[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.
____________________