[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 28, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H1157-H1162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           COMMENDING HAITI FOR HOLDING DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 353) commending the people 
of the Republic of Haiti for holding democratic elections on February 
7, 2006, and congratulating President-elect Rene Garcia Preval on his 
victory in these elections.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 353

       Whereas the Republic of Haiti held democratic presidential 
     and legislative elections on February 7, 2006;
       Whereas reports indicate that the elections were peaceful 
     and that 2.2 million Haitians--more than 60 percent of 
     registered voters--participated in the elections;
       Whereas many Haitians walked miles on election day to reach 
     a polling station and waited for hours in line to exercise 
     their right to vote;
       Whereas the participation of an overwhelming number of 
     Haitians in the elections demonstrates the commitment of the 
     Haitian people to democracy;
       Whereas on February 16, 2006, Rene Garcia Preval was 
     declared the winner of the presidential election with 51.15 
     percent of the vote;
       Whereas on February 23, 2006, the White House announced 
     that President George W. Bush phoned President-elect Rene 
     Garcia Preval to congratulate him on his victory in the 
     elections and to discuss cooperation in Haiti's economic 
     development and the fight against the illegal drug trade;
       Whereas the elections of February 7, 2006, are a sign of 
     hope for the future of the people of Haiti;
       Whereas violence and natural disasters have caused 
     tremendous suffering and loss of life in Haiti;
       Whereas the people of Haiti would benefit from efforts to 
     achieve national reconciliation; and
       Whereas the elected government of Haiti will need the 
     support and assistance of the United States and the 
     international community to ensure social and economic 
     development and to improve the lives of the Haitian people: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) commends the people of the Republic of Haiti for 
     holding democratic elections on February 7, 2006;
       (2) congratulates President-elect Rene Garcia Preval on his 
     victory in these historic elections; and
       (3) pledges its support and assistance for national 
     reconciliation, democracy, and development for the people of 
     Haiti.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. 
Faleomavaega) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this concurrent resolution 
that commends the people of Haiti for holding peaceful and democratic 
elections on February 7 and expresses the sense of the United States 
Congress that the U.S. should actively support efforts in Haiti to move 
that country toward national reconciliation, democracy, and 
development.
  Further, the resolution acknowledges the Haitian people's needs for 
sustained support and assistance from the United States and indeed the 
international community to ensure social and economic development.
  The elections took place February 7 with 2.2 million Haitians, over 
60 percent of the registered voters, participating. There were only 
minor reports of violence and voting flaws.
  This bill recognizes the perseverance of the Haitian people as they 
struggle to maintain democracy. Many Haitians walked miles on election 
day to reach a polling station, and they waited hours in line to 
exercise their right to vote. The participation of an overwhelming 
number of Haitians in these elections clearly demonstrates the 
commitment of the Haitian people to democracy.
  I support the Waters resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 353, a 
resolution to commend the people of Haiti for the success of their 
recent election and congratulates President-elect Rene Preval on his 
victory in the elections. President-elect Rene Preval defeated a large 
field of candidates and won the election with over 51 percent of the 
vote.
  The people of Haiti have suffered tremendously as a result of 
violence and natural disasters, and the elections are a sign of hope 
for the future of the Haitian people. This resolution pledges the 
support of Congress and the assistance of the United States for 
national reconciliation, democracy, and development for the people of 
Haiti.
  Finally, this resolution embodies the hope that many of our 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle share, that democracy, stability, 
and prosperity will be realized as Haitians move beyond these recent 
elections and put the turbulent chapter behind them. I urge my 
colleagues to show their support for democracy in Haiti by supporting 
this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my commendation and 
appreciation to the distinguished chairman, the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Hyde), for his leadership and support of this legislation, and 
also our senior ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos). I do also want to thank my distinguished friend

