[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 176 (Thursday, December 12, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H8049-H8053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ASSESSING PROGRESS IN HAITI ACT OF 2013
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 3509) to direct the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a
report on the status of post-earthquake recovery and development
efforts in Haiti, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3509
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 ``Assessing Progress in Haiti
Act of 2013''.
[[Page H8050]]
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) On January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck near
the Haitian capital city of Port-au-Prince, leaving an
estimated 220,000 people dead, including 103 United States
citizens, 101 United Nations personnel, and nearly 18 percent
of the nation's civil service, as well as 300,000 injured,
115,000 homes destroyed, and 1,500,000 people displaced.
(2) According to the Post Disaster Needs Assessment
conducted by the Government of Haiti, with technical
assistance from the United Nations, the World Bank, the
Inter-American Development Bank, the Economic Commission for
Latin America and the Caribbean, and the European Commission,
an estimated 15 percent of the population were directly
affected by the disaster and related damages and economic
losses totaled $7,804,000,000.
(3) Even before the earthquake, Haiti had some of the
lowest socioeconomic indicators and the second highest rate
of income disparity in the world, conditions that have
further complicated post-earthquake recovery efforts and,
according to the World Bank, have significantly reduced the
prospects of economic growth spurring broader poverty
reduction.
(4) According to the World Food Program, more than
6,700,000 people in Haiti (out of a population of about
10,000,000) are considered food insecure nationally.
(5) In October 2010, an unprecedented outbreak of cholera
in Haiti resulted in over half a million reported cases and
over 8,000 deaths to date, further straining the capacity of
Haiti's public health sector and increasing the urgency of
resettlement and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)
efforts.
(6) The international community, led by the United States
and the United Nations, mounted an unprecedented humanitarian
response in Haiti, with donors pledging approximately
$10,400,000,000 for humanitarian relief and recovery efforts,
including debt relief, supplemented by $3,100,000,000 in
private charitable contributions, of which approximately
$6,400,000,000 has been disbursed and an additional
$3,800,000,000 has been committed as of September 30, 2013.
(7) The emergency response of the men and women of the
United States Government, led by the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) and the United States
Southern Command, as well as of cities, towns, individuals,
businesses, and philanthropic organizations across the United
States, was particularly swift and resolute.
(8) Since 2010, a total of $1,300,000,000 in United States
assistance has been allocated for humanitarian relief and
$2,300,000,000 has been allocated for recovery,
reconstruction, and development assistance in Haiti,
including $1,140,000,000 in emergency appropriations and
$95,000,000 that has been obligated specifically to respond
to the cholera epidemic.
(9) Of the $3,600,000,000 in United States assistance
allocated for Haiti, $651,000,000 was apportioned to the
USAID to support an ambitious recovery plan, including the
construction of a power plant to provide electricity for the
new Caracol Industrial Park (CIP) in northern Haiti, a new
port near the CIP, and permanent housing in new settlements
in the Port-au-Prince, St-Marc, and Cap-Haitien areas.
(10) On October 9, 2013, the Committee on Foreign Affairs
of the House of Representatives held an oversight hearing on
the status and effectiveness of post-earthquake United States
aid to Haiti, following a House of Representatives-mandated,
year-long Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that
was highly critical of some aspects of USAID's recovery
effort.
(11) According to GAO, as of June 30, 2013, USAID had
disbursed just 31 percent of its reconstruction funds in
Haiti, the port project was 2 years behind schedule and over
budget by an estimated $189,000,000, the housing project has
been reduced by 80 percent, and the sustainability of the
power plant, the port, and the housing projects were all at
risk.
(12) GAO further found that Congress has not been provided
with sufficient information to ensure that it is able to
conduct effective oversight at a time when most funding
remains to be disbursed, and specifically recommends that a
periodic reporting mechanism be instituted to fill this
information gap.
