[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 3, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H532-H539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 6, 2009, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Fudge) is recognized 
for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.


                             General Leave

  Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be 
given 5 legislative days to enter and extend their remarks in the 
Record on this topic.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Oho?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. FUDGE. I appreciate the opportunity to anchor this Special Order 
hour for the Congressional Black Caucus, the CBC. Currently, the CBC is 
chaired by the Honorable Barbara Lee from the Ninth Congressional 
District of California. My name is Representative Marcia L. Fudge, and 
I represent the 11th Congressional District of Ohio.
  CBC members are advocates for human rights and equality, nationally 
and internationally. Our members have played a significant role as 
local and regional activists, and continue to work diligently to be the 
conscience of the Congress.
  As Members of Congress, CBC members also promote legislation to aid 
neglected citizens throughout the world. We understand that the United 
States, as a bellwether, has the ability to positively impact our 
neighbors abroad. This is why tonight we turn our attention to the 
grave situation in Haiti after last month's devastating earthquake.
  Mr. Speaker, I now yield to my colleague and friend from the great 
State of New York, Representative Clarke.
  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, let me also thank Congresswoman Fudge for 
her outstanding work in managing the time of the Congressional Black 
Caucus, the Special Orders, and for her expertise and talent that she 
lends to all of the subject matter.
  This particular Special Order on aid to Haiti is of great relevance 
to me. As we all know, on January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake 
rocked the Caribbean nation of Haiti, leaving most of the nation in 
utter devastation. Critical infrastructure was destroyed, and the death 
toll continues to rise as I speak, with reports estimating over 150,000 
people perished.
  As one of my local council members, Mr. Jumaane Williams, stated, or 
phrased it, in Brooklyn, New York, we were victim to a 7.0 emotional 
aftershock as members of our vibrant Haitian American community come to 
grips with the utter death, destruction, and devastation faced in their 
homeland. As a Brooklyn native whose roots are firmly planted in my 
Caribbean heritage, this tragedy has hit home in more ways than I could 
ever imagine. New York is home to the second largest population of 
Haitian immigrants in the United States, most of whom reside in my 
district.
  I would like to take an opportunity to just recognize the 
Congressional Black Caucus for the leadership that they've taken in 
Congress in ensuring that we remain focused and committed to assist 
Haiti and to tend to the injured, orphaned, hungry, and dispossessed as 
Haiti continues with its recovery efforts.
  I would like to thank Chairwoman Barbara Lee of the Congressional 
Black Caucus for her longtime leadership and commitment to fighting on 
behalf of Haiti. I also want to applaud her hard work in bringing the 
resolution to the floor that we just passed expressing condolences to 
and solidarity with the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the 
devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010.
  I'd also like to thank Chairman Charles Rangel and Majority Whip Jim 
Clyburn for working quickly to get H.R. 4462 passed in the House. This 
legislation would allow all individuals who choose to donate during 
this time of crisis in Haiti to claim an itemized charitable deduction 
on this year's--2009, excuse me--tax return.
  As Haiti continues to recover, my heart goes out to my Haitian 
sisters and brothers as they endure this tragedy. I also express my 
deep sympathy and support for their families.
  Through all of the devastation, all of the trauma, the 11th 
Congressional District of New York, like the rest of this Nation and 
the global community, has demonstrated a unity of purpose in mobilizing 
goods, services, and volunteers to help their families and relations in 
Haiti.
  While I will continue to applaud the humanitarian efforts for Haiti, 
it is important that we do not allow compassion fatigue to set in.

                              {time}  1745

  We must continue to uphold our commitment to helping our neighbors in 
the Caribbean. As a representative with the second-largest population 
of first- and second-generation Haitian immigrants located in my 
district, my office has been inundated and overwhelmed with calls from 
concerned constituents worried about their loved ones and their 
homeland. While my office has been vigorously working with the State 
Department to meet the needs of our constituents, there are many 
concerns that still need to be addressed.
  For many Haitian Americans, a major issue is family reunification. 
Most of their family members have lost everything, many are sick, 
injured, and living on the streets; babies and the elderly are 
vulnerable to disease; a majority of them are traumatized by their 
experiences.
  And since my constituents are blessed to live in the United States--
many of them have obtained their citizenship--they have the capacity to 
take care of their family members, they have the wherewithal to 
console, comfort, and nurse their families back to health and support 
their material needs.
  The only thing that impedes this reunification is that their family 
members are not American citizens and-or legal permanent residents and 
do not rank highly on the immigration priority list.
  I would encourage the administration to address this issue and work 
to reunite family members who are suffering from this devastation.

[[Page H533]]

