Congressional Record, Volume 156 Issue 66 (Wednesday, May 5, 2010)

[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 5, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3132-H3140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

HAITI ECONOMIC LIFT PROGRAM ACT OF 2010

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 5160) to extend the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, to
provide customs support services to Haiti, and for other purposes, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 5160

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Haiti Economic Lift Program
Act of 2010''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) On January 12, 2010, Haiti was hit by a 7.0 magnitude
earthquake, the worst earthquake to affect Haiti in recorded
history. Aftershocks from the earthquake, measuring up to 6.0
on the Richter scale, continued for days afterwards.
(2) The earthquake has devastated Haiti's infrastructure,
including homes, offices, factories, roads, ports,
communications, and other facilities. The loss of life
attributable to the earthquake was massive.
(3) Even before the earthquake, Haiti was the poorest
country in the Western Hemisphere, ranking 149 out of 182
countries according to the United Nation's Human Development
Index.
(4) In recent years, however, the Government and people of
Haiti had taken important steps forward to promote economic
growth and development, including making strides towards
establishing a competitive apparel sector.
(5) United States trade preference programs, including the
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (as amended by the
United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act, the
Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership
Encouragement Act of 2006, and the Haitian Hemispheric
Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act of 2008),
which extend duty-free tariff treatment to certain apparel
produced in Haiti, have made an important contribution to
Haiti's economic development efforts.
(6) However, the Haitian apparel sector has been hard hit
by the January 12, 2010, earthquake. A number of apparel
factories based

[[Page H3133]]

in and around Port-au-Prince have been heavily damaged,
including the collapse of one major apparel factory that had
employed nearly 4,000 workers.
(7) The Port-au-Prince seaport that had served the apparel
trade has been badly damaged. And extensive damage to roads
has made it difficult to transport apparel to the Dominican
Republic for shipment from ports in that country.
(8) According to estimates by the Department of Commerce,
imports of apparel articles from Haiti to the United States
in 2010 have decreased by 43 percent as compared to the same
period in 2009.
(9) The earthquake has increased significantly the costs
and uncertainty of doing business in Haiti. A strong and
unequivocal commitment from the United States is needed to
help Haiti offset these costs and preserve the gains made
under United States trade preference programs, and to
encourage buyers and investors to stand with Haiti through
this crisis.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CARIBBEAN BASIN ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT.

The Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (19 U.S.C. 2701
et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 213(b)--
(A) in paragraph (2)(A)--
(i) in clause (iii)--

(I) in subclause (II)(cc), by striking ``September 30,
2010'' and inserting ``September 30, 2020''; and
(II) in subclause (IV)(dd), by striking ``September 30,
2010'' and inserting ``September 30, 2020''; and

(ii) in clause (iv)(II), by striking ``8'' and inserting
``18''; and
(B) in paragraph (5)(D)(i), by striking ``September 30,
2010'' and inserting ``September 30, 2020''; and
(2) in section 213A(h), by striking ``September 30, 2018''
and inserting ``September 30, 2020''.

SEC. 4. APPAREL AND OTHER ARTICLES SUBJECT TO CERTAIN
ASSEMBLY RULES.

(a) Certain Other Apparel Articles.--Section 213A(b)(3) of
the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (19 U.S.C.
2703a(b)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(F) Certain other apparel articles.--
``(i) In general.--Any of the apparel articles described in
clause (ii) that is wholly assembled, or knit-to-shape, in
Haiti from any combination of fabrics, fabric components,
components knit-to-shape, or yarns and is imported directly
from Haiti or the Dominican Republic shall enter the United
States free of duty, without regard to the source of the
fabric, fabric components, components knit-to-shape, or yarns
from which the article is made.
``(ii) Articles described.--Apparel articles described in
this clause are apparel articles in the following category
numbers that fall within the following statistical reporting
numbers of the HTS (as in effect on the day before the date
of the enactment of this subparagraph):

------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------
``Category Number HTS Statistical Reporting
Number
------------------------------------------------------------------------
334 6101.90.9010
6112.11.0010
6103.22.0010
6113.00.9015
------------------------------------------------------------------------
335 6104.22.0010
6104.29.2010
6112.11.0020
------------------------------------------------------------------------
336 6104.49.9010
------------------------------------------------------------------------
338 6103.22.0050
6105.90.8010
6112.11.0030
------------------------------------------------------------------------
339 6104.22.0060
6104.29.2049
6106.90.2510
6106.90.3010
6110.20.1031
6110.20.1033
6112.11.0040
------------------------------------------------------------------------
342 6104.22.0030
6104.29.2022
6104.52.0010
6104.52.0020
6104.59.8010
------------------------------------------------------------------------
350 6107.91.0040
6107.91.0090
------------------------------------------------------------------------
351 6107.21.0010
6107.21.0020
6107.91.0030
6108.31.0010
6108.31.0020
------------------------------------------------------------------------
433 6103.23.0007
6103.29.0520
6103.31.0000
6103.33.1000
6103.39.8020
------------------------------------------------------------------------
434 6101.30.1500
6101.90.0500
6101.90.9020
6103.23.0005
6103.29.0510
------------------------------------------------------------------------
435 6102.30.1000
6102.90.9010
6104.23.0010
6104.29.0510
6104.29.2012
6104.33.1000
6104.39.2020
------------------------------------------------------------------------
438 6103.23.0025
6103.29.0550
6104.23.0020
6104.29.0560
6104.29.2051
6105.90.1000
6105.90.8020
6106.20.1020
6106.90.1010
6106.90.1020
6106.90.2520
6106.90.3020
6110.11.0070
6110.12.2070
6110.12.2080
6110.19.0070
6110.19.0080
6110.30.1550
6110.30.1560
------------------------------------------------------------------------
633 6103.23.0037
6103.29.1015
6103.33.2000
6103.39.1000
6103.39.8030
------------------------------------------------------------------------
634 6101.30.1000
6101.90.9030
6103.23.0036
6103.29.1010
6112.12.0010
6112.19.1010
6112.20.1010
6112.20.1030
6113.00.9025
------------------------------------------------------------------------
635 6102.30.0500
6102.90.9015
6104.23.0026
6104.29.1010
6104.29.2014
6104.39.2030
6112.12.0020
6112.19.1020
6112.20.1020
6112.20.1040
6113.00.9030
------------------------------------------------------------------------
636 6104.49.9030
6104.44.2020
------------------------------------------------------------------------
638 6103.23.0075
6103.29.1050
6105.90.8030
6110.30.1050
6110.30.2051
6110.30.2053
6112.12.0030
6112.19.1030
------------------------------------------------------------------------
639 6104.23.0036
6104.29.1050
6104.29.2055
6106.90.2530
6106.90.3030
6110.30.1060
6110.30.2061
6110.30.2063
6112.12.0040
6112.19.1040
------------------------------------------------------------------------
651 6107.22.0010
6107.22.0015
6107.22.0025
6107.99.1030
6108.32.0015
------------------------------------------------------------------------