[[Page H1158]]

and colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), for her 
management and being on the majority side in support of this 
legislation.
  Of course not least of all, the author of this legislation, my very 
dear friend, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), who is the 
sponsor, the chief sponsor and author of this proposed resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, it was my privilege to travel several times to Haiti 
with one of our distinguished and senior colleagues of this 
institution, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers). I can 
appreciate the many problems and issues facing the good people and the 
leaders of the country of Haiti. I do want to say I rise in strong 
support of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, with the cherry blossoms in full bloom in the Nation's 
capital, democracy is once again blossoming in the troubled island 
nation of Haiti.
  After a tumultuous 2 years under an interim government, the people of 
Haiti recently went to the polls en masse to elect a new President and 
a new legislature. After some delay, Mr. Rene Preval was declared the 
victor in the presidential contest. He is due to be inaugurated after 
the second round elections for the remaining seats in the National 
Assembly that are being held. These are scheduled for sometime next 
month.
  Mr. Speaker, once again Haiti has a new chance to emerge from years 
of conflict and despair and grinding poverty to build a country that 
reflects the resourcefulness of its people and leaders. The task is 
tremendous. Haiti still lacks a professional police force that respects 
human rights and is trusted by the populace.

                              {time}  1700

  The murderous drug-dealing organizations continue to control parts of 
the capital and threaten instability in other parts of the country. 
Many schools are not in operation and most hospitals are little more 
than way-stations for the morgue. Infrastructure is virtually almost 
nonexistent.
  Mr. Speaker, although the challenges before him are awesome, I think 
our President-Elect Preval is singularly capable of addressing these 
issues, but he cannot and he should not do it alone.
  Our own government, the United States, working through the United 
Nations with our bilateral partners must redouble our efforts and 
financial commitment to Haiti so that the consolidation of democracy 
and the rebuilding of the country's economy have a reasonable chance of 
succeeding.
  Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the President's budget proposal for Haiti 
for next year fails miserably in this regard. At a time when we should 
be deepening our commitment to the poorest country in the Western 
Hemisphere, the President proposes to cut core development spending to 
Haiti by about 20 percent.
  I am hopeful that as a result of the efforts of my colleagues, 
especially including our newly elected ranking member of the 
Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, my good friend and colleague, 
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), we will be able to remedy the 
administration's shortsightedness through a Foreign Operations 
appropriations process. Indeed, given the extraordinary opportunity 
presented by these elections, I hope my colleagues on the 
Appropriations Committee in this and the other body will consider 
adjusting the pending emergency supplemental appropriations bill to 
include funding for the urgent needs of the Republic of Haiti.
  In the meantime, I look forward to the April second-round elections 
and the overdue inauguration of Haiti's newly elected president.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Foley), who just got back from a trip to Haiti with 
Ms. Waters, the author of this resolution.
  Mr. FOLEY. Thank you, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Madam Chairman. And first let 
me thank Maxine Waters, my colleague from California, who not only 
accompanied me to Haiti, but traveled from California on a late-night 
red eye to meet me in Miami to fly to Haiti, to fly back to California 
that very day, in a gesture of goodwill, in a bipartisan gesture of 
