[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 15, 2009

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I stand before you today to pay homage to 
the Republic of Haiti, during this month when we celebrate Caribbean 
American Heritage Month. The country is of great significance to all 
who support the free world, as they stand as the second free nation in 
the history of the Western Hemisphere, second only to the United 
States. In addition, the Haitian Revolution also produced the first 
black republic in the world, which is acknowledged as a sense of pride 
and honor to all people of color around the world.
  Haiti does not only share a historical relationship with the U.S., 
but has been a long-time friend and ally, even supporting us with 
additional troops during the American Revolution. This level of 
sacrifice by a country should not be forgotten, especially during times 
of economic need and hardship.
  This is why it is particularly important for us to remember, at this 
time, the thousands of non-criminal Haitians who currently have ``final 
orders of removal''--or stand to be deported back to a country that is 
in no position to receive them. Sending 30,000 Haitians back to a 
country that, in past hurricane season, has been ravaged by consecutive 
storms is un-American and will be a missed humanitarian opportunity. As 
Americans, we should support our President in this humanitarian effort 
by offering these Haitians the opportunity to work and provide food and 
clothing to their families.
  Persons with final orders of removal are ineligible for work 
authorization. This means that there are approximately 30,000 Haitians 
living in the U.S. who are not permitted to earn a living to take care 
of their families in the U.S. and abroad. As you know, remittances make 
up 1/4 of Haiti's GDP so this is a direct impact on the economic 
stability in Haiti. Just last month, the Huffington Post reported that 
Haiti had seen a decrease in remittances with a ``dramatic dip this 
January falling to $69 million from $104 million the previous month''. 
The World Bank, IMF, Inter-American Development Bank and money transfer 
offices are all predicting a thinning flow of remittance money into 
Haiti in the coming months. Based on these facts, it is no coincidence 
that we are hearing about more Coast Guard interdictions. These 
individuals are obviously desperate to find ways to feed their 
families.
  Haiti also played an indirect role in helping the United States grow, 
as a nation. The defeat of the French Napoleon Army by the Haitians, 
albeit indirectly, helped America expand its territories towards the 
West with the Louisiana Purchase. At the time, Haiti was the producer 
of 40 percent of the world's sugar, was the most profitable colony the 
French owned and in fact the wealthiest and most flourishing of the 
slave colonies in the Caribbean. This was a tremendous loss to the 
French, and as a result, France was forced to sell off some of their 
land in the new world. The outcome for the U.S. was significant -the 
land included in the purchase, now famously known as the ``Louisiana 
Purchase'', comprises of around 23 percent of the territory of the 
United States today.
  The historical relationship and the humanitarian concerns are 
important facts to consider when developing policy towards the country 
of Haiti.
  Madam Speaker, I hope that our government will take this time, during 
the month when we honor our Caribbean American Heritage, to make the 
right decision regarding the granting of Temporary Protective Status, 
TPS, for these Haitian nationals.
  Haiti has been a friend of ours for many years, and I hope that we 
exercise our friendship during this time of hardship.

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