``(iii) Category defined.--In this subparagraph, the term
`category' has the meaning given that term in paragraph
(2A)(E) of this subsection.''.
(b) Made-Up Textile Articles.--Section 213A(b)(3) of the
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (19 U.S.C.
2703a(b)(3)), as amended by subsection (a), is further
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(G) Made-up textile articles.--
``(i) In general.--Any of the made-up textile articles
described in clauses (ii) and (iii) that is wholly assembled,
or knit-to-shape, in Haiti from any combination of fabrics,
fabric components, components knit-to-shape, or yarns and is
imported directly from Haiti or the Dominican Republic shall
enter the United States free of duty, without regard to the
source of the fabric, fabric components, components knit-to-
shape, or yarns from which the article is made.
``(ii) Articles described.--Made-up textile articles
described in this clause are articles in the following
category numbers that fall within the following statistical
reporting numbers of the HTS (as in effect on the day before
the date of the enactment of this subparagraph):

[[Page H3134]]

------------------------------------------------------------------------

``(iii) Other articles described.--Made-up textile articles
described in this clause are articles that fall within
statistical reporting number 6406.10.9090 of the HTS (as in
effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this
subparagraph).
``(iv) Category defined.--In this subparagraph, the term
`category' has the meaning given that term in paragraph
(2A)(E) of this subsection.''.

SEC. 5. MODIFICATION OF TARIFF PREFERENCE LEVELS;
VERIFICATION WITH RESPECT TO TRANSSHIPMENT FOR
CERTAIN APPAREL ARTICLES.

Section 213A(b) of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery
Act (19 U.S.C. 2703a(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii)--
(i) by striking ``The preferential treatment'' and
inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph (2A), the
preferential treatment''; and
(ii) by striking ``9'' and inserting ``11''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)(iii)--
(i) by striking ``The preferential treatment'' and
inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph (2A), the
preferential treatment''; and
(ii) by striking ``9'' and inserting ``11''; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(2A) Special rule for certain woven articles and certain
knit articles entered during fiscal year 2010 and succeeding
1-year periods.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraphs (B)
and (C) and subject to subparagraph (D), if 52,000,000 square
meter equivalents of apparel articles described in paragraph
(2)(A)(i) or (2)(B)(i) enter the United States during the 1-
year period beginning October 1, 2009, or any of the
succeeding 1-year periods, the President shall extend the
preferential treatment described in paragraph (2)(A)(i) or
(2)(B)(i) (as the case may be) to not more than 200,000,000
square meter equivalents of apparel articles described in
paragraph (2)(A)(i) or (2)(B)(i) (as the case may be) during
that 1-year period, and shall publish notice of the extension
in the Federal Register.
``(B) Exception for certain woven articles.--
``(i) In general.--In the case of apparel articles
described in clause (ii), subparagraph (A) shall be applied
by substituting `70,000,000' for `200,000,000'.
``(ii) Apparel articles described.--Apparel articles
described in this clause are apparel articles described in
paragraph (2)(A)(i) that are the following:

``(I) Category 347.--Apparel articles in category 347 that
fall within the following statistical reporting numbers of
the HTS (as in effect on the day before the date of the
enactment of this paragraph):

``6203.19.1020.................... 6203.42.4011......... 6203.42.4061
6203.19.9020..................... 6203.42.4016......... 6203.49.8020
6203.22.3020..................... 6203.42.4026......... 6210.40.9033
6203.22.3030..................... 6203.42.4036......... 6211.20.1520
6203.42.4003..................... 6203.42.4046......... 6211.20.3810
6203.42.4006..................... 6203.42.4051......... 6211.32.0040

``(II) Category 348.--Apparel articles in category 348 that
fall within the following statistical reporting numbers of
the HTS (as in effect on the day before the date of the
enactment of this paragraph):

``6204.12.0030.................... 6204.62.4011......... 6204.69.9010
6204.19.8030..................... 6204.62.4021......... 6210.50.9060
6204.22.3040..................... 6204.62.4031......... 6211.20.1550
6204.22.3050..................... 6204.62.4041......... 6211.20.6810
6204.29.4034..................... 6204.62.4051......... 6211.42.0030
6204.62.3000..................... 6204.62.4056......... 6217.90.9050
6204.62.4003..................... 6204.62.4066......... .............
6204.62.4006.................... 6204.69.6010......... .............

``(III) Category 647.--Apparel articles in category 647
that fall within the following statistical reporting numbers
of the HTS (as in effect on the day before the date of the
enactment of this paragraph):

``6203.23.0060.................... 6203.43.4020......... 6203.49.8030
6203.23.0070.................... 6203.43.4030......... 6210.40.5031
6203.29.2030.................... 6203.43.4040......... 6210.40.5039
6203.29.2035.................... 6203.49.1500......... 6211.20.1525
6203.43.2500.................... 6203.49.2015......... 6211.20.3820
6203.43.3510.................... 6203.49.2030......... 6211.33.0030
6203.43.3590.................... 6203.49.2045......... .............
6203.43.4010..................... 6203.49.2060......... .............