goodwill to show Rene Preval that the United States Congress, Democrat 
and Republican, wish him Godspeed in helping the people of Haiti.
  Chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen told you the facts. On February 7, 2.2 
million Haitians went to the polls and exercised their constitutional 
right to select a leader. They went by foot, by tap tap and other forms 
of transportation, traveling hours and standing in line for almost a 
day to get to their polling places.
  Despite some early challenges, things did go very well. Mr. Preval, a 
populist president, as the only person to ever serve a full term as an 
elected president in Haiti, brings to his office the hopes and dreams 
of every Haitian. As we sat with Mr. Preval, I think Maxine and I both 
felt a palpable sense of hope and optimism.
  Mr. Preval understands the challenges that face him in Haiti. Mr. 
Preval was quick to suggest they don't need an army and waste tax 
dollars or federal dollars or dollars from other countries in 
establishing an army. He wants a legitimate police force. He wants a 
police force free of corruption. He wants health care and education to 
the provinces of Haiti.
  He knows the challenges that lie before him, but as a wonderful man 
with a cheerful disposition, he is ready to accept those challenges. 
But he needs our help; he desperately needs the help of the United 
States, of Canada, of France, of CARICOM, of world leaders who are 
willing to invest in the plight of the Haitians.
  We noticed a bounce to the steps, and I reported that to my hometown 
paper, the Palm Beach Post, which wrote a brilliant article and an 
editorial on our trip to Haiti, because for the first time you could 
see some optimism in the people's faces. You could see commerce 
flourishing in the market square.
  And I don't want to mischaracterize. There are huge problems in 
Haiti. But just a sense that we may have finally turned a fresh page, a 
new chapter, a new opportunity for Haitians, and particularly for 
Haitians living in the United States who think about their families 
back there and simply want the best for them. They have arrived on our 
fabulous shores and have contributed to our community, but they also 
think back, as all generations of people from other countries do, about 
those that are back home. Will they be safe? Will they be healthy? Will 
they be prosperous? Is there a chance, a fighting chance that they will 
be given an option like most of us to live in peace and tranquility, 
raise their kids.
  What I noticed too was the incredible number of children going to 
school and wearing beautiful dress uniforms and skipping along the 
streets. Again, once again, a sense of optimism. And having been there 
right after 2004, I can assure you there were challenging moments when 
you felt all was lost and all hope had faded and all optimism was 
extinguished.
  Rene Preval, the president-elect, is here in our Capital tonight. 
Many of us, including Chairman Shaw of the Trade Committee and Ranking 
Member Rangel, Chairman Thomas and others are going to greet him and 
welcome him and talk about some aggressive trade approaches that we 
hope to launch in our committee. So in the spirit of bipartisanship and 
goodwill for those here in this Chamber who are willing to go that 
extra mile, I reach out the hand of friendship to Mr. Rene Preval, soon 
to be President Preval, as he embarks on a journey that has tremendous 
impact on all Americans.
  And I thank Chairman Ros-Lehtinen, as well, for her steadfast 
engagement in our conversations on Haiti, on the hemispheres that 
surround Haiti, because all of us, if we are going to truly solve this 
puzzle, need to solve it together. We will put the past behind us, the 
acrimony behind us, the politics behind us and move forward with a new 
day for Haitians.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Engel), the distinguished ranking member of our 
Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from American Samoa for 
recognizing me. I also want to call attention on our side of the aisle 
to my colleagues, Congresswoman Waters, Congresswoman Lee and my good 
friend, Congressman Delahunt, who have always been carrying the ball on 
the

