of this country screams out for our assistance. 
We have a moral imperative to uphold democracy in Haiti, and to ensure 
that Haiti's people do not starve, that the environment is not 
obliterated, and that instead Haiti will become a nation of stability 
and opportunity. Haiti is a success story waiting to happen.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

                          ____________________