``(IV) Category 648.--Apparel articles in category 648 that
fall within the following statistical reporting numbers of
the HTS (as in effect on the day before the date of the
enactment of this paragraph):

``6204.23.0040.................... 6204.63.3510......... 6204.69.6030
6204.23.0045..................... 6204.63.3530......... 6204.69.9030
6204.29.2020..................... 6204.63.3532......... 6210.50.5031
6204.29.2025..................... 6204.63.3540......... 6210.50.5039
6204.29.4038..................... 6204.69.2510......... 6211.20.1555
6204.63.2000..................... 6204.69.2530......... 6211.20.6820
6204.63.3010..................... 6204.69.2540......... 6211.43.0040
6204.63.3090..................... 6204.69.2560......... 6217.90.9060

``(C) Exception for certain knit articles.--
``(i) In general.--In the case of apparel articles
described in clause (ii), subparagraph (A) shall be applied
by substituting `85,000,000' for `200,000,000'.
``(ii) Apparel articles described.--Apparel articles
described in this clause are apparel articles described in
paragraph (2)(B)(i) that fall within the following
statistical reporting numbers of the HTS (as in effect on the
day before the date of the enactment of this paragraph),
other than shirts with plackets and pointed collars:

``6105.10.0010.................... 6109.10.0040......... 6110.30.3053
6109.10.0018..................... 6109.10.0045......... 6110.30.3059
6109.10.0027..................... 6110.20.2079......... .............

``(D) Verification with respect to transshipment for
certain apparel articles.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than April 1, July 1, October
1, and January 1 of each year, the Commissioner responsible
for U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall verify that
apparel articles imported into the United States under this
paragraph are not being unlawfully transshipped (within the
meaning of subsection (f)) into the United States.
``(ii) Report to president.--If the Commissioner determines
pursuant to clause (i) that apparel articles imported into
the United States under this paragraph are being unlawfully
transshipped into the United States, the Commissioner shall
report that determination to the President.

[[Page H3135]]

``(iii) Authority to reduce quantitative limitation.--If,
in any 1-year period with respect to which the President
extends preferential treatment as described in this
paragraph, the Commissioner reports to the President pursuant
to clause (ii) regarding unlawful transshipments, the
President--

``(I) may modify the quantitative limitation under this
paragraph as the President considers appropriate to account
for such transshipments; and
``(II) if the President modifies the limitation under
subclause (I), shall publish notice of the modification in
the Federal Register.

``(E) Category defined.--In this paragraph, the term
`category' means the number assigned under the U.S. Textile
and Apparel Category System of the Office of Textiles and
Apparel of the Department of Commerce, as listed in the HTS
under the applicable heading or subheading (as in effect on
the day before the date of the enactment of this
paragraph).''.

SEC. 6. EARNED IMPORT ALLOWANCE RULE.

Section 213A(b)(4)(B)(ii)(I) of the Caribbean Basin
Economic Recovery Act (19 U.S.C. 2703a(b)(4)(B)(ii)(I)) is
amended by striking ``three'' and inserting ``two''.

SEC. 7. EXTENSION OF VALUE-ADDED RULE.

Section 213A of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act
(19 U.S.C. 2703a), as amended by this Act, is further
amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (1) and
inserting the following:
``(1) Initial applicable 1-year period.--The term `initial
applicable 1-year period' means the 1-year period beginning
on December 20, 2006.''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``an applicable 1-year
period'' and inserting ``the initial applicable 1-year period
and any 1-year period thereafter'';
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in clause (i)--

(I) by striking ``any applicable 1-year period'' and
inserting ``the initial applicable 1-year period and any 1-
year period thereafter''; and
(II) by striking ``the applicable 1-year period'' and
inserting ``that 1-year period'';

(ii) in clause (iv)(II)--

(I) in the subclause heading, by striking `` applicable'';
(II) by striking ``In each of the second, third, fourth,
and fifth applicable 1-year periods'' and inserting ``In any
1-year period after the initial applicable 1-year period'';
and
(III) by striking ``applicable 1-year period'' each place
it appears and inserting ``1-year period'';

(iii) in clause (v)(I)--

(I) in item (aa), by striking ``, the second applicable 1-
year period, and the third applicable 1-year period'' and
inserting ``and the succeeding 8 1-year periods'';
(II) in item (bb), by striking ``the fourth applicable 1-
year period'' and inserting ``the 1-year period beginning on
December 20, 2015, and the 1-year period beginning on
December 20, 2016''; and
(III) in item (cc), by striking ``the fifth applicable 1-
year period'' and inserting ``the 1-year period beginning on
December 20, 2017''; and

(iv) in clause (vi)--

(I) in subclause (II)--

(aa) by striking ``any applicable 1-year period'' and
inserting ``the initial applicable 1-year period or any 1-
year period thereafter''; and
(bb) by striking ``applicable 1-year period'' each place it
appears and inserting ``1-year period''; and

(II) in subclause (III)--

(aa) in item (aa), by striking ``an applicable 1-year
period'' and inserting ``the initial applicable 1-year period
or any 1-year period thereafter''; and
(bb) by striking ``applicable 1-year period'' each place it
appears and inserting ``1-year period''; and
(C) in subparagraph (C)--
(i) by striking ``applicable 1-year periods'' and inserting
``1-year periods'';
(ii) by striking the table and inserting the following:

``During: the corresponding percentage is:

the initial applicable 1-year period............... 1 percent.
each of the succeeding 11 1-year periods........... 1.25 percent.'';

and
(iii) in the flush text, by striking ``the last day of the
fifth applicable 1-year period'' and inserting ``December 19,
2018''.

SEC. 8. WIRE HARNESSES.

Section 213A(c) of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery
Act (19 U.S.C. 2703A(c)) is amended by striking ``5-year
period'' and inserting ``10-year period''.

SEC. 9. CUSTOMS SUPPORT SERVICES.

