[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 112 (Monday, June 28, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3179-H3183]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HAITI DEVELOPMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND INSTITUTIONAL TRANSPARENCY 
                             INITIATIVE ACT

  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2471) to measure the progress of post-disaster recovery and 
efforts to address corruption, governance, rule of law, and media 
freedoms in Haiti, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

[[Page H3180]]

  


                               H.R. 2471

       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 Development, 
     Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative 
     Act''.

     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 at least 
     220,000 people dead, including 103 United States citizens, 
     101 United Nations personnel, and nearly 18 percent of 
     Haiti's civil service, as well as 300,000 injured, 115,000 
     homes destroyed, and 1,500,000 Haitians displaced.
       (2) The international community, led by the United States 
     and the United Nations, mounted an unprecedented humanitarian 
     response to the earthquake in Haiti. Through 2018, more than 
     8,000,000,000 has been disbursed by donors. Since the 2010 
     earthquake, the United States Government has disbursed more 
     than 4,000,000,000 in recovery and development funding.
       (3) On October 4, 2016, Hurricane Matthew struck 
     southwestern Haiti on the Tiburon Peninsula, causing 
     widespread damage and flooding and leaving 1.4 million people 
     in need of immediate assistance. Recovery efforts continue 
     more than four years later.
       (4) Prior to both the 2010 earthquake and 2016 hurricane, 
     Haiti registered among the lowest in socioeconomic indicators 
     and had the second highest rate of income disparity in the 
     world--conditions that have further complicated disaster 
     recovery and resilience efforts. As of November 2020, 
     4,400,000 people were in need of humanitarian assistance in 
     Haiti.
       (5) Since 2018, tens of thousands of Haitians have 
     participated in popular demonstrations demanding 
     accountability over government manage-merit of Petrocaribe 
     resources. In early 2019, the Haitian superior court of 
     auditors released a series of reports implicating high-level 
     government officials in the misappropriation of funds.
       (6) The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High 
     Commissioner and the Human Rights Service jointly found a 333 
     percent increase in human rights violations and abuses 
     against the rights of life and security in Haiti from July 
     2018 through December 2019. There were 131 violations in 2018 
     and 567 violations in 2019, including the shooting of at 
     least five Haitian journalists covering the protests.
       (7) Leading members of civil society have faced attacks, 
     including Monferrier Dorval, a constitutional law expert and 
     president of the Port-au-Prince bar who was killed on August 
     28, 2020.
       (8) On November 13, 2018, according to the Haitian National 
     Human Rights Defense Network, at least 71 people were killed 
     and 18 people were raped in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood 
     of La Saline.
       (9) On December 10, 2020, the Department of the Treasury's 
     Office of Foreign Assets Control designated former Haitian 
     National Police officer Jimmy Cherizier, former Director 
     General of the Ministry of the Interior Fednel Monchery, and 
     former Departmental Delegate Joseph Pierre Richard Duplan 
     pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Executive Order for being 
     foreign persons responsible for or complicit in, or having 
     directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse 
     for their connection to the La Saline massacre.
       (10) Following the La Saline massacre, similar attacks have 
     occurred in Port-au-Prince neighborhoods, including the 
     November 2019 and August 2020 attacks on Bel Air, in which 24 
     people were killed and hundreds of families were displaced.
       (11) Parliamentary elections scheduled for October 2019 did 
     not take place, and since January 13, 2020, President Jovenel 
     Moise has ruled by decree. The United States and 
     international community have urged President Moise to limit 
     the use of executive decrees during this period and have ex-
     pressed concern over several decrees issued, including those 
     creating the National Intelligence Agency and appointing 
     three new judges to the Supreme Court outside of 
     constitutional procedures. Haitian civil society 
     organizations have denounced the president's use of decrees 
     as an attempt to consolidate power.
       (12) Due to institutional weakness and other challenges 
     exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Haiti's economy 
     contracted by an estimated 4 percent in 2020 and inflation 
     neared 20 percent. Although there has been no parliament in 
     place since January 2020, the Haitian Government approved a 
     budget on September 30, 2020. However, the delay prevented 
     the International Monetary Fund and other multilaterals from 
     disbursing millions in international assistance.
       (13) In September 2020, President Moise bypassed the 
     Supreme Court to appoint a Provisional Electoral Council 
     (CEP) by executive decree Several civil society groups that 
     traditionally participate in Haiti's electoral councils 
     criticized the decision and have declined to be represented 
     in the CEP.
       (14) The Moise administration lacks the credibility to 
     oversee a proposed constitutional referendum scheduled for 
     June 2021, which legal experts consider unconstitutional.
       (15) There are concerns that, given the lack of democratic 
     checks and balances, the dispute over the credibility of the 
     electoral council, and the deteriorating security situation, 
     elections scheduled for September 2021 will not be free or 
     fair. Additionally, the security situation remains volatile 
     and on February 7, 2021, President Moise alleged that a coup 
     had been attempted against him leading to 23 arrests and the 
     forced retirement of three Supreme Court judges.