(13) Donors have encountered significant challenges in
implementing recovery programs and nearly 4 years after the
earthquake an estimated 171,974 people remain displaced in
camps, unemployment remains high, corruption is rampant, land
rights remain elusive, allegations of wage violations are
widespread, the business climate is unfavorable, and
government capacity remains weak.
(14) For Haiti to achieve stability and long term economic
growth, donor assistance will have to be carefully
coordinated with a commitment by the Haitian Government to
transparency, a market economy, rule of law, and democracy.
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States to support the
sustainable rebuilding and development of Haiti in a manner
that--
(1) promotes efforts that are led by and support the
Haitian people and the Haitian Government at all levels so
that Haitians lead the course of reconstruction and
development of Haiti;
(2) builds the long term capacity of the Government of
Haiti and Haitian civil society;
(3) reflects the priorities and particular needs of both
women and men so they may participate equally and to their
maximum capacity;
(4) respects and helps restore Haiti's natural resources,
as well as builds community-level resilience to environmental
and weather-related impacts;
(5) provides timely and comprehensive reporting on goals
and progress, as well as transparent post program evaluations
and contracting data;
(6) prioritizes the local procurement of goods and services
in Haiti where appropriate; and
(7) promotes the holding of free, fair, and timely
elections in accordance with democratic principles and the
Haitian Constitution.
SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that transparency,
accountability, democracy, and good governance are integral
factors in any congressional decision regarding United States
assistance, including assistance to Haiti.
SEC. 5. REPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act and every 180 days thereafter
through September 30, 2016, the Secretary of State shall
submit to Congress a report on the status of post-earthquake
recovery and development efforts in Haiti.
(b) Contents.--The report required by subsection (a) shall
include--
(1) a summary of the Haiti Rebuilding and Development
Strategy, including any significant changes to the strategy
over the reporting period and an explanation thereof;
(2) a breakdown of the work that the United States
Government agencies other than USAID and the Department of
State are conducting in the Haiti recovery effort, and the
cost of that assistance;
(3) an assessment of the progress of United States efforts
to advance the objectives of the Haiti Rebuilding and
Development Strategy through the ``Post-Earthquake USG Haiti
Strategy: Toward Renewal and Economic Opportunity'' produced
by the Department of State, compared to what remains to be
achieved to meet specific goals, including--
(A) a description of any significant changes to the
Strategy over the reporting period and an explanation
thereof;
(B) an assessment of progress, or lack thereof, over the
reporting period toward meeting the goals and objectives,
benchmarks, and timeframes specified in the Strategy,
including--
(i) a description of progress toward designing and
implementing a coordinated and sustainable housing
reconstruction strategy that addresses land ownership, secure
land tenure, water and sanitation, and the unique concerns of
vulnerable populations such as women and children, as well as
neighborhood and community revitalization, housing finance,
and capacity building for the Government of Haiti to
implement an effective housing policy;
(ii) a description of efforts to construct and sustain the
proposed port, as well as an assessment of the current
projected timeline and cost for completion; and
(iii) a description of efforts to attract and leverage the
investments of private sector partners to the CIP, including
by addressing any policy impediments;
(C) a description of the quantitative and qualitative
indicators used to evaluate the progress toward meeting the
goals and objectives, benchmarks, and timeframes specified in
Strategy at the project level;
(D) the amounts committed, obligated, and expended on
programs and activities to implement the Strategy, by sector
and by implementing partner at the prime and subprime levels
(in amounts of not less than $25,000); and
(E) a description of the risk mitigation measures put in
place to limit the exposure of United States assistance
provided under the Strategy to waste, fraud, and abuse;
(4) a description of measures taken to strengthen, and an
assessment of, Haitian governmental and non-governmental
organizational capacity to undertake and sustain United
States-supported recovery programs;
(5) a description of United States efforts to consult and
engage with Haitian Government ministries and local
authorities on the establishment of goals and timeframes, and