(a) In General.--
(1) Rapid response team.--The Commissioner responsible for
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (in this section referred
to as the ``Commissioner'') shall, in consultation with the
United States Coast Guard, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and
other Federal agencies, as appropriate, seek to send a rapid
response team to Haiti--
(A) to assess the short-term and long-term technical,
capacity-building, and training needs of the authorities of
the Government of Haiti responsible for customs services; and
(B) to provide immediate assistance, as warranted,
particularly with respect to--
(i) reestablishing full capacity for commercial port
operations at the seaport at Port-au-Prince;
(ii) facilitating trade between the United States and Haiti
under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, as amended
by this Act;
(iii) preventing unlawful transshipment of goods through
Haiti to the United States; and
(iv) otherwise strengthening cooperation between the
customs authorities of the United States, Haiti, and the
Dominican Republic with respect to trade facilitation and
economic development, customs compliance and law enforcement,
and efforts to combat unlawful trafficking in narcotic drugs
and psychotropic substances.
(2) Report.--Not later than 75 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall prepare and
submit to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a
nonconfidential report summarizing the results of the
assessment required by paragraph (1)(A), including--
(A) a description of the short-term and long-term
technical, capacity-building, and training needs of the
authorities of the Government of Haiti responsible for
customs services, including a prioritization of immediate
infrastructure needs;
(B) a multi-year plan for supplying technical, capacity-
building, and training assistance to those authorities,
including specific responsibilities to be undertaken by the
support team authorized by subsection (b); and
(C) a statement of the amount and purpose for which any
funds were expended by the rapid response team in Haiti to
administer the provisions of this section, including any
expenditure of funds authorized to be appropriated pursuant
to subsection (c)(1).
(b) Support Team.--
(1) In general.--The Commissioner shall, in consultation
with other Federal agencies, as appropriate, seek to
establish a support team in Haiti for the purpose of helping
to meet the short-term and long-term technical, capacity-
building, and training needs of the authorities of the
Government of Haiti responsible for customs services, as
described in this section.
(2) Termination.--The support team authorized by paragraph
(1) shall terminate on September 30, 2020.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, to remain
available until expended--
(A) $100,000 to help meet the immediate infrastructure
needs of the authorities of the Government of Haiti
responsible for customs services for the purpose of
facilitating trade between the United States and Haiti under
the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, as amended by this
Act; and
(B) $750,000 for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2020
for the purpose of maintaining the support team authorized by
subsection (b).
(2) Supplement and not supplant.--The amounts authorized to
be appropriated by paragraph (1) shall supplement and not
supplant any other funds authorized to be appropriated to the
Department of Homeland Security.

SEC. 10. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

(a) Regional Cooperation.--It is the sense of Congress that
the United States Trade Representative should seek to enter
into consultations with representatives of countries with
which the United States has a trading relationship for the
purpose of encouraging those countries to establish bilateral
trade preference programs with respect to textile and apparel
articles produced in Haiti.
(b) Transshipment.--It is the sense of Congress that the
Commissioner responsible for U.S. Customs and Border
Protection should, in consultation with the United States
Trade Representative and the Secretary of Commerce, seek to
enter into consultations with representatives of countries
with which the United States has a trading relationship for
the purpose of preventing the unlawful transshipment of
textile and apparel articles from those countries through
Haiti.

SEC. 11. CUSTOMS USER FEES.

Section 13031(j)(3) of the Consolidated Omnibus
Reconciliation Act of 1985 (19 U.S.C. 58c(j)(3)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``May 14, 2018'' and
inserting ``November 10, 2018''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``June 7, 2018''
and inserting ``August 17, 2018''.

SEC. 12. TIME FOR PAYMENT OF CORPORATE ESTIMATED TAXES.

(a) Shift From 2015 to 2014.--The percentage under
paragraph (1) of section 202(b) of the Corporate Estimated
Tax Shift Act of

[[Page H3136]]

2009 in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act is
increased by 0.75 percentage points.
(b) Shift From 2016 to 2015.--The percentage under
paragraph (2) of section 561 of the Hiring Incentives to
Restore Employment Act in effect on the date of the enactment
of this Act is increased by 0.75 percentage points.

SEC. 13. BUDGET COMPLIANCE.

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 2010, shall
be determined by reference to the latest statement titled
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act,
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the
Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Levin) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Camp) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.

General Leave

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, first, I want to yield myself 30 seconds and
then yield more time if I might.
I first want to yield to the lead sponsor of this bill, Mr. Rangel.
Our colleague, Charles Rangel, has devoted his life to fighting for
underdogs wherever they are in this country and beyond, and he has
devoted so much time to the people of Haiti.
He is the lead sponsor, and it is my privilege--and I think all of us
join in this--to yield such time as he shall consume to the gentleman
from New York, Charles Rangel.
Mr. RANGEL. Thank you, Chairman Levin, and it is good to be here with
my friend Dave Camp.
Mr. Speaker, this is a good day for Americans, especially for those
of us in the United States Congress.
As we listen to the partisanship as it relates to the capture of
terrorists, as we listen to the partisanship as it relates to oil
spills, and as we listen to the partisanship as it relates to trying to
repair our economic work on Wall Street, it just seems to me, if we all
took a deep breath, we would recognize that, as a people, we are more
than Republicans and Democrats--we are Americans. We do recognize that.
When there is a crisis, the whole world looks to us, not just for goods
and services, but for leadership and compassion.
There is an unlimited number of people whom we could thank for coming
to the floor today. One has to be Dave Camp. You don't have to say what
the problem is. When you ask, ``What can we do to help?'' it is just a
question of Members and staff coming together, seeing what they can do
to be of some assistance to the people who have tried so hard to
rebuild their country, their families, and, indeed, their government.