  And in response to this tragedy, on January 15, 2010, the Obama 
administration--which is to be commended for its quick action and its 
steadfast commitment--has granted temporary protected status to Haitian 
nationals currently in the United States. Unfortunately, there are 
those who try to take advantage and exploit those who seek to change 
their status, and I am concerned that there are fraudulent entities 
offering services and inflating the prices of the TPS application 
process for Haitians seeking it.
  It is important that we empower our residents affected by the 
devastation with the information and resources they need to access this 
status. That is why just last week I joined my colleagues in the New 
York City congressional delegation, State delegation, and New York City 
delegation in the opening of the Haitian Family Resource Center at the 
Brooklyn armory. The center will be a one-stop resource center for 
families who have been impacted by the earthquake. It will offer 
Creole-speaking translation services, immigration assistance, and help 
with completing immigration applications, child guardianship, and 
custody services, legal assistance, and help in locating family 
members, mental health services, coordination of volunteer efforts, and 
daily accurate briefings on the status of relief efforts.
  Know that I will continue to work closely with my colleagues, the 
Obama administration, and Caribbean officials to help this Nation 
recover from this natural disaster.
  I want to thank you once again, my colleague, for sharing this time 
where we can share information with the Nation about what is taking 
place in Haiti and ask that they continue to hold this Nation, our 
Caribbean neighbors, in their prayers
  Ms. FUDGE. Thank you very much.
  I just want to, as well, thank you for your passion on this issue and 
for all of the work that you have done, as you say, representing one of 
the largest Haitian-American groups in this country. So I would like to 
say thank you for all of us members of the CBC.
  Mr. Speaker, as members of the CBC, we extend our deepest sympathy 
and our support to the people of Haiti. The nation, of course, recently 
experienced the largest recorded earthquake in its history. On January 
12, the quake devastated many parts of the country, including the 
capital of Port-au-Prince. To put the earthquake in some kind of scale, 
it had a magnitude of 7.0 and a series of strong aftershocks. There 
have been at least 52 aftershocks at 4.5 magnitude or above. The damage 
is severe and catastrophic.
  The government of Haiti is reporting an estimated 112,000 deaths and 
194,000 injured. The New York Times reports that 225,000 homes were 
severely damaged or collapsed, and nearly one-third of the country's 
population are currently at risk of long-term displacement and 
vulnerability.
  In total, it is estimated that 3 million people have been negatively 
affected by the earthquake.
  In the immediate wake of the earthquake, Haiti's President Rene 
Garcia Preval described conditions in his country as unimaginable and 
appealed for international assistance. Humanitarian assistance from the 
United States and from all over the world has been generous.
  The United States in the first two weeks following the earthquake 
sent aid workers focused in three areas. First, these workers 
immediately searched for survivors and provided rescue assistance. 
Teams with heavy-lifting equipment, medical equipment, and triage 
supplies were moved into the country. Volunteers next addressed 
Haitians' critical needs for food, clean water, and sanitation, medical 
assistance, and emergency shelter. And thirdly, they provided emergency 
relief experts to set up infrastructure and logistics operations.
  Numerous Americans have provided donations to fund these efforts. 
Also, the Congressional Black Caucus joined President Obama in calling 
for continued financial aid for Haiti's quake survivors. The sheer 
scale of the relief effort in Haiti has brought together a tremendous 
capacity and a willingness to help.
  The massive humanitarian relief operation underway in Haiti has been 
hampered by a number of significant challenges, including a general 
lack of transportation, extremely limited communication systems, and 
damaged infrastructure. The relief effort is expected to last for many, 
many months and recovery and reconstruction will begin as soon as 
possible.
  President Barack Obama assembled heads of U.S. agencies to begin 
working immediately on a coordinated response to this disaster. The 
U.S. Agency For International Development, better known as USAID, 
through the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, is the lead agency 
within the U.S. Government responding to this disaster.
  On January 14, the administration announced $100 million in 
humanitarian assistance to Haiti to meet the immediate needs on the 
ground. The Department of Homeland Security has temporarily halted the 
deportation of Haitians and granted temporary protective status for 18 
months to Haitian nationals who were in the United States as of January 
12, 2010.
  President Obama has pledged an aggressive coordinated effort by the 
U.S. Government. The State Department, Department of Defense, 
Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard, and USAID have already 
mobilized to ensure that critical resources are positioned to support 
the response-and-recovery effort, including efforts to find and assist 
American citizens in Haiti. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus 
have proactively engaged to facilitate aid to Haiti.
  Recently, I joined my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
unanimously pass H.R. 4462. The resolution would allow individuals who 
made charitable contributions to those in Haiti to claim an 
itemized charitable deduction on their 2009 tax return instead of 
waiting until next year. The legislation also allows those who made 
donations via text message to use phone bills as proof of donation.

  I was proud to be an original cosponsor of this bipartisan 
legislation. Representative Meek coordinated a letter to Speaker 
Pelosi, Minority Leader Boehner, Appropriations Chairman Obey, and 
Appropriations Ranking Member Lewis requesting robust emergency funding 
to assist Haiti.
  Immediate U.S. assistance to Haiti in the wake of the catastrophic 
earthquake is vital to support stability in that very fragile country. 
Representative Maxine Waters is introducing a bill to require the 
Treasury Department to cancel Haiti's debts. The government of Haiti 
cannot afford to invest in humanitarian relief, reconstruction, and 
development efforts while continuing to make payments on debts owed to 
multilateral financial institutions like the International Monetary 
Fund, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank.
  Even before the earthquake, debt service payments to these 
institutions were a tremendous burden that interfered with the ability 
of the government of Haiti to meet the needs of its people.
  The bill requires Secretary Geithner to support three specific 
actions that should be a part of the international community's response 
to this very, very terrible tragedy. The first is the complete 
cancellation of all remaining debts owed by Haiti to multilateral 
financial institutions; secondly, the suspension of Haiti's debt 
service payments to these institutions until such time as the debts are 
canceled; and thirdly, the provision of additional assistance to Haiti 
in the form of grants so that the country does not accumulate 
additional debts.
  Representative Meek, in coordination with Chairman Skelton and 
Representative Mack, have introduced a resolution to commemorate the 
efforts of the United States Armed Forces, of local first responders, 
and other members of Operation Unified Response for their swift and 
coordinated action in response to the earthquake in Haiti. I am proud 
to say I have supported each of these initiatives.
  There has been an outpouring of international support for Haiti. The 
first priority has been saving lives. That means getting water, food, 
shelter, medicine, and other basic supplies to victims. Beyond the 
essentials are issues of security and debt repayments, both of which 
can undermine rebuilding efforts. The United Nation's Secretary General 
Ban Ki-moon sought approval from the Security Council to send an 
additional 3,500 security officers to Haiti. The officers are needed 
both to maintain public order and to

[[Page H534]]

guard deliveries of food and aid. So far, violence has been scattered, 
but fears of violence grow as the difficulties of living without water, 
food, and shelter mount.
  As World Bank President Robert Zolick has said, outside support 
should be in the form of grants. Through grants, money can be 
appropriated according to goals and capacity while easing Haiti's debt 
burden. For example, Haiti owes about $38 million to the World Bank. 
Mr. Zolick, however, announced that no debt repayments would be due for 
the next 5 years, and the World Bank is seeking to cancel all of 
Haiti's remaining debt owed to it.
  Many relief organizations are accepting donations to send to 
Haitians. Cash donations are the most efficient and effective way to 
help the relief effort in Haiti right now. They allow humanitarian 
organizations to purchase--often within the affected region itself--the 
exact type and quantity of items needed by those affected by the 
crisis.
  You can find organizations and ways to help through the White House's 
Web site, which is www.whitehouse.gov or visit the U.S. Agency for 
International Development's Web site at www.usaid.gov, which has a list 
of nongovernmental organizations and instructions on how to help.
  Mr. Speaker, Haiti is the world's first black-led republic and the 
first Caribbean state to achieve independence, in 1804. Haiti is still 
plagued by violent confrontations between rival gangs and political 
groups. Current President Rene Preval won the presidential election in 
February 2006 with 51 percent of the vote.
  Haiti's serious underlying social problem, the wealth gap between the 
impoverished Creole-speaking majority and the French-speaking 
minority--1 percent of whom own nearly half of the country's wealth--
remains unresolved.
  Even prior to the earthquake, Haiti's infrastructure had all but 
collapsed and drug trafficking has become a major problem.