on the design and implementation of new programs under the
Post-Earthquake USG Haiti Strategy: Toward Renewal and
Economic Opportunity;
(6) a description of efforts to consult and engage with
Haitian civil society and grassroots organizations on the
establishment of goals and timeframes, and on the design and
implementation of new programs under the Post-Earthquake USG
Haiti Strategy: Toward Renewal and Economic Opportunity, as
well as efforts to coordinate with and engage the Haitian
diaspora;
(7) consistent with the Government of Haiti's ratification
of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, a
description of United States and Haitian Government efforts
to strengthen Haitian Government institutions established to
address corruption, as well as related efforts to promote
public accountability, meet public outreach and disclosure
obligations, and support civil society participation in anti-
corruption efforts;
[[Page H8051]]
(8) a description of efforts to leverage public-private
partnerships and increase the involvement of the Haitian
private sector in recovery and development activities and
coordinate programs with the private sector and other donors;
(9) a description and assessment of efforts to address the
particular needs of vulnerable populations, including
internally displaced persons, women, children, orphans, and
persons with disabilities, in the design and implementation
of new programs and infrastructure;
(10) an description of the impact that agriculture and
infrastructure programs are having on the food security,
livelihoods, and land tenure security of smallholder farmers,
particularly women;
(11) a description of mechanisms for communicating the
progress of recovery and development efforts to the Haitian
people, including a description of efforts to provide
documentation, reporting and procurement information in
Haitian Creole; and
(12) a description of the steps Haiti is taking to
strengthen its capacity to receive individuals who are
removed, excluded, or deported from the United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous materials on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume
just to share with the Members here that on January 12, 2010, there was
a massive earthquake that struck near the Haitian capital of Port-au-
Prince, leaving some 220,000 people dead and 1.5 million people
displaced. Since 2010, the United States has made a big commitment in
humanitarian relief and a big commitment to reconstruction and
development assistance in Haiti. A good bit of this was allocated to
the U.S. Agency for International Development to support an ambitious
recovery plan that included housing and industrial development.
Last summer, the House Foreign Affairs Committee received a GAO
report detailing a startling lack of progress on U.S.-funded
reconstruction efforts in Haiti. The committee followed up by sending a
bipartisan delegation of staff to investigate and then held an
oversight hearing on Haiti reconstruction, where Members asked tough
questions about USAID efforts.
One recommendation we heard over and over was that Congress needs
improved and more frequent reporting to ensure that we are being kept
up to date on reconstruction activities and so that Congress can
provide tough oversight at a time when much of the funding for Haiti
has yet to be spent. Wasted taxpayer funding is simply unacceptable
here.
While we can help, Haitians must do better. As Haiti Special
Coordinator Thomas Adams noted in his testimony before the committee:
The key to sustainable improvement in Haiti lies not in the
generosity of donors but, rather, in the creation of economic
opportunity.
I agree wholeheartedly with the special coordinator. But,
unfortunately, Haiti currently lacks a clear and enforceable system of
property rights, including effective property registry and titling, and
struggles with high levels of corruption. These are serious problems
which deter the kind of private sector investment that is the real
future of Haiti's economy.
Without significant improvements to Haiti's business climate, no
amount of donor assistance is going to help. We need to work with the
Haitian Government to improve transparency, rule of law, and democracy
so that we can, in turn, improve the lives and economic well-being of
the country's citizens.
Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentlewoman from California,
Representative Barbara Lee, the author of this bill, who worked with
Ranking Member Engel, Chairman Ros-Lehtinen, and Chairman Salmon to
craft this strong, bipartisan oversight legislation that will improve
relief efforts. And I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3509, the Assessing
Progress in Haiti Act of 2013.
I would like to begin by thanking my friend and colleague, the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), for introducing this important
legislation. The Haitian people are lucky to have a friend with her
vision and tenacity.