{time} 1045

When we had initially the HOPE legislation, there was some opposition
because what did it mean? It meant that a country that had a very bad
infrastructure, poor education, lack of opportunities in employment was
able to get their act together, to hope, to dream, to bring their
families together, and to produce textiles. And America said, Hey, we
will work with you on tariffs. We will open up our doors to your goods
and services. And further than that, we think it's such a good deal
that our President, our Secretary of State, our Secretary of Commerce,
our Ambassador of Trade will encourage other people to invest in Haiti
so that one day she can share a prominent spot in terms of democratic
countries that believe in hard work.
And then what happened? Just when production was doubling, she was
struck by an earthquake. Haitians still went to the factories hoping
and dreaming. Many were killed. And, of course, people made economic
decisions that Haiti wasn't the place to invest a lot of money.
But again the world responded, former President Clinton, investors,
in saying what little can we do? What small thing can we do? And we got
to work, and staff I want to publicly thank found out ways. All we said
is we've got to do more. We have to do more. And more was done by this
bill in our committee. Under the leadership of Sandy Levin,
Republicans, Democrats got together to do what? To do more to give hope
to these people who had more than their share of economic despair.
This is the poorest country that we have in the hemisphere, but with
our help, our leadership, our encouragement to investors, have Haitians
know that, sure, this has been a tremendous setback with the
earthquake, but America will once again provide the leadership to make
certain that people don't give up, don't give in, and certainly don't
give out.
So I thank once again Sandy Levin, who is always there when people,
no matter what country is in trouble, you can depend on his leadership,
and I personally and politically appreciate it.
Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I thank the distinguished gentleman from New York for his comments
and also for his effort and leadership on this legislation, as well as
my colleague from Michigan.
I want to echo these comments and also place in the Record a letter
that we each received from both President Clinton and President Bush
supporting this effort today.
I rise in support of this legislation. The images of the devastation
caused by the January earthquake that ravaged Haiti and its people were
difficult for all of us to watch. And while those stories may no longer
be splashed across the evening news, we know the Haitians continue to
need help in rebuilding.
The legislation before us today is the example of how the process
should work. Bipartisan, bicameral cooperation, and working closely
with all stakeholders has allowed us to craft a bill that provides
meaningful assistance to Haiti. These benefits will encourage the long-
term investment in Haiti that Haiti desperately needs for its economic
recovery and future stability. I am convinced that the bill will
promote trade and investment in the region and create a strong
hemispheric partnership with U.S. interests.
This legislation builds on the short-term assistance that Congress
provided earlier this year to accelerate the tax benefits for
charitable donations to the Haiti relief effort. And I am pleased to
have participated in both of these bipartisan efforts.
This legislation also supports U.S. textile manufacturers and their
workers by providing a long-term extension of the Caribbean Basin Trade
Partnership Act. The CBTPA program provides strong incentives to our
trading partners throughout the region to use fabric and inputs
produced in the United States, supporting American exports and American
jobs. That is why this legislation is supported by the American textile
industry. And I have a letter from the American Manufacturing Trade
Action Coalition that I will insert into the Record supporting this
legislation.
The success of this bill also demonstrates the benefits of tailoring
our preference programs to the needs of a specific country or region.
Congress is able to provide these expanded benefits to Haiti because
they are customized to its specific needs and limit any negative impact
on the U.S. textile industry. The careful balance of interests this
legislation represents is unique to Haiti and wouldn't be possible if
we tried to expand it to all of our preference programs in a one-size-
fits-all approach.
I hope we can build on this bipartisan success and continue this
policy of economic integration by working together to find a path that
will enable Congress to bring pending trade agreements with Colombia
and Panama to the floor for a successful vote. Like the legislation
before us today, these agreements will promote economic development
both here at home and for our trading partners as well.

[[Page H3137]]

American Manufacturing

Trade Action Coalition, National

Council of Textile Organizations,

April 26, 2010.
Hon. Sander M. Levin,
Acting Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Dave Camp,
Ranking Member, Committee on Ways and Means, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Acting Chairman Levin and Ranking Member Camp: As
representatives of the United States textile industry, we are
writing in regard to the Haiti Economic Lift Program Act of
2010, a bill to provide enhanced market access for apparel
products manufactured in Haiti.
After lengthy negotiations with your staffs, we are pleased
that we were able to reach an acceptable compromise on this
important legislation. While the bill provides Haiti with a
path forward for long-term economic recovery in the wake of
its devastating earthquake, it also takes into account
various sensitivities from the perspective of the U.S.
textile industry.
For example, the bill grants significant increases in duty
free treatment through a system of Tariff Preference Levels
(TPLs) but also institutes sub-limits on highly sensitive
products that can be exported under the TPLs. The sub-limits
were a key priority for the domestic industry and will
prevent over concentration of exports in one or two key areas
that could be particularly damaging to U.S. producers. In
addition, the bill extends the current Caribbean Basin Trade
Partnership Act (CBTPA) through 2020. This extension will
help to provide long-term certainty for a program that is of
significant value for U.S. and Western Hemispheric trading
partners.
Obviously, we take very seriously the impact that
additional duty free imports may have on U.S. producers and
workers as well as our Western Hemispheric customers. Noting
those concerns, we also recognize that the devastating
circumstances in Haiti produced an exceptional case that
motivated Congress to develop a quick response and have
worked with the Committee to develop a package that strikes
an acceptable balance. We must stress, however, that this
package does not set a precedent for any future trade
preference legislation.
For all these reasons, we are encouraging our Congressional
members that represent the nearly 500,000 U.S. textile and
apparel workers to approve this legislation in an expeditious
manner under suspension of the rules in the House and by
unanimous consent in the Senate.
Sincerely,
Augustine D. Tantillo,
Executive Director, American Manufacturing Trade Coalition
(AMTAC).
Cass M. Johnson,
President, National Council of Textile Organizations
(NCTO).
____