     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) recognizes Haitian independence, self-reliance, 
     sovereignty, democratic governance, and efficiency;
       (2) promotes efforts that are led by and support the people 
     and Government of Haiti at all levels so that Haitians lead 
     the course of reconstruction and development of Haiti;
       (3) builds the long-term capacity of the Government of 
     Haiti, civil society in Haiti, and the private sector to 
     foster economic opportunities in Haiti;
       (4) fosters collaboration between the Haitian di-aspora in 
     the United States, including dual citizens of Haiti and the 
     United States, with the Haitian Government and the business 
     community in Haiti;
       (5) supports anti-corruption efforts, promotes press 
     freedom, and addresses human rights concerns, including 
     through the enforcement of sanctions imposed in accordance 
     with the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act on 
     individuals implicated in human rights violations;
       (6) respects and helps restore Haiti's natural resources, 
     as well as strengthens community-level resilience to 
     environmental and weather-related impacts;
       (7) promotes the holding of free, fair, and timely 
     elections in accordance with democratic principles and the 
     Haitian Constitution;
       (8) provides timely and comprehensive reporting on Haiti 
     and the United States Government's goals and progress, as 
     well as transparent post program evaluations and contracting 
     data;
       (9) promotes the participation of Haitian women and youth 
     in governmental and nongovernmental institutions and in 
     economic development and governance assistance programs 
     funded by the United States; and
       (10) does not provide support to facilitate the proposed 
     June 2021 constitutional referendum, including through 
     multilateral organizations.

     SEC. 4. STRENGTHENING HUMAN RIGHTS AND ANTICORRUPTION EFFORTS 
                   IN HAITI AND HOLDING PERPETRATORS OF THE LA 
                   SALINE MASSACRE ACCOUNTABLE.

       (a) Secretary of State Prioritization.--The Secretary of 
     State shall prioritize the protection of human rights and 
     anticorruption efforts in Haiti by the following methods:
       (1) Fostering strong relationships with independent civil 
     society groups focused on monitoring corruption and human 
     rights abuses and promoting democracy in Haiti.
       (2) Supporting the efforts of the Haitian Government to 
     identify persons involved in human rights violations and 
     significant acts of corruption in Haiti, including public and 
     private sector actors, and hold them accountable for their 
     actions.
       (3) Addressing concerns of impunity for the alleged 
     perpetrators, as well as the intellectual authors, of the La 
     Saline massacre.
       (4) Urging authorities to continue to investigate attacks 
     in the La Saline and Bel Air neighborhoods from 2018 through 
     2021 that left dozens dead in order to bring the perpetrators 
     to justice.
       (b) Briefing.--
       (1) Elements.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall brief 
     the appropriate congressional committees on the happenings on 
     November 13, 2018, in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood of La 
     Saline, and its aftermath. The briefing shall include--
       (A) an examination of any links between the massacre in La 
     Saline and mass protests that occurred concurrently in the 
     country;
       (B) an analysis of the reports on the La Saline massacre 
     authored by the United Nations, the European Union, and the 
     Government of Haiti;
       (C) a detailed description of all known perpetrators, as 
     well as the intellectual authors, of the shootings;
       (D) an overview of efforts taken by the Haitian Government 
     to bring the perpetrators, as well as the intellectual 
     authors, of the La Saline massacre to justice and to prevent 
     other similar attacks; and
       (E) an assessment of the ensuing treatment and displacement 
     of the survivors of the La Saline massacre.
       (2) Consultation.--In the briefing required under paragraph 
     (1), the Secretary of State shall consult with 
     nongovernmental organizations in Haiti and the United States.