                              {time}  1800

  Today, Haiti is the poorest, least developed country in the Western 
Hemisphere and prior to the earthquake was ranked 149 out of 182 
countries on the United Nations Human Development Index.
  We've all seen the pictures on the TV of the children of Haiti. It is 
heartbreaking. We all recognize the urgent need for assistance to the 
smallest of the earthquake's victims. The outpouring of sympathy has 
led many to consider adopting a Haitian child. However, Mr. Speaker, 
the U.S. State Department recently announced that new adoption 
applications are not being processed. At this time, the main priority 
is reuniting children with their families. The process of determining 
whether a child is an orphan is a long and complicated one. The recent 
adoptions that have been processed were Haitian children who had 
previously been matched and cleared for entry into the United States.
  Since last week, the U.N. Children's Fund, UNICEF, and its partners 
have identified and registered some 200 unaccompanied children found in 
orphanages and wandering in neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince. Based on 
the given information and photographs taken, workers will begin to 
trace the families of these children, if they exist. A similar registry 
was used after the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia and more recently in 
cyclone-hit Myanmar.
  For now, the best assistance that individuals can provide is to make 
a financial contribution to a reputable relief or humanitarian 
organization working in Haiti.
  Days after the earthquake, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet 
Napolitano announced the designation of Temporary Protective Status of 
Haitian nationals who were in the United States as of January 12, 2010. 
This designation will allow eligible Haitian nationals in the United 
States to continue living and working in our community for the next 18 
months. TPS will provide a temporary refuge for Haitian nationals who 
are currently in the United States and whose personal safety would be 
endangered by returning to Haiti. Granting TPS to Haitians would 
provide them with the ability to work legally and contribute to the 
reconstruction of their country until it is safe for them to return.
  Haiti has enormous potential, but rebuilding the country requires a 
coordinated strategy. Here in the U.S., we can support the transition 
from humanitarian assistance to reconstruction through cash-for-work 
programs, so Haitians can be paid for clearing roadways and 
reconstructing infrastructure. Haiti can also boost its private sector 
by investing in and building the infrastructure for power grids, ports 
and roads. Also important is revitalizing agriculture so that Haitians 
can replace food aid programs with food harvested from their own farms.
  To jump-start the Haitian economy, in 2008 Congress passed the Haiti 
Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act, better known as the 
HOPE Act, which provides special rules for the duty-free treatment of 
select apparel imports which is Haiti's dominant manufacturing sector. 
With access to the United States market through this agreement, Haiti 
can create jobs in its apparel and agricultural sectors.
  Haiti's reconstruction must create jobs for Haitians, grow the 
Haitian economy, instill confidence in the government, and be managed 
transparently. This will require Haitians to unify, since foreign 
assistance can only go so far. The Haitian people working with their 
government must come together to rebuild a newer, stronger Haiti.
  The difficulties faced by Haiti should not deter us from providing 
assistance. Our leadership and moral strength is only enhanced when we 
help others. Truly, we lift as we rise.
  Mr. Speaker, I now yield to my good friend, distinguished colleague 
and one who knows much about the Haiti situation, Mr. Donald Payne from 
New Jersey.
  Mr. PAYNE. Let me express my appreciation to the gentlelady from 
Cleveland for calling this Special Order. She has been such a 
tremendous resource to the Congressional Black Caucus. And as we know, 
the Congressional Black Caucus has been very involved in Haiti for 
many, many years. For the 22 years that I have been a Member of this 
Congress, Haiti has always been number one on the agenda. And we went 
through the years when there were dictatorships, and then the elections 
and President Aristide being elected to office, and then his being 
deposed and the military, General Cedras, Biamby and those folks took 
over. And then President Clinton having the foresight to restore 
President Aristide; 22,000 U.S. troops went to restore democracy 
without us having even one casualty. And the current situation where 
President Aristide left and the new government of Preval. So we have 
been involved throughout the years.
  Let me tell you that when we heard the news of the earthquake, 7.0 on 
the Richter scale, only 6 miles deep, bringing it so close to the 
surface it made the magnitude even greater, the aftershocks that 
continued, we immediately said we must do something and do something 
quickly and do something drastic. So since the earthquake, the 
Congressional Black Caucus has mobilized to holding emergency meetings 
regarding Haiti with USAID, the Department of State, nongovernmental 
organizations, and other stakeholders in the region to get a sense of 
the effort on the ground in order to take information back to our 
constituents and organize the legislative efforts in Congress.
  On Wednesday, January 13, the CBC international task force called an 
emergency meeting with the CBC staff regarding the devastation in 
Haiti. USAID Deputy Administrator John Brause briefed staff about the 
U.S. response and the extent of the situation. Counselor Cheryl Mills, 
chief of staff to Secretary of State Clinton, briefed CBC members on 
January 13 and January 15. The Congressional Black Caucus held a Haiti 
disaster assistance meeting with Members to discuss legislative efforts 
and opportunities that we could then move right into effect.
  Various members of the Congressional Black Caucus hosted conference 
calls with their constituents to provide them with updates about relief 
efforts that were being made in our respective districts. We had 
tremendous interest in different parts and in our State of New Jersey, 
New Jersey for Haiti was formed, www.nj4haiti.org. And that 
organization, which I cochair with Senator Lesniak, said that we needed 
to move quickly into action. And Stan

[[Page H535]]

Neron, who is a social service worker in the city of Elizabeth was able 
to get the United Way of the Greater Union County to be partners in 
arranging drives for supplies and listed organizations that could 
receive contributions, Red Cross and other organizations, that were 
already doing work throughout the land.
  And so as I indicated, the CBC jumped into our meetings at the 
conference calls. We had a Special Order following news on January 12. 
Immediately, members of the Congressional Black Caucus came to the 
floor to discuss the earthquake in Haiti and relief efforts and what we 
intended to do. And the following day, on the 14th of January, 
Congressional Black Caucus members were briefed via a conference call 
with David Meltzer, senior vice president for the international affairs 
of the American Red Cross. On the 15th of January, Congressional Black 
Caucus members were briefed through a conference call by the State 
Department for updates. And so we just remained very active.