Clinton Bush Haiti Fund,
April 13, 2010.
Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Steny Hoyer,
Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Sander Levin,
Acting Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means,
Washington, DC.
Hon. John Boehner,
Republican Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Dave Camp,
Ranking Member, House Committee on Ways and Means,
Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Speaker, Leader Hoyer, Leader Boehner, Mr.
Levin, and Mr. Camp: We write to you today about Haiti: As we
build upon our shared commitment to provide more Haitians
with the tools they seek to lift themselves from poverty and
reduce their dependence on international aid, we believe the
Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership
Encouragement (HOPE) Act can be amended in two specific ways
to encourage greater growth in Haiti, with positive impacts
for the United States.
On March 22, we visited Haiti and met with citizens from
all sectors of society. While there remains an urgent need
for food, water, shelter, and sanitation, Haitian leaders and
communities are looking to the future in hopes of developing
the modem nation they have long imagined and deserved. We
know that Haitian households are eager to return to work, and
we are confident that the textile industry can offer
significant opportunities for future job creation.
As you know, the existing HOPE program has had a
significant impact on this industry. From 2006-2009, HOPE
enabled the expansion of apparel manufacturing and the growth
of the sector's employment from 12,000 to more than 25,000
workers. HOPE II subsequently assisted the apparel industry
in attracting business and in reopening dormant manufacturing
operations. These results have been encouraging, but there is
much more we can do. The nation's apparel sector once
employed more than 100,000 workers, and we should work toward
stabilizing and further empowering this industry.
We suggest two immediate modifications to HOPE that have
the potential to help create tens of thousands more jobs in
Haiti. First, we recommend increasing the HOPE trade
preference level (TPL) quotas for knit and woven fabrics to
250 million square meter equivalents each. Second, we suggest
extending the duration of the legislation from 8 to 15 years.
These amendments can generate tangible results. During our
recent visit, we learned that three major Korean apparel
manufacturers are exploring investments in Haiti, each
capable of employing 10,000-30,000 Haitian workers. This
investment could double the employment levels in the Haitian
apparel sector. Furthermore, because the project would also
require new industrial space and infrastructure, it would
create thousands of construction jobs in Haiti. Ultimately,
countless more jobs would be produced by the small- and
medium-sized enterprises necessary for supporting the needs
of these new workforces.
Unfortunately, the Korean manufacturers are reluctant to
invest in Haiti. A single Korean firm could consume the
current TPL of 70 million. In effect, none of the firms will
commit if they believe their investment could be jeopardized
by potential competition for TPL allocations in the future.
Furthermore, the firms will not consider working in Haiti if
their investments could be jeopardized by the expiration of
the HOPE program before they are able to recover their
investment.
These amendments would not increase the total amount of
clothing imported by the United States. Instead, the
modifications would shift the composition of the imports and
increase the proportion coming from Haiti. In fact, over
time, greater production capacity in Haiti would likely
provide a new and nearby market for American cotton farmers,
thereby uplifting incomes in the United States.
We firmly believe that amendments to the HOPE program would
offer a win-win situation for both the Haitians and the U.S.
community. We encourage you to build on the hemispheric
leadership of the United States since the earthquake. With
your support, we can expand economic opportunity both in
Haiti and here in America.
We would be pleased to provide any additional information.
Sincerely,
Bill Clinton.
George W. Bush.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, it is now my privilege to yield 2 minutes to
my colleague on Ways and Means, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr.
Neal).
Mr. NEAL. I want to thank the chairman for yielding this time.
Mr. Speaker, we have had an opportunity over the course of the last
many months to witness the unprecedented goodness and kindness of the
American people. Time and again in rising above the petty differences
that frequently keep us in dispute within this institution, we have
asked no question of political party or affiliation. We have watched
former Presidents of the United States who sharply might disagree on a
host of issues to lead an effort to help the people of Haiti to get
through this difficult time caused by the consequences of this
devastating earthquake.
But throughout all of these measures, you're struck by de
Tocqueville's notion of what set America apart from the rest of the
world. And de Tocqueville, as you know, in finding it challenging to
describe what it was that differentiated America from the rest of the
world, he simply described it as a ``habit of the heart.'' And today I
think this institution with this proposal that's in front of us
embraces again that American notion of the decency of habits of our
heart.
This Haiti-HELP Act provides crucial additional trade preferences to
help out our Haitian friends to rebuild their economy and lives in the
wake of this devastating earthquake.
I want to particularly commend the trade staff and industry for
quickly collaborating on this legislation, which also provides
important protections for sensitive domestic products while improving
existing preference provisions. It also provides a long-term extension
for the Caribbean Basin and HOPE programs that are key boosters to the
Caribbean-U.S. relationship.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation deserves our full support, and I look
forward to improving the economic and cultural ties with Haiti in the
years ahead.

[[Page H3138]]

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry).
Mr. McHENRY. I want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Camp, for his
leadership on the Ways and Means Committee and for yielding time this
morning.
Well, as we well know, we've seen the devastation of the earthquake
in Haiti, the loss of life, the suffering. It's tragic, and certainly
the American people rally to the Haitian people.
But what we have before us today is not just about Haiti; it's about
jobs in the United States. And, unfortunately, there's a provision here
within the bill that will hurt jobs here in the United States. This
legislation will allow for duty-free access to yarns and fabrics
produced in other Third World countries, and Haiti will simply be more
of a location for transshipment than other nations.
Bad trade deals like this one have devastated my district in western
North Carolina and devastated manufacturing in the United States.
Counties in my district have unemployment rates of up to 16 percent,
some that my colleagues here can relate to in their regions of the
country, but certainly devastating in western North Carolina. And it's
a time when our people need jobs. Our families are hurting. And this
bill is simply giving away some of those jobs. In a time when we should
help small businesses, this is hurting them, specifically in my
district.
In the past, Haiti has had tremendous success producing apparel using
U.S. yarns and fabrics. We should be strengthening that partnership,
not turning Haiti into a stopping-off point for more transshipment of
goods from Asia and around the globe. Our government should represent
its people and the best interests of its people. Unfortunately, this
Congress is not, this leadership is not, and unfortunately, this bill
with this provision is not. Charity is one thing, but giving away our
jobs is a completely different matter.
With that, I would oppose this bill.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to the very
distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), who has been so
actively involved in this legislation and related efforts.
Ms. LEE of California. Let me first thank Chairman Levin for your
support for Haiti and for your leadership on this issue and so many
issues.
The Haiti Economic Lift Program, or HELP, Act of 2010 is critical in
Haiti's recovery and reconstruction. And let me thank Chairman Rangel,
as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, for your vision in crafting
this legislation. As one of the founders of the Congressional Black
Caucus, you have been a longtime leader on issues related to Haiti.
Chairman Rangel has been a strong ally of the Haitian people throughout
his career, and we want to once again thank you for your consistent
work on behalf of the CBC and on behalf of the entire Congress.
The CBC does have a very long history of working with Haiti, the
Haitian people, and the Haitian American communities. And many of us
have traveled to the country several times. I was there just over a
month ago and saw firsthand the extent of the devastation and the
challenges of moving forward. And many people asked about this bill.
During the current crisis, the CBC has and will continue to work
closely with the Obama administration, our Speaker, Chairman Levin, and
our NGOs to provide whatever assistance we can to provide for support,
relief, reconstruction, and recovery efforts.
I would also like to thank Chairman Levin and also Ranking Member
Camp for their bipartisan work in bringing this bill to the floor today
and for their commitment to supporting the people of Haiti as they
rebuild their lives and their nation. This is not a partisan issue, and
I am glad to see the commitment to the Haitian people within this
Congress.
That commitment, as many of us know, cannot and it should not be
limited to foreign aid. Emergency assistance is vital to any
humanitarian operation. However, it cannot form the sole backbone of a
long-term recovery strategy for promoting reconstruction and
development. It is about many, many initiatives, including debt relief,
which another member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman
Maxine Waters so valiantly----
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. LEVIN. I yield the gentlewoman 1 additional minute.
Ms. LEE of California. Thank you.
Such strategies must take a whole-of-government approach to foster
homegrown economic growth. That is exactly what the HELP Act aims to
do. It expands upon the successes of existing trade preferences to spur
investment and empower the private sector to take the mantle of
rebuilding along with the government. The trade preferences provided in
this legislation are certainly not a cure-all, but they offer powerful
incentives to spur significant job creation, one of the surest ways to
promote development and to reduce poverty.
So I call on all of my colleagues to join Chairman Levin, Chairman
Rangel, and Ranking Member Camp to support this measure and to express
our steadfast solidarity once again and our continued partnership with
the resilient people of Haiti.
Thank you again. Thanks for the time.
Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I want to say a few words about the nature of this legislation.
I want to start off by saluting the bipartisanship in this House. I
want to salute the work of our staffs, working with USTR.