[[Page H1159]]

issue of Haiti and the U.S. response to Haiti and the U.S. friendship 
with Haiti. I really take my hat off to all of them.
  I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 353, which praises the 
people of Haiti for their recent elections and congratulates Rene 
Preval on his victory. I commend my friend and colleague, as I 
mentioned, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, for introducing this 
resolution, and I am pleased to be an original cosponsor. I am pleased 
that my district, the 17th District in New York, has a very large 
Haitian community in Spring Valley, New York; and I know they are all 
eagerly anticipating better things for Haiti and U.S.-Haiti 
relationships.
  After a history of instability, poverty and democratic setbacks, 
Haitians poured onto the streets last month to cast their votes, 
demonstrating their desire for a better future. And after a contested 
vote counting period, the front runner in the presidential election, 
Rene Preval, was declared the winner with nearly 52 percent of the 
official vote, compared to less than 12 percent for his closest 
contender. Now, such a large margin of victory gives Mr. Preval a 
strong mandate and legitimacy to reform and rebuild Haiti's 
institutions and fractured society.
  Yet the challenges are vast. The same massive underlying problems 
still plague Haiti, and a second round of elections looms in the coming 
weeks.
  While the Haitian people and government have the ultimate 
responsibility for ensuring their future, we in the United States have 
a duty to assist in every aspect of Haiti's political, economic and 
social state-building. Moreover, given Haiti's proximity to our 
borders, we have an overwhelming interest in doing so.
  Now is the time for the United States to tangibly demonstrate that it 
stands with the Haitian people in their quest for democracy and 
stability. Therefore, together with Chairman Burton and a bipartisan 
group of subcommittee colleagues, I recently called for us to seize 
this limited window of opportunity by providing $50 million extra money 
in fiscal year 2006 supplemental assistance for our neighbors to the 
south.
  Elections signal the beginning of a transition, not an end. It is 
thus my hope that the Appropriations Committee will ensure that Haiti's 
enormous needs are met. This is the least we can do to help the Haitian 
people at this critical time.
  I also call on the administration to work with the citizens of Haiti, 
their newly elected government and the international community to help 
Haiti advance on its path of freedom and prosperity. And I urge 
Secretary of State Rice to attend Preval's upcoming inauguration.
  And finally, I reiterate my congratulations to the people of Haiti 
for their successful elections and to Rene Preval for his victory. I 
would like to highlight that President-Elect Preval is visiting 
Washington today, as the gentleman from Florida mentioned. And I look 
forward to meeting him and offering my full support for Haiti's quest 
for national reconciliation, democracy and development. I am proud to 
be the ranking Democrat of the International Relations Subcommittee on 
the Western Hemisphere, and I look forward to working with my 
colleagues.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Waters), the distinguished lady and the chief 
sponsor of this legislation, my good friend.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker and Members, I thank the gentleman from 
American Samoa, and I would like to thank the Chair of the 
International Relations Committee, the distinguished gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the ranking member of that committee, my colleague 
from California, Congressman Lantos, and the Chair and ranking member 
of the International Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, 
Congressman Burton and Congressman Engel.
  I would also like to commend Congressman Foley, and before I talk a 
little bit about our visit, I would like to thank many Members of 
Congress: Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who cochairs the task force on 
Haiti with Congressman John Conyers and the Congressional Black Caucus; 
Congressman Delahunt; Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky; the many Members of 
Congress who have fought and stayed with the problem and did not give 
up.
  Haiti, and the people of Haiti have suffered mightily. The struggle 
between the haves and the have-nots is legendary, the rich versus the 
poor, the elite versus the rejected, the mulattos versus the blacks.
  Haiti needs a break. Haiti has experienced economic dislocation. It 
has experienced devastating hurricanes. But the people of Haiti have 
worked and they have believed in democracy. And so the people, on 
February 7, 2006, they went to the polls and they voted. More than 60 
percent of the people of Haiti registered and they voted. They 
demonstrated their commitment to democracy.
  Oh, they had all kind of obstacles. On that day there was a shortage 
of election workers and polling places, and there were long lines that 
caused voters to have to wait for hours before they could exercise 
their right to vote. But they voted. And they did what they had to do. 
They walked for miles and they voted. And in the end, President Preval 
emerged victorious.
  The people of Haiti voted, including the Lavalas Party, the party 
that had elected President Aristide. They voted in large numbers. They 
are the predominant party in Haiti. And despite their lingering 
concerns about the way in which their democratically elected president, 
Mr. Aristide, had been removed from office, they did not boycott the 
elections. Despite the obstacles and the inconveniences of the 
election, they were determined to cast their vote and have their voices 
heard.
  The people of Haiti elected Mr. Rene Garcia Preval. The people of 
Haiti simply want what all democracy should afford: fairness, justice 
and equality.
  Haiti is a poor country. Haiti deserves our support. Haiti deserves 
the support of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. 
Haiti deserves bilateral support.
  The people of Haiti want investment and trade. The people of Haiti do 
not deserve to have their will undermined by the powerful elite who are 
well connected to the power brokers in the U.S., Canada and France. We 
can encourage investment in Haiti and support fair wages and decent 
housing and public education for all of the children.
  Mr. Preval is a smart, capable leader who loves Haiti. We need to 
support him and help him to develop Haiti.
  Mr. Foley and I just returned from a trip to Haiti where we met with 
President-Elect Preval. President Preval was a gracious but determined 
host. President Preval recognizes that he has a great responsibility, 
but he is not deterred.
  President Preval is hopeful and optimistic. And since his election, 
people are out cleaning the streets. The uniforms are back on the 
children. They are going to school. Business and commerce was going on 
in the marketplace. I have great hopes for Haiti.
  When we spoke with Mr. Preval, he talked about investment. He wants 
to create jobs. He talked about the fact that they must have 
electricity. We must encourage support from the World Bank and from the 
International Monetary Fund and from our own country to help them get 
the electricity.
  The people must have clean water. They need a new water system there. 
They do not want to spend their money on an army. They want a well-
trained police force and community policing. There is much to be done. 
There is reconciliation to be had. But we are hopeful.
  We congratulate the president and we thank the Members of Congress 
for all the support that they have given.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5\1/2\ minutes to the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt).

