[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 19 (Monday, February 6, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S358-S359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRAGIC EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to S. Res. 368, submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 368) recognizing the anniversary of 
     the tragic earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, honoring 
     those who lost their lives in the earthquake, and expressing 
     continued solidarity with the people of Haiti.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table; that there be no intervening action 
or debate; and that any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 368) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 368

       Whereas, on January 12, 2010, an earthquake measuring 7.0 
     on the Richter scale struck the country of Haiti;
       Whereas, according to the United States Geological Survey, 
     the epicenter of the earthquake was located approximately 15 
     miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti;
       Whereas, according to the Government of Haiti, more than 
     220,000 people died as a result of the earthquake, and more 
     than 300,000 people were injured;
       Whereas, according to the United Nations and the 
     International Organization for Migration an estimated 
     3,000,000 people, or nearly \1/3\ of the population of Haiti 
     were directly affected by the disaster, and an estimated 
     1,500,000 people were displaced from their homes;
       Whereas a Post Disaster Needs Assessment conducted by the 
     Government of Haiti, the United Nations, the World Bank, the 
     Inter-American Development Bank, and other experts, estimated 
     that damage and economic losses totaled $7,800,000,000, which 
     amounted to approximately 120 percent of the gross domestic 
     product of Haiti in 2009;
       Whereas the response of the United States Government, led 
     by the United States Agency for International Development and 
     United States Southern Command, was swift and resolute;
       Whereas individuals, businesses, and philanthropic 
     organizations throughout the United States and the 
     international community responded to the crisis by supporting 
     Haiti and its people through innovative ways, such as 
     fundraising through text messaging;
       Whereas the Haitian diaspora in the United States was 
     integral to emergency relief efforts and continues to make 
     significant financial contributions to Haiti and seeks 
     opportunities to participate in the rebuilding of Haiti;
       Whereas the International Organization for Migration 
     estimates that approximately 550,000 people remain in 
     spontaneous and organized camps in Haiti;
       Whereas, at the time of the January 2010 earthquake, Haiti 
     was the poorest, least developed country in the Western 
     Hemisphere, and more than 70 percent of the population in 
     Haiti lived on less than $2 per day;
       Whereas, before the earthquake, Haiti was making 
     encouraging improvement in recovering from a catastrophic 
     series of hurricanes and tropical storms, food shortages, 
     rising commodity prices, and political instability;
       Whereas, in January 21, 2010, the Senate adopted by 
     unanimous consent Senate Resolution 392 (111th Congress), 
     expressing its profound sympathy and unwavering support for 
     the people of Haiti and urging all nations to commit to 
     assisting the people of Haiti with their long-term needs;
       Whereas, on October 19, 2010, an outbreak of cholera was 
     detected in the lower Artibonite region of Haiti, which 
     according to the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and 
     Population had affected more than 500,000 people and caused 
     the death of more than 6,700 people nationwide by November 
     30, 2011;
       Whereas, as of December 2011, the United States Government 
     had provided technical assistance and contributed more than 
     $73,000,000 in purified drinking water, soap, and oral 
     rehydration salts to combat the spread of cholera in Haiti; 
     and
       Whereas, since the January 12, 2010, earthquake, the people 
     of Haiti have demonstrated unwavering resilience, dignity, 
     and courage: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) mourns the loss of lives as a result of the tragic 
     earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010;
       (2) honors the service of United States personnel in the 
     United States Embassy in Port-au-Prince, the United States 
     Coast Guard, United States Armed Forces, and other United 
     States Government agencies, and all members of international 
     organizations who have persevered through adverse local 
     conditions and continue to serve Haiti and the Haitian 
     people;
       (3) reaffirms its solidarity with the people of Haiti as 
     they work to rebuild their country and livelihoods;
       (4) reaffirms its commitment to support the people of 
     Haiti, in partnership with the Government of Haiti and in 
     coordination with other donors, in long-term reconstruction;
       (5) urges the United States Government, international 
     donors, and non-governmental organizations in Haiti to work 
     in full partnership with authorities, civil society, and the 
     private sector in Haiti and to prioritize sustainable 
     projects with greater opportunity for capacity building; and
       (6) encourages the United States Government, the Government 
     of Haiti, and international donors--
       (A) to give priority to policies that would enhance the 
     ability of the Government of Haiti to attract private sector 
     investment and meaningful diaspora participation, including 
     judicial reform, civil registry, enterprise fund, and land 
     tenure reform;

[[Page S359]]

       (B) to develop, improve, and scale-up communications and 
     participatory mechanisms to more substantially involve civil 
     society in Haiti at all stages of the cholera and post-
     earthquake responses; and
       (C) to give priority to programs that protect and involve 
     vulnerable populations, including internally displaced 
     persons, children, and persons with disabilities.

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