  The week of January 18 to 22, the Congressional Black Caucus 
leadership introduced and passed two bipartisan measures on Haiti in 
Congress. Tuesday the 19th, Chairwoman Lee, on behalf of the caucus, 
introduced legislation expressing condolences to and solidarity with 
the people of Haiti. And in the aftermath of this devastating 
earthquake, Chairman Charlie Rangel of the important Ways and Means 
Committee introduced a bipartisan piece of legislation, H.R. 4462, that 
would allow individuals making a charitable contribution after January 
11 and before March 1 to victims of the earthquake in Haiti to claim 
these charitable deductions on their 2009 tax returns. Absent this 
change, taxpayers would need to wait until next year to claim a 
deduction for these contributions on their 2010 tax forms. And so this 
will speed up deductions eligible for 2009.
  The bill also makes it clear that taxpayers making a charitable 
contribution to victims of the Haiti earthquake through text messages 
would be able to rely on the cell phone bill while claiming charitable 
deductions, the first time any activity or action of this nature has 
been done.
  The CBC international task force held a staff meeting to discuss the 
next steps on Haiti on that day of January 19 and the committee that I 
am privileged to chair. On Wednesday, January 20, the CBC members were 
briefed by Ambassador Raymond Alcide Joseph, Haiti's Ambassador to the 
United States.
  The legislation that we had, we are also in the process of 
developing. What we have done in our meetings, we've taken a look to 
see what we can do with the U.S. citizenship and immigration services 
to discuss TPS and humanitarian parole and other important items. The 
CBC looked at other issues. Representative Hank Johnson's office 
drafted a letter to Secretary Clinton and Gates detailing details about 
the use of security contractors as a part of ongoing relief. 
Congresswoman Waters is working on Haiti debt cancellation of bills, 
and Representative Meeks from New York is dealing with a Marshall Plan 
on Haiti. I intend to ask the Earth Institute at Columbia University, 
Dr. Sachs, to come to brief the Congressional Black Caucus about the 
future of Haiti and planning: How should new Haiti be planned? How 
should Port-au-Prince be redone? How should satellite cities be 
created? Because we feel that this is an opportunity now to right many 
of the wrongs that had happened in the past.
  The House Foreign Affairs Committee will have a hearing on Haiti in 
the next few weeks, and Congressman Meeks will be holding a hearing on 
international financial institutions and how they can assist Haiti. 
Congressman John Conyers has been in contact with the Air Force 
liaison. He is going to participate when the time is right in CBC 
members taking trips to Haiti to see firsthand what we should do. We've 
been reluctant from going down en masse because we wanted to have our 
agency people on the ground be free to do things that need to be done. 
However, when the time is right, we will have a large delegation of 
members of the CBC to go.
  As you know on the 21st of January, the CBC held a press conference 
to discuss the congressional response to the earthquake. Our CBC met 
with TransAfrica, its director, Nicole Lee, and Melinda Miles working 
together for Haiti, NGOs that have been on the ground for many years to 
find out what is the position of the NGOs and how do they see the 
situation and how can they better assist as we move forward. CBC 
facilitated a call with NGO leaders working in Haiti with the 
Department of State to discuss NGO's experiences and concerns as the 
U.S. builds and executes recovery and relief and the rebuilding of 
Haiti. And we found that very instructive for the NGOs and for the 
Department of State.
  On the 19th, the CBC international task force held a staff meeting to 
discuss the priorities again as relates to it. Congressman Cummings, 
the chairman of the Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation, held a briefing regarding the United States Coast Guard 
and its ongoing work in Haiti.

                              {time}  1815

  We held a press conference at the Haitian Embassy. The CBC went and 
met with the Haitian Government and we talked about various problems. 
We wanted to take a look at the TPS guide. We looked at the CARACOM 
memo. We discussed Haiti's debt relief numbers from Treasury. We have 
dealt with the CBC constituency outreach guide. And these were all 
things, as I indicated, that the Congressional Black Caucus has done.
  As I wind down, I just want to once again remind Americans that Haiti 
has been a tremendous part of the growth and the development of our 
Nation. As I have mentioned on the floor before, it was back in the 
late 1800s when the enslaved people of Haiti had a rebellion against 
the Government of France, and Napoleon's army, after 12 years' 
struggle, lost the war to Haiti; Haiti becoming the first country where 
enslaved people overthrew the power, European power, and became a 
republic, just the third republic ever in the world at that time.
  So we have a tremendous amount of regard and respect for Haiti as 
they defeated the French, therefore causing France to lose much of the 
wealth that it gained from Haiti. Half of the sugar and coffee and 
cocoa, other products in Europe, 50 percent of them came from Haiti 
alone. Haiti produced more wealth to France than all of the 13 original 
colonies gave to the U.S. Government.
  And so Haiti, once it became independent from France, France became 
cash poor. But it still had land in the Louisiana Territory and, as a 
result of their defeat, were forced to sell the Louisiana Territory, 
negotiated by Jefferson, to the United States. And that opened up the 
West for the United States.
  As a matter of fact, France had armies of 20,000 persons where the 
U.S. Army was just about 5,000 strong. So the French had a more 
powerful military here in the Western Hemisphere and would have been a 
problem for the United States had not the treaty been made and France 
being forced to sell the Louisiana Territory.
  Many other Haitians are involved in our history. The Battle of 
Savannah, where Haitians fought for our independence, valiantly losing 
lives but helping to turn the tide of the Revolutionary War. We know 
that Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, popularly known as the Father of 
Chicago, was a Haitian colonist in North America, mixed French and 
Haitian ancestry, and he was the person that discovered Chicago and was 
really called the Father of Chicago back in 1968. So there are so many 
people of Haitian descent, and Haiti itself, that has a great deal to 
do with our development.
  Finally, let me just mention this last point, that when World War II 
began, the U.S. started to become concerned about the dependence of 
rubber from a territory that was going to be controlled by the 
Japanese. By 1942, the Indonesians, the British-controlled rubber 
plantations provided 99 percent of the commercial rubber for the world. 
In the earliest stages of World War II, the United States realized the 
disastrous consequence if rubber plantations fell to Japan. This would 
cut off to the United States and its allies rubber supplies, an 
absolutely critical commodity, as you know, not only for the economy, 
but to keep a war effort moving forward.
  The United States made some presentations in 1940 and 1941. We 
started to