                              {time}  1715

  Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Florida for 
yielding, and I really welcome the enthusiasm and the optimism that 
have been expressed by the Congresswoman from California and the 
gentleman from Florida.
  I am pleased to cosponsor this resolution. However, I have served as 
an observer in past elections in Haiti, elections that prompted great 
hope, but resulted in great disappointment. So I believe for a moment 
it is important to reflect, and I would quote the words of Luigi 
Einaudi, who was tasked by the OAS to mediate between the opponents

[[Page H1160]]

of the former president of Haiti, Mr. Aristide, and I am going to quote 
his words.
  This is a gentleman who knows Haiti well and Washington well: ``Haiti 
is a tragedy, and it is a tragedy of partisanship and hate and 
hostility. These were divides among Haitians, and they are also divides 
among Americans because Haiti came to symbolize within the United 
States a point of friction between Democrats and Republicans that did 
not facilitate bipartisanship or stable policy or communication.''
  In the end, he was unsuccessful. Aristide was overthrown in February 
of 2004, and Haiti continued to descend into violence and despair. But 
it wasn't Einaudi that failed. Haiti's political class bears much of 
the responsibility for this tragedy because of their self-serving and 
cynical refusal to place nation over people in exchange for self-
aggrandizement.
  But here we also have our share of responsibility. A recent New York 
Times story entitled ``Mixed U.S. Signals Helped Tilt Haiti Towards 
Chaos'' should be essential reading for all of us, and I will insert 
this article into the Record.
  Former U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, American Ambassador Dean Curran, 
once referred to the ``chimeres of Washington.'' A chimere in Haiti is 
a thug hired to intimidate one's political opponents. And different 
Haitian political actors, both Aristide and his opposition, had their 
chimeres in Washington.
  It has been my experience that there has been more advocacy than 
neutrality about Haiti on the part of the United States. Too often we 
join the zero-sum game of Haitian politics. We picked sides and 
supported them at the expense of Haiti and its long-suffering people.
  For example, some here, working in coordination with Aristide's 
opponents, would place so-called ``holds'' on U.S. assistance in Haiti, 
blocking aid for the police, for the judicial system, for human rights 
observers, for election monitors; and Haiti's fragile institutions 
collapsed, starved from the outside and rotted from the inside.
  I would note, and it is important to note this, that many of these 
holds were placed during the term of Rene Preval when he was the 
president in the past. Others who supported Aristide failed to 
recognize his shortcomings and deficiencies and failed to encourage him 
to put forth a positive vision for the Haitian people. The end result 
was that Haiti's fate was not only decided in Haiti, it was also 
decided here in Washington.
  But now, with this most recent election, Haiti does have an 
opportunity to move past its past, and we have the same opportunity 
here in Washington. For Haiti to have a future, two things must happen: 
First, the Haitian political class must act like small ``d'' democrats 
and make a priority the needs of the Haitian people; and second, 
Americans must put our differences aside and commit to a bipartisan 
policy of noninterference in Haiti's internal politics.
  I want to participate in that. I have had conversations with groups 
whom I have had profound differences about Haiti with in the past, such 
as the International Republican Institute. And maybe I am naive, but I 
sense an emerging consensus that we must come together on the part of 
all who have an interest in Haiti and encourage a new and constructive 
approach.
  I am not saying that the U.S. should abandon Haiti, far from it. In 
fact, we should increase our aid. But I would recommend that we should 
provide assistance through multilateral organizations like the United 
Nations.
  Yesterday we met with Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who agrees that 
the international community must provide a deep and sustained 
commitment to Haiti. In fact, I believe that Haiti should be the first 
test case for the United Nations' new peace-building commission, and 
the U.S. should give it its full support. And I have to admit that for 