     SEC. 5. ACTIONS TO PROMOTE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AND ASSEMBLY 
                   IN HAITI.

       The Secretary of State shall prioritize the promotion of 
     freedom of the press and freedom of assembly, as well as the 
     protection of journalists in Haiti by the following methods:
       (1) Advocating to Haitian authorities for increased 
     protection for journalists and the press and for the freedom 
     to peacefully assemble or protest in Haiti.
       (2) Collaborating with government officials and 
     representatives of civil society to develop and implement 
     legal protections for journalists in Haiti.
       (3) Supporting efforts to strengthen transparency in 
     Haiti's public and private sectors, as well as access to 
     information in Haiti.

[[Page H3181]]

       (4) Supporting efforts to strengthen the capacity of 
     independent journalists and increase access to resources for 
     investigative journalism.

     SEC. 6. ACTIONS TO SUPPORT POST-EARTHQUAKE, POST-HURRICANE 
                   AND POST-COVID-19 RECOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT IN 
                   HAITI.

       The Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
     Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
     Development (USAID), shall prioritize post-earthquake and 
     post-hurricane recovery and development efforts in Haiti by 
     the following methods:
       (1) Collaborating with the Haitian Government on a detailed 
     and transparent development plan that includes clear 
     objectives and benchmarks.
       (2) Building the capacity of Haitian-led public, private, 
     and nongovernmental sector institutions in Haiti through 
     post-earthquake and post-hurricane recovery and development 
     planning.
       (3) Assessing the impact of both the United States' and the 
     international community's recovery and development efforts in 
     Haiti since January 2010.
       (4) Supporting disaster resilience and reconstruction 
     efforts.
       (5) Addressing the underlying causes of poverty and 
     inequality, and improving access to health resources, clean 
     water, food, and shelter.
       (6) Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on post-
     disaster recovery efforts and evaluating United States 
     support to help with pandemic response efforts in Haiti, 
     including providing technical assistance and preventing other 
     infectious disease outbreaks.

     SEC. 7. REPORT.