It is difficult to overstate the devastation wrought by the 2010
earthquake in Haiti that gave rise to the multinational assistance
effort: 316,000 people dead, which is just unbelievable, including 103
United States citizens, 101 United Nations personnel, and nearly 18
percent of the Nation's civil service; 300,000 injured; 115,000 homes
destroyed; and 2 million people displaced. An estimated 15 percent of
the population of Haiti was directly affected by the disaster and
related damages.
I traveled to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, shortly after the quake, and I
can attest to the fact that even those horrific statistics do not fully
describe the waste and destruction I saw.
The United States quickly responded to the devastation in Haiti and
responded robustly. In fact, the post-earthquake assistance program
remains today among our most important foreign assistance commitments
worldwide, which brings me to the bipartisan legislation before us.
H.R. 3509 should be understood as a culminating step in the ongoing
oversight work of the Foreign Affairs Committee regarding that
assistance plan. A multiyear and multibillion-dollar commitment,
reflecting the compassion and generosity of the American people, it
calls for ongoing vigilance, both in terms of accountability as well as
policy direction.
Our committee commissioned a GAO report on that assistance which
found, among other things, that the administration was not providing
sufficient information to the Congress to fulfill its oversight role.
We also sent a bipartisan staff delegation to look into specific
problems the GAO found and held a full committee hearing on the matter.
H.R. 3509 is the logical next step. It seeks to fill the information
gap by requiring the State Department to report on various aspects of
our assistance program. It also includes a statement of policy that
articulates the direction we think that assistance program should take.
I believe that H.R. 3509 goes a significant way to achieving that goal.
As I seem to do frequently in our committee and on the floor these
days, I would like to once again thank the gentleman from California,
Chairman Royce, and his wonderful staff for working in a truly
bipartisan manner on this bill. It is genuinely appreciated by me and
all of my Democratic colleagues on our committee.
I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. ROYCE. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms.
Lee).
Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, first let me thank Chairman Royce
for his tremendous leadership, for his continued support, and for his
true efforts to create bipartisan initiatives in the legislation coming
out of the committee. I have served with him on the committee for many,
many years, and it has always been consistent in terms of trying to
reach a bipartisan agreement on these bills. So, again, I thank him
very much.
And, of course, to the gentleman from New York, Ranking Member Engel,
thank you, again, for your leadership and for helping to craft a bill
that we could get to the floor, which is a bill that I think will
really put the United States on the right side of history as it relates
to Haiti, and also for your focus on the Western Hemisphere.
Let me also just thank all of the original cosponsors of the
Assessing Progress in Haiti Act of 2013, including Representatives
Yvette Clarke, Frederica Wilson, Maxine Waters, John Conyers, Charlie
Rangel, Gregory Meeks, Karen Bass, and, of course, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
I want to thank my colleague Sheila Jackson Lee for staying strong and
steady and supporting this legislation. And I thank them also for their
tireless work and longstanding commitment to the well-being of Haitians
and the country of Haiti.
[[Page H8052]]
Nearly 4 years ago, I stood as chair of the Congressional Black
Caucus and led a Special Order, recognizing the importance of our
relationship with Haiti. A short time later, I led a delegation to
Haiti where we witnessed the destruction and devastation firsthand.
The Congressional Black Caucus has a long history of working with the
Haitian people and the Haitian American community on a variety of
issues.
{time} 1615
We share a close and longstanding relationship. This has continued
under the magnificent leadership of our current chair, Chairwoman
Marcia Fudge.
On January 12, 2010, a devastating 7.0 earthquake struck near Haiti's
capital. This terrible earthquake killed hundreds of thousands and left
1 million more homeless.
Our government, the American people, and the international community
responded with a tremendous outpouring of support for the Haitian
people. However, what began as a swift and effective relief effort gave
way to a sluggish reconstruction.