the first time I do see a glimmer of hope for Haiti, and I look forward 
to working with my colleagues to make that a real ambition.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I gladly yield 4 minutes 
to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), one of our most 
distinguished senior members of the Committee on International 
Relations, and certainly a champion of human rights and my dear friend.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman for yielding and for 
his leadership in the cause of democracy, peace, and justice throughout 
the world.
  I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Resolution 353, which 
congratulates the people of Haiti on holding peaceful and democratic 
elections on February 7. And I want to thank Congresswoman Maxine 
Waters for her bold leadership and for bringing forth this resolution 
immediately in full support of the Haitian people and their right to 
once again decide who will lead their democracy and to restore the rule 
of law in Haiti.
  In supporting this legislation, we also congratulate President-Elect 
Rene Garcia Preval, a man who, I am confident, will restore peace, 
human rights, and accountability throughout Haiti and within Haiti's 
government.
  Mr. Speaker, with over 2.2 million Haitians, more than 60 percent of 
registered voters, participating in these elections, it is clear to me 
that the people of Haiti are ready for peace and willing to do whatever 
it takes, whatever it takes to restore and secure their democracy once 
again.
  Since the undemocratic removal of former President Aristide in 2004, 
Haiti's health, education, and economic sectors have spiraled into 
ruin. During the last 2 years, unemployment reached a staggering 90 
percent in parts of Haiti. For months, schools remained closed and 
children feared kidnapping or death on the city streets. The only 
public hospitals that many of Haiti's poor could rely on were centers 
run by international organizations such as Doctors Without Borders or 
the International Red Cross. Public hospitals and government services 
were either closed or too dangerous to utilize. People feared 
kidnapping, assault, and even murder walking out of their homes and 
onto the streets.
  However, the Haitian people have voted for a change, Mr. Speaker. 
Haiti now has an opportunity to set its own course through responsive 
government that puts people first. President Preval has demonstrated 
that he understands how to turn around Haiti's economy while still 
preserving the rights of all Haitians, especially Haiti's poor, and by 
raising the standard of living, increasing job opportunities and 
education for Haiti's poor.
  During his first tenure, from 1996 to 2001, as president, Mr. Preval 
found ways to build hundreds of miles of road, dozens of schools, 
health centers. He transformed thousands of acres of land into 
peasants' hands and organized the two most famous and successful human 
rights trials in Haiti's history.
  An international response, however, right now will be necessary in 
order to make Haiti's hopeful possibilities for a future a reality. 
That is why the Congressional Black Caucus, Haiti Task Force, the House 
International Relations Committee, Congresswoman Waters, Mr. Foley, 
myself, all of us, Democrats and Republicans, in a bipartisan way are 
committed to making Haiti's future a bright one by supporting their 
duly-elected president.
  Haiti will also need our financial support and technical assistance 
if it is to overcome the challenges it faces in its economy and its 
infrastructure and its ability to provide basic services to all 
Haitians. We must support a restoration of security by helping to get 
guns off the street and support an international effort to establish a 
national truth and reconciliation commission.
  Also, we must support and move forward all of the trade efforts and 
aid efforts; we have got to increase these efforts, and also additional 
resources for fighting the HIV and AIDS pandemic, which Haiti has the 
highest rates in the Caribbean. These are items which are key to 
securing order and peace in Haiti, securing the people's choice.
  And this is what happened now, the people have made a decision once 
again. The people's choice is Mr. Preval, and we have got to make sure 
that we help him to do everything he can to turn Haiti around. The 
Haitian people deserve no less.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

[[Page H1161]]