{time} 1100

I would like also--and I think others would join me--in saluting
Presidents Clinton and Bush, who have devoted their energy and their
time to the needs of the people of Haiti, expressing on behalf of all
of us that there is a mutuality in terms of the response to the
horrible, horrible events in the earthquake. I also want to salute
industry and the labor movement.
We have tried in these last months with our leadership to begin to
craft a new trade policy--a trade policy that takes into account the
needs of this country to try to make sure that trade is two-way; to try
to make sure that it is mutually beneficial; and to be very sensitive
to the impact of trade agreements on American industry and American
workers. We very much took that into account as we designed this
legislation--and it succeeded. It has that mutuality. That's why the
two main textile organizations in this country who have a deep stake in
the continued health of this industry in this country sent, as Mr. Camp
indicated, a letter to him and to me in support of this legislation. I
just want to read a few lines so it's clear, and I quote from this
letter from AMTAC and NCTO: ``After lengthy negotiations with your
staffs, we are pleased that we were able to reach an acceptable
compromise on this legislation. While the bill provides Haiti with a
path forward for long-term economic recovery in the wake of its
devastating earthquake, it also takes into account various
sensitivities from the perspective of the U.S. textile industry. For
these reasons, we are encouraging our congressional members that
represent the nearly 500,000 U.S. textile and apparel workers to
approve this legislation in an expeditious manner under suspension of
the rules in the House and by unanimous consent in the Senate.''
I would also like to salute the workers and also the American labor
movement. In the original legislation--and it's very much continued in
this legislation--we have been very sensitive to the needs for Haiti to
abide by the international rights of workers. In 2009, the ILO
established a monitoring program required under the HOPE II
legislation. It was certified by USTR. Under the program, the ILO has a
country director and staff in Haiti committed to conducting unannounced
factory level inspections as to whether factories are meeting core
labor standards--these are international basic standards--issuing
biannual public reports naming factories that are not in compliance,
and helping the factories remedy any problems. The ILO has conducted
its first round of factory inspections. It had already done so at the
time of the January 12 earthquake and was set to issue its first report
on April 21. However, the collapse of the U.N. headquarters in which
the ILO was located

[[Page H3139]]