       (a) Report Content.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
     coordination with the Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development, and other relevant 
     agencies and departments, shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report that includes--
       (1) a strategy for carrying out the initiatives described 
     in sections 4, 5, and 6, including established baselines, 
     benchmarks, and indicators to measure outcomes and impact;
       (2) an assessment of major corruption committed among the 
     public and private sectors, and, as practical and 
     appropriate, an assessment of corruption prosecutions 
     investigated by the Haitian judiciary since January 2015;
       (3) an overview of efforts taken by the Haitian Government 
     to address corruption, including the Petrocaribe scandal, and 
     corrective measures to strengthen and restore trust in 
     Haiti's public institutions;
       (4) a description of United States Government efforts to 
     consult and engage with Haitian Government officials and 
     independent civil society groups focused on monitoring 
     corruption and human rights abuses and promoting democracy 
     and press freedom in Haiti since January 2015;
       (5) a description of the Haitian Government's response to 
     civic protests that have taken place since July 2018 and any 
     allegations of human rights abuses, including attacks on 
     journalists;
       (6) an assessment of United States security assistance to 
     Haiti, including the United States support to the Haitian 
     National Police and an assessment of compliance with section 
     620M of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2378d) 
     and section 362 of title 10, United States Code (commonly 
     referred to as the ``Leahy Laws'');
       (7) a description of the Haitian Government's efforts to 
     support displaced survivors of urban and gang violence;
       (8) an assessment of the impact of presidential decrees on 
     the health of Haiti's democratic institutions and 
     safeguarding of human rights, including reducing the 
     authority of the Superior Court of Accounts and 
     Administrative Litigation, promulgating an antiterrorism law, 
     and establishing the National Intelligence Agency, as well as 
     retiring and subsequently appointing judges to the Supreme 
     Court of Haiti;
       (9) a plan in collaboration with the Haitian Government on 
     efforts to support development goals since January 2015, 
     including steps taken to--
       (A) strengthen institutions at the national and local 
     levels; and
       (B) strengthen democratic governance at the national and 
     local levels;
       (10) an analysis of the effectiveness and sustainability of 
     United States-financed development projects, including the 
     Caracol Industrial Park and supporting infrastructure;
       (11) a breakdown of procurement from Haitian small- and 
     medium-sized businesses and nongovernmental organizations by 
     the United States and Haitian governments for development and 
     humanitarian activities by year since 2015, and a description 
     of efforts to increase local procurement, including food aid;
       (12) a description of United States efforts taken since 
     January 2010 to assist the Haitian people in their pursuits 
     for free, fair, and timely democratic elections;
       (13) quantitative and qualitative indicators to assess 
     progress and benchmarks for United States initiatives focused 
     on sustainable development in Haiti, including democracy 
     assistance, economic revitalization, natural disaster 
     recovery, pandemic response, resilience, energy and 
     infrastructure, health, and food security; and
       (14) a risk assessment of conflict, instability, and 
     violence in Haiti that includes information relating to--
       (A) systemic patterns and causes of violence and subsequent 
     impunity relating to massacres, death threats, kidnappings, 
     armed attacks, and firearm-related violence, with analysis of 
     the roles of the various actors and beneficiaries who play a 
     part, including Haitain Government actors;
       (B) gang activity and its role in the recent wave of 
     kidnappings and the capacities of the police force to address 
     the most serious manifestations of insecurity;
       (C) the scope and role of criminal activity and its 
     linkages to political forces, particularly leading up to 
     elections; and
       (D) implications of the lack of independence of Haiti's 
     judicial system.
       (b) Consultation.--In preparing the report required under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary of State and the USAID 
     Administrator shall consult with nongovernmental 
     organizations and civil society groups in Haiti and the 
     United States, as well as the Government of Haiti where 
     appropriate.
       (c) Public Availability.--The report required under 
     subsection (a) shall be made publicly available on the 
     website of the Department of State.

     SEC. 8. SUNSET.

       (a) Repeal.--The Assessing Progress in Haiti Act (22 U.S.C. 
     2151n; Public Law 113-162) is repealed.
       (b) Termination.--This Act shall terminate on December 31, 
     2025.

     SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act the term ``appropriate congressional 
     committees'' means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Meeks) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 2471, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2471, the Haiti 
Development, Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative 
Act.
  I thank my friend, Mr. Jeffries, for authoring this bipartisan bill. 
Mr. Jeffries has been a strong advocate for the Haitian people, and I 
thank him for his friendship and leadership on this very important 
issue.
  On January 12, 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti with an 
epicenter just a few miles west of Port-au-Prince. This devastating 
natural disaster killed more than 200,000 people, displaced 1.5 million 
Haitians, and caused billions of dollars in damages.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand here today with the same message my colleagues 
and I delivered to the Haitian people 11 years ago: The United States 
remains steadfast in our commitment to help Haiti however we can.
  Over the last decade, Congress has worked closely with the Haitian-
American diaspora, the Haitian people, the Haitian Government to 
support rebuilding and development efforts on the island.
  Unfortunately, after Hurricane Matthew devastated Haiti in 2016, the 
country faced another humanitarian crisis, and additional rebuilding 
and development plans were needed.

                              {time}  1615

  Sadly, Haiti still has a long way to go. The Haiti Development, 
Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative Act evaluates 
the effectiveness of U.S. recovery and development efforts in Haiti 
over the past 10 years and devises strategies to promote the rule of 
law, encourage freedom of the press, combat government corruption, 
address the root causes of poverty, and improve development efforts.
  Helping to pave the pathway to a reconstructed, prosperous Haiti, of 
course, is a two-way street. We must learn from our mistakes over the 
past 10 years and devise innovative solutions for any roadblocks that 
lie ahead.
  At the same time, it is imperative that the Haitian Government 
address the growing and legitimate concerns about the country's 
deteriorating human rights situation, spiraling gang violence, and 
often-seen impunity for corrupt officials.