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, for their collegiality, I 
thank them very much.
  I again thank the distinguished gentleman from American Samoa for his 
leadership, but as well the commitment that he brings to this Congress 
of internationalism and international cooperation. Likewise, my 
appreciation for my good friend Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for the leadership 
she brings to this committee and, as well, her compassion for issues 
dealing with human rights.
  I want us to be reminded of the fact that Haitians fought alongside 
Americans in the course of our freedom. So I want to applaud 
Congresswoman Waters for knowing our history and, as well, appreciating 
the pivotal role that Haiti and Haitians play in the security of 
America and the friendship of America. I remind you again that when we 
were fighting for our freedom, Haitians were alongside of us fighting, 
shedding their blood, and allowing us to be free. So our American 
history and Haitian history are intertwined, and we have a legitimate 
reason for looking and ensuring the democracy, the justice, and the 
freedom of the people of Haiti.
  Let me also acknowledge the fact that many times our interaction with 
Haiti has not been the best. I traveled to Haiti with the chairman of 
the Intelligence Committee and the ranking member of the Judiciary 
Committee, Mr. Conyers, and we traveled before the elections occurred, 
met with the interim government, met with many of the different party 
leaders and others seeking to have a fair election.
  It was not a very easy trip. There were accusations. There were 
suggestions that the government was trying to keep some of the 
candidates off of the ballot.
  What I will say about Mr. Preval is that he stayed the course. Even 
in the midst of all that turmoil, he continued to campaign. Even with 
threats against his candidacy, he continued to campaign.
  I think we should appreciate as well the comfortable relationship 
that he has with former President Aristide. He does not bring hostility 
to his leadership, but at the same time he brings his own leadership, 
his own mantle, if you will, of guidance of the people of Haiti.
  So I too join my voice in congratulating the soon-to-be president on 
his inauguration and hoping that we will help him establish an 
excellent police force, one that provides safety for the Haitian 
people.
  And I would ask, as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, that 
we would join in the authorization and the encouragement of the 
Appropriations Committee to be able to provide that funding. I would 
ask that the Judiciary Committee, along with the appropriators 
appropriately associated with the authorizing committee, really focus 
in on assisting Preval, along with, of course, the Committee on 
International Relations, in this whole question of law enforcement and 
a secure, trained police force. As well, the education of the children 
is important, clean water.
  And I too believe that there is optimism as 2.2 million people voted 
on February 7. But we need to encourage trade; as well, we need to make 
sure that the Haitians who are in the United States feel safe to 
return. And if they do not feel safe, Mr. Speaker, I hope that as we 
look at immigration reform, we will add Haitian parity to the bill, 
which means that those who are in fear of their life who are still here 
in this country would have the opportunity to attain their status. Many 
of them are detainees because their particular status does not equate 
to other provisions, if you will, such as those in Cuba.

                              {time}  1730

  Let me also say that I hope that the extra money that the ranking 
member spoke of, $50 million and more, will be added to the Haitian 
appropriations.
  And then, of course, I hope that we will have a representative 
delegation with good intentions and good will that will visit and 
represent the United States as they attend the inauguration of Rene 
Preval.
  Might I say that there is legislation going through the House that 
calls, offered by Congressman Kucinich, of which I am one of the 
cosponsors, to establish a Department of Peace.
  It is interesting that I would say that in the course of debating or 
congratulating Haiti and its election, but maybe that is a valuable 
department to have, because maybe we can then promote peace.
  Might I just say in closure, I thank the Speaker very much, and I 
thank the gentlewoman, the manager of the bill. I congratulate the 
Haitians and I support H. Con. Res. 363; I congratulate the author, Ms. 
Waters, and I look forward to better days for the Haitian people.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege and certainly an 
honor for me to give the rest of my time to our distinguished ranking 
member of our Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Engel), to summarize the various aspects of this 
important legislation. And certainly I want to again thank my good 
friend, the gentlewoman from Florida, as the manager of this 
legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Wamp). The gentleman from New York is 
recognized for 2 minutes.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from American Samoa. I will 
not take the full 2 minutes.
  I just want to say that I am very excited that since I have become 
the ranking Democrat on the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the 
International Relations Committee, this is actually the first bill that 
has come to the floor.
  It is a very, very important bill, because as was mentioned by all of 
our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, the relationship between the 
United States and Haiti is a very important one and a very special one.
  And we have had lots of successes in the relationship, and also lots 
of failures through the years. I think that we want to, on a bipartisan 
basis, build on successes, and as everyone has mentioned before, the 
people of Haiti have spoken. They have had a democratic election. We 
talk a lot about democratic elections. We have it right here in Haiti 
in the Western Hemisphere, and overwhelmingly the people of Haiti have 
chosen Mr. Preval as their leader.
  Mr. Speaker, I think it is incumbent upon those of us in the United 
States Congress and the administration and all of us working together 
to make sure that Mr. Preval succeeds and that more importantly the 
Haitian people succeed, and that democracy succeeds in Haiti, because 
it is not simply a matter of another country and what do we care 
whether it is a success or a failure. We do care and we should care, 
because Haiti is so close to the United States in terms of geography, 
because Haiti is right in our hemisphere, because Haiti is an important 
country, because there are many Haitian Americans in the United States 
with ties to the old country.
  And that is why it is really just so important that we in the United 
States, and we talk about protecting democracy all over the world, and 
well we should. But I think right in our own back yard we have a lot to 
do.
  So I want to thank Mr. Faleomavaega and all of the others who have 
spoken; Ms. Waters, whose resolution this is; Congresswoman Ros-
Lehtinen, with whom I have collaborated on so many important things, 
for all of their hard work and for all of us speaking of one mind here 
on both sides of the aisle that we want the U.S.-Haitian relationship 
to improve and to be successful.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution, I urge a unanimous vote of 
all our colleagues.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I just wanted to thank Ms. Waters for offering this resolution, for 
Mr. Engel, the ranking member on the subcommittee for his remarks, Mr. 
Faleomavaega for his leadership on our International Relations 
Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I especially want to thank two staffers from each side 
of the aisle who have worked tirelessly not only on the issue of 
democracy for Haiti, but on all of the issues that impact Western 
Hemisphere: Mr. Paul Oostburg, thank you, Mr. Oostburg, for your 
leadership.
  And on our side, Ted Brennan. Thank you, Mr. Brennan, for your 
valuable work.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to heartily congratulate the 
people of Haiti on their recent election of President Preval on