[[Page H536]]

increase our rubber stockpiles. However, botanists went to Haiti to 
attempt to grow rubber trees in Haiti. The Haitian rubber project was 
not supposed to be a part of the war effort, but it really was. It was 
not something that was necessary if we were not concerned about rubber 
being cut off from the United States. What happened, though, is that 
much of the land was denuded. Natural habitat was destroyed. Ebony 
trees and plants that were natural in Haiti were taken out, and the 
attempt to grow rubber trees was started on large portions of land. 
There were some Haitian botanists who said that it would not work; 
however, the U.S. insisted on trying the experiment.
  Today, one of the biggest problems in Haiti is erosion. It is because 
of deforestation, because people are dependent on wood for homes and 
heating. However, this dastardly situation started actually by the 
United States for the war effort with the attempt to grow foreign seeds 
that would not grow in that kind of topography. So, once again, as we 
look at the tremendous erosion that is abundant in Haiti today, the 
beginning of it happened to be at the time when the United States felt 
that it needed to have the growth of rubber trees in our hemisphere in 
a place that was close to the United States.
  And so even, once again, as we look at how Haiti has impacted on the 
United States, this consequence of a negative development on the part 
of the U.S. Government I think once again is a reason that we should 
have a strong passion for our sister country Haiti.
  So we will continue in New Jersey to continue to move forward with 
all of the many people that are involved. We look forward to having a 
mass at the basilica near the end of the month of February. Our 
Governor is going to provide an office that we can work with to try to 
be sure that people who may be coming with TPS and other problems, 
family unification, parole, adoption, that we will be able to service 
these people who are crying out for help.
  So with that, I see one of my colleagues here from the great State of 
Texas, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who has really done a 
tremendous amount of work in this area and sits on important committees 
and certainly has a great deal to contribute.
  At this time, Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlelady from Texas.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Lujan). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 6, 2009, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) 
is recognized for the remainder of the hour as the designee of the 
majority leader, approximately 16 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Let me thank, first of all, the chairman of 
the Africa Subcommittee and Global Health Committee of the Foreign 
Affairs, Mr. Payne. There is no doubt of his recounting of the enormous 
history that has been involved around Haiti, but also the track record 
of the Congressional Black Caucus. So let me continue my remarks, and I 
will yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I note on this Congressional Black Caucus hour that two 
of our members have come to the floor: the chairwoman, the Honorable 
Barbara Lee, and the member from California, chairwoman of the 
Financial Services Committee and recent returnee from Haiti, Maxine 
Waters.
  So I will just recount, as the chairman just did, Chairman Payne, a 
lot of the work that we have done here in the United States. But also, 
in case many wonder why we are continuing this effort and why we have 
made a commitment as members of the Congressional Black Caucus to never 
give up and to never give out on Haiti and to view this as a long-term 
recovery and restoration is because the damage is so devastating. This 
reflects the early stages of the collapse of whole neighborhoods, 
literally the collapse of Port-au-Prince, and the devastating disaster 
that the people still face.
  Today, as we are looking at recovery, there are Haitians lifting 
stones by hand, one by one, to remove some of the debris that is 
already there. Knowing that between 150,000 to 200,000 are known or 
expected dead, we know that behind this rubble there are lost loved 
ones who have yet to be accounted for. Some 4,000 Americans are 
unaccounted for. U.N. workers are unaccounted for. And so when we talk 
about this today or next week or maybe in March or in April, maybe in 
June, you will understand the magnitude of devastation.

  I know that many of us can recall briefly the earthquake around 
northern California and San Francisco and Oakland. We remembered a 
baseball game that was either in session or not, one of the more stark 
earthquakes, and remember the response, the fear, the stopping of the 
game, the damage. But this was a 7.0 on the Richter scale. And to see 
all of the beauty of this island destroyed, all of the history. This is 
one of the islands that has some of the greatest history that one could 
imagine and people who are proud. This is where people live now. This 
is where our children live. This is where babies are born, on the 
streets of Port-au-Prince and elsewhere.
  So we are not here for a reason that is made up. We are here because, 
as we speak, these are the homes of people who are living in a 
devastating condition. No, this was not a rich nation, but people 
worked every day. They wanted to provide for their families. They were 
not interested in handouts. They wanted to build their nation. Now, 
today, unlike we have ever experienced, we can see the overwhelming 
devastation here in Haiti. And, again, the tragedy is, who is still not 
found?
  So I rise today to comment on the question: Why is America responding 
and why is the Congressional Black Caucus a conscience of that 
response?
  Today, we were able to hear from the newly appointed USAID 
administrator as invited by the chairwoman, Barbara Lee, and attended 
by forty-plus members of the Congressional Black Caucus, tightly 
fitting in a room, listening intently to how we can move this tragedy 
forward and helping the people.
  America is responding. We will continue to respond with immediate 
humanitarian assistance to help the people of this struggling island to 
rebuild their livelihood. There is still no estimate of death or 
destruction, but the damage to buildings is extensive, and the number 
of injured or dead is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. We 
can already see that this is a continuing example.
  We look forward to Haitians helping themselves. The United States 
Government has already contributed $402 million in earthquake response 
funding for Haiti and has already deployed approximately 17,000 in 
military personnel, somewhat like the military personnel that was in 
Hurricane Katrina.
  This is not an effort to remove the sovereignty of Haiti, and we are 
working very closely with President Preval, and we understand the 
sovereignty of this nation-state and we respect its leadership. And so 
we are moving quickly toward a Government of Haiti-led effort. The U.N. 
World Food Program will provide commodities, nongovernmental 
organizations will manage distributions, and U.S. military will provide 
security escorts, but it will be led by the Haitian Government.
  America and her allies have already initiated a comprehensive 
interagency response to the earthquake, and we believe it is important, 
as we mentioned today, that there be one general of all of these 
agencies: the State Department, Department of Defense, the Department 
of Homeland Security, the Coast Guard, and, of course, USAID. There has 
to be a way of organizing this effort.
  I am very pleased to make note of the fact that in the meeting I made 
a request to the USAID administrator to respond to all of the churches 
that have been calling Members of Congress and calling the State 
Department, all of the faith community, churches, parishes, mosques, 
and others, and synagogues and other houses of faith who want to help. 
The USAID administrator indicated that they would appoint a faith 
liaison to be able to work with all of the religious bodies in order 
for them to do the right thing.
  Right as we stand here today, there are a group of religious persons 
who are now held by the Haitian Government. To our knowledge, they are 
still there. Their representation was that they wanted to help the 
children. I don't disregard that fact. I am sure that there were good 
intentions. But we know, in the protection of these children, we must 
have order. We must have a regulation, regular order, if you