and the subsequent evacuation of ILO personnel in Haiti disrupted the
process. All ILO personnel are now back in Haiti and expect to produce
the first public report regarding factory conditions shortly. So we
have taken into account the needs here and tried to find ways to
respond to the needs in Haiti--and I think we have succeeded.
And so I close with this. I think all of us want to salute the people
of Haiti. The earthquake was unprecedented. The damage was hard to
imagine. The sacrifices being made by the people of Haiti under these
circumstances are really hard to describe. This is an effort in a
mutual way for us to respond. We did this carefully. We did it also
with a sense of purpose. I urge all of us to unite to support this
important legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I just want to say that there is and has been
strong, bipartisan support for this legislation. This legislation
certainly deserves that support. I do want to note that I think it's
important as we move forward that we not seek to establish a trade
framework or a trade policy framework that requires standards for other
countries that could exceed our own U.S. law and that this legislation
in that respect not be a precedent for other preferences as we move
forward.
This legislation, I think, is important. It will help a devastated
country through investment and begin to create more economic activity.
I urge my colleagues to build on this success from this legislation; to
work together in a bipartisan fashion; to take the steps necessary to
further the economic benefits that come from increasing U.S. exports to
our partners not only in this hemisphere but other hemispheres as well
by bringing the pending trade agreements with Colombia and Panama to
the floor for a successful vote.
With that, I urge a ``yes'' on this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I will close very, very briefly.
There needs to be a general framework for trade policy, and we have
been working to spell that out. A trade policy, as we expand trade, as
we must, does so in ways that are mutually beneficial; that expand the
benefits of trade. Within that framework, each trade agreement must
stand on its own feet--and this trade bill does exactly that. It
responds to needs. It does so in a way that takes into account the very
crucial needs within Haiti and also the needs of American industry and
workers. It achieves not a compromise, really, but a balance--the kind
of balance that should be a hallmark of our approach to trade. I very
much urge that we support this bill. It's excellent both in its letter
and in its spirit.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, on January 12, 2010, Haiti experienced one
of the worst earthquakes in their history. I believe that our trade
policy can play a key role in rehabilitating the Haitian economy. As
such, I rise in support of my friend Congressman Charles Rangel's
timely legislation, The Haiti Economic Lift Program, HELP, Act of 2010,
which will extend trade preference programs, expand market access for
Haitian goods, and ensure fundamental worker labor rights for Haitian
workers.
Expanding trade with Haiti is an important step in creating economic
stability and sustainability. The HELP Act will enhance and strengthen
our trading relationship, where 78.2 percent of Haitian exports are
directed to the United States, by extending trade preference programs
such as the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act and the Haitian
Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act through
September 30, 2020. Both laws are credited with increasing Haitian
apparel exports to the United States from $420 million to over $512
million and creating impressive economic growth from 2007 to 2009.
It is imperative we help foster burgeoning industries within Haiti
that will ultimately attract investment and provide jobs during and
after their reconstruction efforts. The HELP Act expands the list of
products that can be shipped duty-free. It has been noted that new jobs
in Haiti creates multiplier effects which supports families and others
who are in need.
Mr. Speaker, as a long supporter of worker rights, I am pleased that
today's legislation will continue the International Labor
Organization's labor monitoring program to ensure that fundamental core
labor rights of their workers are followed by factories benefiting from
the HELP Act.
The United States and its citizens, which have had a long tradition
of helping allies in their time of need, have given unprecedented
amounts of foreign aid and donations to the people of Haiti in the
weeks after the earthquake. Today's legislation extends the reach of
this aid by increasing trade between the countries, which will
ultimately provide jobs and a better future for Haitians. I urge my
colleagues to support the bill.
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R.
5160 introduced in the House of Representatives by my friend and
colleague, Representative Rangel. H.R. 5160 is an important piece of
legislation to extend the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act to
provide custom support for the Haitian apparel sector.
On January 12, 2010, Haiti, one of the poorest country's in the world
and the poorest in the western hemisphere, was hit by a 7.0 magnitude
earthquake. The earthquake killed thousands of people leaving Haiti's
capital partially destroyed. Homes, offices, factories, roads, ports,
communications, and other facilities were reduced to ruins. As a
result, millions of people have lost their livelihood.
Prior to the earthquake, the Haitian government was implementing a
number of measures to promote economic growth and the growing apparel
sector was a promising success story. According to the U.S. Department
of Commerce, however, this sector was devastated by the earthquake.
Through its preference trade programs, including those under the
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act and the Haitian Hemispheric
Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act of 2008, ``HOPE II
Act'', the United States has been an important contributor to Haiti's
economic development initiatives by providing duty-free tariff
treatment to certain apparel produced in Haiti.
In this time of great need for Haiti, I am proud to support H.R. 5160
which would extend duty free treatment to any apparel entering the
United States directly imported from Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
This measure would dramatically assist Haiti in rebuilding their
economy.
I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation
to show Haitians' the United States' strong commitment to their
recovery, development and prosperity.
Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5160, the
Haitian Economic Lift Program Act. This bill will provide real economic
benefits to Haiti to help it recover from the devastating earthquake on
January 12 that claimed so many lives and shattered the already
struggling Haitian economy.
The bill also provides trade benefits to Haiti and other Caribbean
nations though a long-term extension of the Caribbean Basin Trade
Partnership Act, a program that also supports the American textile
industry.
I am firm believer that expanded trade can produce sustainable
economic development and create jobs.
By providing increased duty-free access to the U.S. market, the bill
creates the investment incentives desperately needed in Haiti to keep
existing apparel production in the country and encourage even more
development in the future. These investments will create badly needed
jobs and encourage stability in local communities.
The long-term extension of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act
will continue important incentives that have attracted apparel
producers to Haiti and throughout the region to use fabric and other
inputs produced in the United States. The U.S. exports generated by
these incentives will support American jobs. This is why the long-term
extension of the Caribbean Basin Act has been such a priority for the
U.S. textile industry.
In addition to these important economic benefits, this legislation
demonstrates America's commitment to the region. It has long been
America's policy to strengthen economic ties through trade and
investment with other countries in the Western Hemisphere.
President Reagan followed that policy by starting the Caribbean Basin
Initiative, which forms the foundation of the programs we are extending
today.
Presidents and Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle
continued this policy by enacting NAFTA, the Andean Trade Partnership
Act, the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act, CAFTA, HOPE, the Peru
Trade Agreement, and now the legislation before us today. I hope we can
add to this progress and create the means to bring the pending
agreements with Colombia and Panama to a successful vote.
In addition, this legislation shows again that Congress can and will
adjust and expand U.S. trade preference programs as necessary to ensure
that they are working properly and providing the maximum benefits
possible.
Mr. Speaker, this bill really does get it right: it provides real
economic development assistance to Haiti; it supports U.S. jobs; and it
demonstrates that carefully balanced, regionally focused U.S. trade
preference programs can bring our trading partners, development

[[Page H3140]]

experts, and U.S. manufacturers together to support pro-trade
legislation. For these reasons, I urge all my colleagues to support
this bill.
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of H.R. 5160, I
rise in support of this bipartisan legislation and urge its immediate
enactment to support the ongoing recovery efforts in Haiti.
In January, a massive earthquake struck the country of Haiti, killing
hundreds of thousands of people and displacing millions more. The quake
devastated the country's infrastructure which continues to make the
delivery of humanitarian assistance difficult. It is well known that
Haiti is the poorest, least developed country in the Western Hemisphere
and that the vast majority of Haitians earn less than $2 a day. Helping
Haiti permanently recover from this crisis while also strengthening an
already struggling Haitian economy will require more than humanitarian
assistance--the Haitian people will need jobs. The bill we consider
today is an effort to aid job promotion in the country's important
textile industry.
This measure extends the trade benefits Haiti enjoys under the
Caribbean Basin Trade Promotion Act and increases Haitian admission
quotas on apparel destined for U.S. markets. This effort, when combined
with the Haiti Debt Relief Act which passed in March, should help
relieve some of the economic burden on the Haitian people and give them
the freedom and the tools they need to begin rebuilding their nation.
Mr. LEVIN. I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 5160, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

____________________