[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 152 (Tuesday, October 20, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H11466-H11467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HAITIAN HEMISPHERIC OPPORTUNITY THROUGH PARTNERSHIP ENCOURAGEMENT ACT 
 OF 2008--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (H. DOC. NO. 
                                111-69)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following message 
from the President of the United States; which was read and referred to 
the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed:

To the Congress of the United States:
  The Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement 
Act of 2008 (HOPE II) (the ``Act'') (Public Law 110-246), amended the 
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) to make certain 
additional products from Haiti eligible for preferential tariff 
treatment. Under HOPE II, these imports from Haiti will continue to be 
eligible for preferential treatment after October 18, 2009, if I 
determine and certify that Haiti has met certain eligibility criteria 
set out in the Act.
  Since enactment of HOPE II, Haiti has issued a decree establishing an 
independent labor ombudsman's office, and the President of Haiti has 
selected a labor ombudsman following consultation with unions and 
industry representatives. In addition, Haiti, in cooperation with the 
International Labor Organization, has established a Technical 
Assistance Improvement and Compliance Needs Assessment and Remediation 
(TAICNAR) Program. Haiti has also implemented an electronic visa system 
that acts as a registry of Haitian producers of articles eligible for 
duty-free treatment and has made participation in the TAICNAR Program a 
condition of using this visa system.

[[Page H11467]]

  In light of these actions and in accordance with section 213A of 
CBERA, as amended, I have determined and hereby certify that Haiti: (i) 
has implemented the requirements set forth in sections 213A(e)(2) and 
(e)(3); and (ii) is requiring producers of articles for which duty-free 
treatment may be requested under section 213A(b) to participate in the 
TAICNAR Program and has developed a system to ensure participation in 
such program by such producers, including by developing and maintaining 
a registry of producers.
                                                        Barack Obama.  
The White House, October 16, 2009.

                          ____________________