[[Page H537]]

will. There must be a process of giving relief and helping these 
children who are now orphaned. And the Haitian people love their 
children.
  So I am looking for ways of temporarily deploying children for 
medical help. There must be an airlift for the second stage of 
surgeries that these children with broken arms and legs and bodily 
injury and gangrene have the ability to come for temporary care.

                              {time}  1830

  But we cannot have an irregular process of people going forward to 
try to secure these children. We want to help these religious leaders, 
who we believe had wonderful and good intentions. There are those in my 
community who have reached out to me to try and help them. But as we 
help them, we have to make sure that there is a precise way of dealing 
with the children.
  Within days of last week's devastation, the Southern Command deployed 
a team of 30 people to Haiti to support U.S. relief efforts. There are 
many from around the world that are helping, and there are many who are 
working individually.
  So I would make the point that we want to continue working with our 
faith community. When you hear us, there is a reason. They are in need 
for more resources. There is clearly a need of a long-term recovery and 
building Haiti against this kind of devastation. And yes, I will 
continue to work to secure and protect the children of Haiti.
  I close by yielding to the gentlelady by saying this. Allow me to 
thank the diaspora, all of the Haitian Americans all over the Nation. 
Let me particularly thank, with a heavy, heavy emphasis on their 
dedication, the Haitian American community in Houston, Texas, and all 
of the help that they have done. We look forward to them being able to 
go home to check on their relatives and to be of help. And let me thank 
the medical doctors of the Texas Medical Center, and two airplanes, 
doctors and nurses that I was able to secure to come down to Haiti and 
help within 48 hours of the earthquake. Let me make note of the Houston 
Rotarians as well, who are there to be of help. We will not give up on 
the people of Haiti and the nation of Haiti.
  I rise today in order to highlight America's humanitarian response to 
the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th--just over 3 weeks 
ago. I want to commend each agency involved in the humanitarian 
response.
  As you know, on Tuesday, January 12th, a massive, 7.0 magnitude 
earthquake struck Haiti near the capital of Port-au-Prince. There is 
still no official estimate of death or destruction, but the damage to 
buildings is extensive and the number of injured or dead is estimated 
to be in the hundreds of thousands.
  America is responding, and will continue to respond with immediate 
humanitarian assistance to help the people of this struggling island 
nation rebuild their livelihoods. I send my condolences to the people 
and government of Haiti as they grieve once again in the aftermath of a 
natural disaster. As Haiti's neighbor, I believe it is the United 
States responsibility to help Haiti recover, and build the capacity to 
mitigate against future disasters.
  To date, the United States Government has contributed nearly $402 
million in earthquake response funding for Haiti. It has also deployed 
approximately 17,000 military personnel in support of the relief 
effort. Subsequently, as part of the new Government of Haiti-lead 
effort, the U.N. World Food Program will provide commodities, 
nongovernmental organizations will manage distributions, and U.S. 
Military will provide security escorts.
  America and her allies have already initiated a comprehensive, 
interagency response to the earthquake. The State Department, 
Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard, 
USAID--all worked overnight to ensure critical resources were 
positioned to support the response and recovery effort, including 
efforts to find and assist American citizens in Haiti.
  Within days of the devastating earthquake, U.S. Southern Command 
deployed a team of 30 people to Haiti to support U.S. relief efforts in 
the aftermath of one of the largest natural disasters in the western 
hemisphere. The team included U.S. military engineers, operational 
planners, and a command and control group and communication specialists 
arriving on two C-130 Hercules aircraft. Since, there has been a 
tremendous interagency response with support and partnering with U.S. 
Embassy personnel as well as Haitian, United Nations and international 
officials to assess the situation and facilitate follow-on U.S. 
military support.
  Our friends in the international community must also be commended for 
their efforts. The United Nations is releasing $10 million from its 
emergency funds. The European Commission has approved C3 million ($4.37 
million) with more funds likely. Countless other nations from Germany, 
to China, to Israel to Mexico to have also pledged support. I commend 
each of these nations for coming to our neighboring nation in dire need 
of assistance.
  Many of my constituents have asked what they can do to help, or how 
they can find their loved ones. Those who are interested in helping 
immediately can text ``HAITI'' to ``90999'' and a donation of $10 will 
be made automatically to the Red Cross for relief efforts. The donation 
will be charged to your cell phone bill.
  The outpouring of support and funding from the American people was 
both instant and sustained. According to the Washington Post, the text 
messaging effort raised $5 million in its first day, breaking the 
previous one-day record of about $450,000. Text-message donations 
continue to play a larger-than-expected role in the push for earthquake 
relief in Haiti. As of late Sunday, the American Red Cross said that it 
had collected pledges of about $103 million, including $22 million 
through the text donation program. Each donor should be proud of their 
contribution to help their brothers and sisters in Haiti.
  Financially, 2009 was not an easy year for many Americans. Although 
thousands of jobs were created and we are back on the road to economic 
recovery, Americans lived on tighter budgets than usual. On January 
20th, Congress passed H.R. 4462 which accelerated the income tax 
benefits for charitable cash contributions for the relief of victims of 
the earthquake in Haiti. This legislation will allow those Americans 
who have generously donated money to Haiti to receive their tax break 
this year instead of next year.
  In January of 2005, Congress enacted this type of relief for 
individuals that made charitable contributions to victims of the Indian 
Ocean tsunami that occurred in late December of 2004. That bill (H.R. 
241 in the 109th Congress) passed the House of Representatives without 
objection and subsequently passed the Senate by unanimous consent. I 
hope that this legislation, like our response to the 2004 tsunami, will 
encourage Americans to contribute more money to Haiti. As Haiti starts 
on its long recovery, every dollar is critically important. Americans 
have responded in great numbers, and I am proud to represent such a 
compassionate and generous nation.
  Americans are not only giving their money, they are also giving their 
time and expertise as well. Immediately after the earthquake, I 
arranged for a team of seven doctors, six nurses, two techs, and two 
search and rescue volunteers to fly to Haiti and provide immediate 
humanitarian support. This team led by Dr. Richard Toussaint from 
Forest Park Medical Center in Dallas, Texas arrived in Haiti just after 
noon on Saturday. From there, the doctors made their way to Hospital 
SacreCouer where, in roughly two days, they performed about 70 
amputations, surgically treated about 150 patients, and saw about 600 
patients total. I commend this team of medical personnel for their 
selfless actions and willingness to spend their own time and money to 
come to the aid of people they had never met.
  Additionally, I hosted a Houston-based Haiti relief effort called 
``Texans helping Haitians'' with city leadership and the Haitian 
community in the aftermath of this horrible disaster. Groups included 
in the effort to provide supplies and medical assistance to Haiti were: 
Texas Medical Center, Texas Dental Association, Search and Rescue 
Organizations, the Haitian Multicultural Association, Haitian Caribbean 
Organization of Texas, Caribbean Impact Foundation, and Haiti Counts.
  I also helped coordinate the safe return of six Houston Rotarians 
that were stranded in the mountains and we are now working with Office 
of Foreign Disaster Assistance on the transport of orphans to awaiting 
families here in the U.S.
  Recently, I proposed a plan that would increase the ability of the 
U.S. to assist Haiti in its efforts toward reconstruction and 
stabilization to Dr. Rajiv Shah, the Administrator of the U.S. Agency 
for International Development.
  This plan would create an oversight position within the USAID that 
would coordinate and regulate faith-based and non-profit organizations 
operating in the reconstruction efforts in Haiti. I also recommended 
the creation of a U.S. civilian corps, an extension of the American 
Peace Corps, that would be tasked the specific mission of assisting 
reconstruction efforts in Haiti. This civilian entity would serve as a 
supplemental contingent which could be incrementally dispatched as 
needed by U.S. Government agencies or nongovernment organizations.
  Once again I stand in solidarity with the people of Haiti and will do 
everything in my power to assist them with rebuilding their country and 
livelihoods.
  I will be happy to yield to the gentlelady from California to manage 
the rest of the time.