A report by the Government Accountability Office, also cited by
Chairman Royce, found that USAID has missed a number of its own goals
and deadlines. Most importantly the GAO found that as of June, 2013,
USAID had committed only 52 percent, and disbursed 35 percent, of the
$651 million in funding for earthquake reconstruction.
That is why passing the Assessing Progress in Haiti Act of 2013 is so
important. With so much money yet to be disbursed, we have an
opportunity to ensure that our assistance is as effective as possible.
My bill helps us understand where our aid efforts stand, where they
are going, and how USAID plans to get there. It would require the State
Department to report on the progress of infrastructure projects,
indicators used to measure project success, efforts to combat
corruption, measures taken to strengthen Haitian capacity, and
considerations of vulnerable populations.
My bill would give us the information we need to make those
assessments and help get the reconstruction on track.
No one is saying that this will be easy. The road to recovery is a
long one, and this legislation is but one small step.
We must also keep in mind that USAID cannot fix the problem on its
own. I commend the agency for the work it does around the world and
encourage it to continue to address the challenges it faces in Haiti.
Haitian citizens and their government, along with nongovernmental and
intergovernmental organizations, must do their part. The Haitian
Government will need to hold free, fair, and timely elections. I
commend them for the steps they have already taken this week to hold
long overdue elections next year.
The United Nations will also need to vigorously address the cholera
epidemic. There is no question that in October 2010, after nearly a
century of not having cases of cholera in the country, it was
introduced by U.N. peacekeepers.
As I said before, I am very proud today that we are voting to
increase the transparency and accountability of U.S. assistance to
Haiti on a bipartisan basis. I strongly urge my colleagues to support
this bipartisan legislation, and I look forward to continuing to work
with them to ensure that Haiti is truly built back better and that the
Haitian people once and for all have a future--and that future will be
ensured by the support of the American people.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. ENGEL. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.
Ms. LEE of California. Thank you.
I want to thank Chairman Royce's and Ranking Member Engel's staffs. I
want to especially thank my staff, Pablo and Jirair, and all of our
staffs here for their very diligent and steadfast work. This has taken
us probably about 4 years to get this bill to the floor.
Thank you again, Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, and all of the
original cosponsors for their tremendous support.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. It is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman
from New York (Ms. Clarke).
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of
the Foreign Affairs Committee and the gentlelady from California for
yielding time for me to speak in support of H.R. 3509, the Assessing
Progress in Haiti Act. As a representative of the second largest
population of first- and second-generation Haitian Americans and
Haitian immigrants, I appreciate the importance of the bill.
It is critical that we expand communication between the executive
branch and Congress to keep track of all monetary aid sent to Haiti,
ensuring increased accountability and transparency.
After the alarming findings of the GAO report and since the January
2010 earthquake, Haitians still live in IDP camps; they continue to
fight the cholera epidemic; and with the Haitian Government's very
evident challenges in maintaining a sustainable democracy, it is
imperative that Congress has all the information necessary to ensure
that U.S. foreign aid is being administered effectively.
Mr. Speaker, as we look to the fourth anniversary of the horrific
earthquake, I am hopeful of the day when we can witness the full
recovery and rebirth of the beautiful Caribbean nation of Haiti. But
until then, we have a lot of work to do, and that is why I encourage my
colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 3509, the Assessing Progress in
Haiti Act.
Mr. ENGEL. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas, Ms.
Sheila Jackson Lee.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the ranking member and the
chairman of the full committee for their leadership and also for the
bipartisan leadership that is noted on the Foreign Affairs Committee on
which I had privilege to serve some years ago when we worked on a
number of issues.
Let me add my appreciation to the Congresswoman from California,
Barbara Lee, who led us during her tenure as the chairman of the Black
Caucus during an enormous crisis in Haiti and, more importantly, as a
supporter of this legislation and efforts to see Haiti move into a new
era of democracy and reconstruction.
This legislation, H.R. 3509, is long overdue. I ask my colleagues to
enthusiastically support it.
