[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 19 (Friday, February 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E280]]
         INTRODUCTION OF NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR HAITI ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 17, 2005

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the New Partnership 
for Haiti Act of 2005, which will help Haitians overcome the many 
social, economic, and physical challenges currently facing the country.
  Today in Haiti less than 45 percent of Haitians have access to safe 
water and access to sanitation. Seventy-six percent of Haiti's children 
under the age of five are underweight, or suffer from stunted growth 
and 63 percent of Haitians are undernourished. Eighty percent of the 
population lives in abject poverty and the unemployment rate is 
estimated to be nearly 90 percent.
  My long standing interest in ending the AIDS pandemic has brought 
focus on Haiti, with 90 percent of all HIV/AIDS cases in the Caribbean. 
As we combat global HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, maternal and 
child mortality, and many other life threatening diseases, we must 
address the long-term effect of dilapidated physical and health 
infrastructure and abject poverty throughout the world, including in 
Haiti.
  My bill, the New Partnership for Haiti Act of 2005 offers a 
comprehensive plan for future engagement between the U.S. and Haitian 
Government. This legislation partners Haitians and Americans together 
to execute an environmentally sound approach to rebuilding Haiti. Its 
major provisions are aimed at developing basic sanitation, water, and 
other health infrastructures in Haiti.
  The New Partnership for Haiti Act would bring the U.S. Army Corp of 
Engineers to train and educate Haitians on how to rebuild, pave, and 
maintain roads to provide access to rural and urban areas to health 
clinics. It will commission environmental impact studies for these 
projects, focusing on long term, environmentally sound solutions--not 
short term remedies.

  Haiti needs assistance in addressing its long-term health 
infrastructure development. The most basic of these needed development 
challenges is water. How can Haiti begin to combat its enormous health 
problems without basic clean and safe water?
  Haiti's water quality is life-threatening. In a study released in May 
of 2003, Haiti ranked last in the world for water quality. The New 
Partnership for Haiti Act will provide funds and expertise through 
USAID to partner with Haiti on rebuilding of sanitation, water 
purification projects, and education for Haitians on how to maintain 
these systems themselves in the future. This bill will help Haitians 
build and maintain safer, quality sewage systems and safe water 
delivery for both urban and rural communities.
  The New Partnership for Haiti Act will start a pilot program for 
American Health Professionals and also Engineers who are interested in 
going to Haiti and helping with the development process.
  It is my hope that a transfer of knowledge from U.S. professionals in 
the fields of health and engineering to Haitians will ensure long term 
development and guarantee the success of the programs similar to the 
success of the Global Fund and other international initiatives. By 
widening the knowledge base of non-governmental organizations and 
professionals in Haiti, the U.S. will take advantage of a unique 
opportunity and obligation towards Haiti's future.
  We worked together to get the humanitarian loans, which had been held 
up by the InterAmerican Development Bank officially released on May 9, 
2003. It is my hope that we can continue to push for the full release 
of these loans and the potential for future humanitarian grants through 
the IDB. I also believe we must move forward on establishing a health 
infrastructure for efficient delivery of these health and social sector 
funds.
  Today I submit this legislation, and thank all of my original 
cosponsors.
  I look forward to the support of my colleagues and the 
Administration.

                          ____________________