[[Page H538]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 6, 2009, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) is 
recognized for the remainder of the hour, approximately 10 minutes, as 
the designee of the majority leader.
  Ms. LEE of California. Thank you very much.
  Let me thank the gentlelady for yielding and for that very powerful 
presentation, and for your leadership and commitment to especially the 
children of Haiti.
  Good evening. It has been just over three weeks since a devastating 
earthquake rocked the nation of Haiti, devastating its capital city 
Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area. The damage seems unfathomable, 
yet it is real. The loss of life is staggering and the destruction of 
homes and infrastructure is tremendous.
  As Chair of the 42-member Congressional Black Caucus, I want to 
reiterate that our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the people 
of Haiti during this difficult time.
  Since the earthquake of January 12 many members of the Congressional 
Black Caucus have stood on the floor of this House to talk about and 
bring attention to the needs of the people of Haiti and the Haitian 
American community. We will continue to speak out and speak up on their 
behalf because the needs are urgent and they are real.
  The Congressional Black Caucus has a long history of working with 
Haiti, and many of us have traveled to the country multiple times. 
Beyond our personal involvement with Haiti, the United States and Haiti 
share a long and historical relationship that began with the trans-
Atlantic slave trade, which placed millions of people of African 
descent in human bondage throughout the Western Hemisphere.
  Our brothers and sisters who found themselves in Haiti led the way to 
freedom and independence for the African Diaspora in the Caribbean and 
the Americas when they established the world's first ``Black-led 
Republic,'' established by former slaves. It was also one of the first 
nations in the world to break the bonds of colonialism, providing 
inspiration to millions of oppressed peoples around the globe.
  Haitians fought for their independence--and literally paid for their 
freedom by paying substantial tributes to their former colonizers, 
creating a financial hardship that has endured for generations and 
directly contributes to Haiti's underdevelopment today. The world has a 
historic and moral obligation to help the people of Haiti in their time 
of need.
  During the current crisis, the CBC has worked closely with the Obama 
administration and nongovernmental organizations to provide whatever 
assistance we can to the humanitarian relief efforts underway. Just 
today, we met with USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah to voice our concerns 
and offer our continued partnership as the administration continues its 
ongoing emergency relief and begins to formulate a longer-term agenda 
for reconstruction.
  And a week ago, members of the CBC met with Raymond Joseph, 
Ambassador of Haiti to the United States. During this meeting we 
communicated two overarching messages.
  First, we reaffirmed our continued, ongoing commitment and solidarity 
with the Haitian people.
  Second, we emphasized that the CBC would like to coordinate our work 
with that of President Obama's administration, the Government of Haiti, 
and the Haitian people to develop an overarching relief, 
reconstruction, and development agenda.
  Given the CBC's long history with Haiti, our members have many ideas 
and initiatives--legislative or otherwise--that we believe can assist 
the government and the people of Haiti in relief and recovery and 
reconstruction efforts.
  These include efforts to promote debt relief and to coordinate aid 
distribution on the ground.
  But most importantly, we must establish a comprehensive assistance 
framework in partnership with the Government of Haiti and in 
coordination with other donors to promote the long-term development of 
Haiti. In short, we need a Marshall Plan for Haiti, with Haitian 
nongovernmental organizations and the Haitian Diaspora playing a vital 
role in its formulation and implementation.
  To offer just one example, last year I introduced H.R. 417, the Next 
Steps for Haiti Act. This legislation would create a professional 
exchange program to assign U.S. professionals, particularly in the 
Haitian Diaspora, to provide technical assistance to Haiti in critical 
development-related fields--such as healthcare, infrastructure, and 
disaster preparedness.
  Initiatives such as these could go a long way towards empowering the 
Haitian people to rebuild and work towards the betterment of their 
country.
  Moving forward, we are committed to working with the Haitian 
government and organizations on the ground--who know their country oh 
so well--to meet their short-, medium-, and long-term needs of their 
country. Once the cameras are gone, and Haiti is off the front pages 
and the 24-hour news cycle, we will continue to be there. We, the CBC, 
are in it for the long haul.
  I would like to yield now to the gentlelady from California (Ms. 
Waters), a Member of Congress who is not only a legislator, but also a 
great humanitarian. We saw her very recently in Haiti, as she went to 
Katrina to help those during the search and rescue phase, and is back 
now to join us tonight on the floor to talk about not only her recent 
experiences, but her long-standing commitment to Haiti and her work on 
Haiti. Thank you very much.
  Ms. WATERS. I would like to thank the chairlady of the Congressional 
Black Caucus, Barbara Lee, for the leadership that she has provided on 
this issue since this disaster. But of course Barbara Lee has been 
involved in assistance to Haiti public policy-wise and with the other 
kinds of disasters that have confronted Haiti over a long period of 
time. And so I join with her in all of the efforts to do what we can to 
assist the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti.
  I have spent a good part of my career trying to be of assistance 
public policy-wise and again when these disasters have struck Haiti. 
And so when the earthquake took place, we were all stunned, and we all 
immediately began to make inquiries of the USAID and the U.N. and the 
Red Cross, and all of those agencies responsible for disaster relief. 
And all of those inquiries and briefings having been going on every 
day, headed by Congresswoman Barbara Lee.
  I decided at one point I had to go to Haiti. I just had to be there 
to talk with some of the people that I have worked with over the past, 
to talk with President Preval, and to see what we could do additionally 
to be of assistance to our agencies.
  I want to just tell you that USAID is working very, very hard. The 
U.N., working very, very hard. And I want you to know that USAID 
employees were sleeping on cots inside the embassy. Many of their homes 
were destroyed. Still, there were six missing persons when I was there 
from USAID and the State Department. In addition to that, the U.N. lost 
40 people, but yet they got up every day with this disaster, doing the 
best that they could. Are there problems? There certainly are, problems 
with logistics and coordination, all of that.
  You have seen the images on television. You know how terrible this 
destruction was. The number of people, the thousands of people, up to 
estimates of 250,000 who have lost their lives. Well, it is worse than 
you even see on television. The destruction is massive. Looking at the 
buildings, they are just pancaked, the buildings that are in rumbles, 
the stone and debris that is in the street. It is absolutely 
heartbreaking and painful to experience.
  However, we are doing everything that we can possibly do to give 
support. I have concentrated on debt relief for Haiti. Yesterday I 
introduced legislation to require the Secretary of the Treasury to use 
the voice, vote, and influence of the United States within the 
multilateral financial institutions to cancel all of Haiti's remaining 
debt. The bill has 30 cosponsors, including Chairwoman Barbara Lee, 
Donald Payne, and others.
  I sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, urging him to 
support debt cancellation for Haiti. My letter was signed by 94 Members 
of Congress, including Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Financial Services 
Committee Chairman Barney Frank, and Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking 
Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Canceling Haiti's debt will free up the 
country's meager resources, allowing it to begin meeting its immediate 
and long-term needs.
  Debt cancellation is critical for Haiti's future, and it is an 
important component of the overall aid we can provide. There is not 
enough time this evening to go through all that we need to share about 
debt relief, but this is a beginning.
  Ms. LEE of California. Thank you very much. I want to thank the 
gentlelady from California again for her leadership, and also for once 
again leading