I traveled to Haiti on any number of occasions, visiting those who
are incarcerated in jails, and even after the earthquake, to find
individuals who were suffering and had been incarcerated and seeing
people who had lost their place to live, children who were out of
school, and resources that were looking to be directed but possibly,
Mr. Speaker, not being directed as they should.
This legislation, of course, will do several things. It will require
a thorough assessment of the progress in meeting the original goals
expressed in January 2011, Post-Earthquake U.S. Haiti Strategy; provide
a description of efforts to combat corruption and ensure public
accountability; and assess whether or not vulnerable populations have
been taken into account in the design and implementation of the new
program.
It is very important to note that even though much has been done,
between the efforts of the international community and including USAID,
up to 3,000 people still live in tent camps, many of whom are facing
forced evictions as time moves on.
Cholera has killed over 8,400 Haitians and sickened over 689,400
since the time of this earthquake. Hundreds of thousands of Haitians
have little or no access to potable water or basic health services, and
Haiti is facing an impending food crisis, according to local and
international organizations.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. ENGEL. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 minute.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. H.R. 3509, I believe, will be an important step to
gather all those who are of good intention, particularly the aid
offered by the USAID, to be able to assess where we are and to be able
to not only help, but feel the pain of those who have not been helped.
I believe that it will be enormously important to look, again, at
infrastructure, as it has impacted Port-au-Prince and the outer areas,
which I think this legislation will be very helpful to.
[[Page H8053]]
Again, it is bipartisan. We ask that this legislation be passed
quickly in the Senate and, more importantly, that the President sign it
to save lives.
Finally, we wish for a democratic transition and democratic
elections. As Haiti goes forward in its election, let's hope whatever
government is put in place will be able to give that lifeline that this
legislation is talking about to move Haiti forward in the 21st century.
I ask my colleagues to support the legislation, and I thank
Congresswoman Barbara Lee for her leadership.
Mr. Speaker, as an original co-sponsor, I rise in strong support of
H.R. 3509, the ``Assessing Progress in Haiti Act of 2013,'' which
requires the Secretary of State to submit to Congress regular, detailed
reports on the status of post-earthquake recovery and development
efforts.
I thank my Congressional Black Caucus colleague, Congresswoman
Barbara Lee of California, for her leadership on this legislation.
I also thank Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Royce (R-CA), Ranking
Member Eliot Engel (D-NY), and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen of Florida
for their support and leadership in shepherding this important
legislation to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, nearly four years after Haiti's devastating earthquake,
there is still far too little transparency and accountability around
U.S. relief and reconstruction aid efforts.
There are close to 300,000 people still living in tent camps, many of
whom are facing forced evictions. Cholera has killed over 8,400
Haitians and sickened over 689,400 since it was first introduced to
Haiti in October of 2010.
Hundreds of thousands of Haitians have little or no access to potable
water or basic health services, and Haiti is facing an impending food
crisis according to local and international organizations, and the
government of Haiti.
H.R. 3509 will greatly assist Congress in overseeing U.S. assistance
in Haiti by providing lawmakers, the U.S. public, and Haitians with key
details on the manner in which U.S. taxpayer money is being spent.
According to the GAO, ``Congress lacks information on the amounts of
funds obligated and disbursed and program-by-program progress of U.S.
reconstruction activities [in Haiti].''
Among other highlights, this legislation would: require a thorough
assessment of the progress in meeting the original goals expressed in
the January 2011 Post-Earthquake U.S. Government Haiti Strategy;
provide a description of efforts to combat corruption and ensure public
accountability; and assess whether vulnerable populations have been
taken into account in the design and implementation of new programs.
Mr. Speaker, the people of Haiti continue to face tremendous
challenges and still our help.
That is why it is essential that we ensure that U.S. assistance to
Haiti is delivered efficiently is more essential than ever.