[[Page H1162]]

February 7, 2006. It was a great triumph for the country to hold ``free 
and fair'' presidential and legislative elections. Reports were that 
the elections were peaceful and that 60 percent, over 2.2 million 
Haitians, many who stood in line for 6 hours or more, participated. 
This election is a great advancement of a return to normalcy for this 
great country and its stupendous citizens.
  This is a pivotal point in history for Haiti and the world. I now 
call on the international community, with the U.S. in the lead, to 
support democracy in this determined country. I am hopeful that this 
first step will serve as the beginning of national reconciliation of 
democracy as well as social and economic development for Haiti.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in favor of H. Con. Res. 
353.
  I think it is important for this House to recognize the Republic of 
Haiti for recently holding successful, democratic elections, and to 
congratulate President-elect Rene Garcia Preval on his electoral 
victory.
  Haiti is the world's oldest Black republic and the second-oldest 
republic in the Western Hemisphere, after the United States. While 
street violence, kidnappings, and political instability have plagued 
Haiti in recent years, and are still threats, the democratic will of 
the people persevered and elections were embraced by the nation.
  The presidential and legislative elections on February 7, 2006 saw 
unprecedented voter turnout. A member of my staff traveled to Haiti as 
an election monitor. Many Haitians were required to walk for miles to 
their designated voting centers and then were forced to wait for hours 
in line; nonetheless, more than 60 percent of those registered 
exercised their right to vote and participated in electing a new, 
democratic government.
  This election marks a significant moment in Haiti; it not only serves 
as the basis of hope along the road to democracy, but also serves as a 
testament to the resolve and character of the Haitian people during 
their long struggle for peace, reconciliation, and prosperity.
  Now is the time for the United States to commit itself to long-term 
support to Haiti. The task facing President-elect Preval is daunting; 
he must establish a new government, reform the judiciary, establish and 
maintain domestic order, create jobs, jumpstart the economy, and end 
Haiti's endemic malnutrition and crushing poverty. In the past, this 
Congress has turned a deaf ear to Haiti's needs--specifically by not 
passing the Haiti Economic Recovery Opportunity Act, which I have 
introduced in this Congress, along with Senator Mike DeWine in the 
Senate. It is my hope that President-elect Preval's election will mark 
a new, more supportive era in Haitian-American relations, in this 
Congress and in this administration.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 353.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________