[[Page H539]]

the effort on debt relief. Because Haiti certainly should not have to 
repay any loans given the devastation that it has faced not only during 
this recent disaster, but in the past.
  Congressman Ed Towns, chair of the Government Reform Committee from 
the great State of New York, with a large Haitian American population, 
large Caribbean American population, also a minister, who has been a 
strong voice on behalf of the Haitian people throughout his life. 
Congressman Ed Towns.
  Mr. TOWNS. I would like to thank the gentlewoman from California, the 
chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, for her leadership.
  Of course I know that the time is running out, but I really wanted to 
take at least a minute to thank some people that I know have worked 
real hard to do whatever they could do to relieve in terms of every way 
to create an atmosphere and climate to get people involved in helping 
the people of Haiti. Gregory Jackson, who heads the Brownsville 
Recreation Center in Brooklyn, New York, has been very involved in 
terms of collecting all kinds of items. Vivian Bright, who heads the 
women's caucus, she has been collecting things to send to Haiti. And of 
course I want to salute them.
  And then I want to thank Dealmed. Dealmed has put together all kinds 
of medical supplies. And of course I want to thank Warren Cohn for 
taking them down. And of course I want to thank the Bedford-Stuyvesant 
ambulance service, who went to Haiti right away and were able to save 
lives. And of course not only that, they were able to deliver babies 
and all of that. So I just want to thank them for their work, and to 
encourage them to continue.
  Let me just say that there are 125,000 people from Haiti that live in 
New York. And we are not going to forget Haiti. We are going to make 
certain, the Congressional Black Caucus has indicated over and over, 
that we are going to be there.
  Ms. LEE of California. Thank you very much. And let me again thank 
you for your leadership, Congressman Towns.
  I want to just close this evening by first saying that as chair of 
the 42-member Congressional Black Caucus, I want to reiterate tonight 
that our thoughts and our prayers continue to be with the people of 
Haiti during this very difficult period. We know the Haitian people are 
resilient people and that they will move forward in rebuilding their 
country.
  But we want to make sure that the people of Haiti understand that the 
Congressional Black Caucus stands with the people of Haiti as they move 
forward during this next phase of recovery and reconstruction. And we 
will be doing everything in our power to make sure that once, 
unfortunately, Haiti does not make the front page of the news, or the 
24-hour news cycle ends with Haiti as the lead story, we will continue 
to be there. This Congress will continue to be there working as we move 
forward to develop a Haiti Marshall Plan. Thank you again.
  I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________