[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 22, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H4112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING HAITIAN HERITAGE MONTH

  (Ms. PRESSLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. PRESSLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 
significant cultural and economic contributions the Haitian diaspora 
has made to America.
  The month of May marks Haitian Heritage Month, an expansion of 
Haitian Flag Day, which is celebrated annually on May 18. As the first 
Black republic in the world to abolish slavery, the Haitian people 
continue to demonstrate patriotism, resilience, sacrifice, love, and 
Haitian pride.
  Last weekend, I joined my Haitian brothers and sisters in the 
Massachusetts Seventh for a Flag Day celebration in Randolph and a 
Haitian-American Unity Parade in Mattapan. We waved this flag, 
shouting, ``Haiti,'' and, ``Unity is strength,'' ``L'union fait la 
force.''
  Massachusetts Seventh is one of the most diverse districts in the 
country, and the Haitian diaspora is a fundamental part of our 
district. We have the first-in-the-Nation Haitian-Creole pre-K dual 
language program at the Toussaint L'Ouverture Academy. We have some of 
the most influential Haitian leaders in the country, like Marie St. 
Fleur, Linda Dorcena Forry, Jean Bradley Derenoncourt, Natacha Clerger, 
and Eunice Zeigler, to name a few.
  With many Haitian Americans contributing to our economy and society, 
they deserve more than TPS renewal. They deserve a pathway to permanent 
residency. Haitian Americans and the Haitian-American United network 
have made significant contributions to this country for decades. They 
are owed residency.
  We must continue to affirm the dignity of Haitian Americans and to 
demand that this administration see their humanity.

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