[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 22 (Wednesday, March 2, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 HAITI

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 2, 2005

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support 
for increased awareness and aid to the impoverished citizens of Haiti.
  Haiti gained it's independence in 1804 from France, becoming the 
first independent Black nation. Today, Haiti has over 8.3 million 
people, with 80% living in abject poverty. Haiti is one of the most 
impoverished nations in the Western Hemisphere. Less than 45 percent of 
all Haitians have access to potable water.
  The life expectancy rate in Haiti is only 53 years. The unemployment 
rate is estimated to be around 60 percent; and the literacy rate is 
approximately 45 percent. Eighty out of 1,000 Haitian children never 
see their first birthday. Half the population of Haiti earns $60 or 
less per year. The total expenditure on health per person is $54 
(compared to $4,499 in the USA and $483 in Mexico).
  Health conditions in Haiti are very poor. Such examples include:
  Haiti is one of the most impoverished nations in the Western 
Hemisphere and the fourth poorest country in the world.
  Ninety percent of all HIV and AIDS infections in the Caribbean are in 
Haiti: over 300,000 infected people have been identified and deaths 
from HIV/AIDS have left 163,000 children orphaned.
  Haiti's infant mortality rate is staggering: 74 deaths per 1,000 live 
births and the maternal mortality rate is approximately 1400 deaths for 
every 100,000.
  Only 1 in every 10,000 Haitians has access to a physician, and less 
than 40 percent of Haitians have access to potable water.
  Cases of TB in Haiti are more than ten times as high as those in 
other Latin American countries.
  Tuberculosis remains a major cause of adult mortality; rates are 
thought to be the highest in the hemisphere. Cases of TB in Haiti are 
more than ten times as high as those in other Latin American countries.
  The United States spends billions of dollars every year supporting 
various military and foreign operations across the globe and yet, basic 
human needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and education often have a 
lower priority in our expenditures. These basic human needs are a right 
of every citizen on our planet. We should want for our sister and 
brother, what we would want for ourselves, and put this belief into 
action.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to reiterate my support for increased awareness 
and aid to the impoverished citizens of Haiti. I stand with 
Representative Barbara Lee and the Congressional Black Caucus to draw 
attention to the plight of the Haitian people.

                          ____________________