H.R. 3509 will help achieve this goal. I urge all Members to join me
in voting for this legislation.
Mr. ROYCE. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, as we can all hear from the discussion here
this afternoon, this is a very, very important bill and a very, very
much needed bill. We have the most generous people in the world in the
United States. We need to give help to this island which has been so
devastated, which is really very near us geographically, and where we
have many ties, particularly now, with the burgeoning Haitian American
population as well.
This is humanitarian. This is really what is right. This personifies
and I think typifies the good intentions of this Congress and of our
Nation. I am proud to play a part in this.
I want to again thank Barbara Lee for all her hard work and thank
Chairman Royce for, as we always say, a bipartisan effort. This is
truly bipartisan and truly something of which we can all be proud.
I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, just in closing, let me point out again the
fact that we have a very strong bipartisan coalition of Members that
have worked a long time on this issue of trying to forge a focus on
repair in Haiti. We thank them for their efforts on the reconstruction.
It is important for the people of Haiti to know that our efforts are
best being used to help get them on solid ground and to help them get
the foundation they need to move forward. It is also important for
those in the United States to feel that their money is being spent
wisely and efficiently. I think that is the intent behind this
legislation, H.R. 3509.
It extends and strengthens, I think, the critical oversight that we
do in the committee over Haitian funding, and it promotes the holding
of free, fair, and timely elections in Haiti.
I want to thank the gentlelady from California, Congresswoman Lee,
for her perseverance in getting this bill to the floor today. I want to
encourage my colleagues to support it. I want to thank the ranking
member, Mr. Engel of New York, also for his efforts to bring this bill
up today.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 3509--the
Assessing Progress in Haiti Act.
I would like to commend my colleague, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, for
introducing this legislation and I am happy to be an original cosponsor
of this important bill aimed to provide greater oversight of U.S.
taxpayer funding for reconstruction efforts in Haiti.
This bill calls for a State Department review of the U.S. funded
recovery and development efforts in Haiti, which began over three years
ago in the wake of the deadly 2010 earthquake.
In June of 2012, then-Ranking Member Berman and I requested that the
GAO investigate the progress of reconstruction efforts in Haiti.
This report was important to ensure that American dollars are going
to the Haitian people who are truly in need and not resulting in fraud,
waste and abuse.
This year, GAO issued the report and I was disappointed to learn that
three years after the earthquake, emergency relief efforts were still
woefully disorganized, with much of the funds: not reaching the Haitian
people; USAID is suffering to get some programs off the ground; and the
lack of coordination between U.S. federal agencies is inadequate.
As of March 2013, USAID had obligated only 45 percent and disbursed
31 percent of funding for Haiti from the Supplemental Appropriations
Act from 2010.
Meanwhile, delays continue to mount and goals are being scaled back.
For example, USAID originally planned to build 15,000 new homes.
That number has been decreased to just 2,600 homes causing 62,000
fewer people who will be given shelter as they attempt to recover from
this humanitarian disaster.
The American people deserve to know that their tax dollars are being
spent wisely and at the same time we must ensure that we are helping
the Haitian people recover from the earthquake and poverty.
This requires a clear and comprehensive strategy to improve the
situation on the ground for the people of Haiti.
Lastly Mr. Speaker, this resolution makes it U.S. policy to promote
the holding of free, fair, and timely elections in accordance with
democratic principles and the Haitian Constitution.
It is encouraging to see that the Haitian Parliament has passed a new
electoral law and it has recently been signed by their President.
This positive step forward can now set in motion the necessary
requirements in order to hold senatorial and local elections next
year--elections that have been long overdue since 2011.
The U.S. government will stand ready to help the Haitian government
hold these elections and ensure that every Haitian has the right to
vote for their elected representatives.
Once again, I am thankful that this important bill is on the floor
today and I urge my colleagues to support this measure to ensure our
oversight responsibility over U.S. taxpayer dollars in Haiti.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3509, 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.
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