[[Page H3182]]

  It is the duty of all of us here in Congress to stand with the 
Haitian people as they demand a safe, prosperous, and democratic Haiti. 
I urge the Haitian Government to do all they can to engage with their 
citizens and truly listen to their concerns.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the House Foreign Affairs Committee 
passed this bipartisan bill unanimously, and I urge my colleagues to 
join me in supporting its passage on the House floor today.
  Again, I thank my real friend, Mr. Jeffries, for being such a great 
champion for Haiti. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of Haiti continue to suffer from devastating 
natural disasters, political instability, and fragile public 
institutions. The country has never recovered from the 2010 earthquake 
or the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in 2016.
  With their economy unable to recover, Haiti remains the poorest 
country in the Western Hemisphere. As a result, the lack of economic 
opportunity has led to an increase in crime and gang violence. At the 
same time, civil unrest caused by political instability plagues the 
island nation.
  There are credible accusations of systemic government corruption and 
human rights abuses, and Haiti is facing a constitutional crisis after 
failing to organize legislative elections in 2019; meaning, the country 
has no sitting Parliament at this time.
  We continue to strongly urge the Government of Haiti to hold free and 
fair elections that reflect the will of the Haitian people.
  All of these challenges are now compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
That is why I support the Haiti Development, Accountability, and 
Institutional Transparency Initiative Act. This legislation requires 
the State Department to assess how effective U.S. assistance is in 
helping Haiti's recovery efforts.
  Haiti remains the second largest recipient of U.S. support in the 
region. Since 2011, American taxpayers have sent nearly $1.9 billion to 
assist them with economic development and to support expanding their 
democracy. It is our responsibility in this Congress to ensure that 
this money is, in fact, being spent wisely.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Jacobs), a valued member of the House Foreign Affairs 
Committee.
  Ms. JACOBS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in 
support of H.R. 2471, the Haiti Development, Accountability, and 
Institutional Transparency Initiative Act. I thank Congressman Jeffries 
for his leadership in offering this important piece of legislation that 
will ensure that we take stock of U.S. policy in Haiti and measure our 
progress in addressing corruption, improving governance, and advancing 
the rule of law.
  Haiti is facing one of its worst outbreaks of violence since 1986. 
This has had a devastating impact on the Haitian people and threatened 
any long-term progress we have made. We have seen this movie before. 
Instead of continuing the same approach and hoping for a different 
outcome, it is critical that as we are conducting our long-overdue 
review of policy, we are analyzing the drivers and risks of conflict, 
instability, and violence in Haiti.
  This bill sets out to do just that and more. The amendment I offered 
in committee requires the State Department and USAID to conduct an 
assessment of conflict, instability, and violence in Haiti, analyzing 
the systemic patterns and causes of violence and the role of actors and 
beneficiaries who play a part.
  This bill also makes sure that State and USAID are consulting with 
NGOs and civil society groups in Haiti, a critical step that is often 
overlooked.
  As someone who has worked in conflict stabilization at the State 
Department, I know how important it is that we understand the root 
causes of violence in order to craft sound policy and make decisions on 
where to focus our foreign assistance. This bill would ensure our 
review of U.S. policy in Haiti takes this important step.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it is true that Haiti continues to face significant 
challenges. Yet, I remain optimistic that we can partner with the 
Haitian people and play a constructive role in the coming critical 
years of Haiti's recovery. And while we must continue our unwavering 
support for Haiti, we also must be open to making adjustments moving 
forward.
  By increasing cooperation and being open to new ideas, I am confident 
that we can support the Haitian people as they seek peace, stability, 
an end to poverty, and a fully functioning democracy.
  We know this is not going to be easy, but we have to stand by the 
Haitian people and make sure that they have an opportunity to have a 
better tomorrow, for surely, they deserve it.

  Mr. Speaker, let me finally thank, again, Representative Jeffries for 
authoring this piece of legislation. It is very important, and I know 
that he has a large portion of the Haitian diaspora in his district, as 
it is in New York in mine and Representative Clarke's and, of course, 
in Florida.
  We will stand by the Haitian people, not giving up hope, not giving 
up trust, imploring the Government of Haiti to do the right thing for 
the people of Haiti by having elections that are free and fair.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my support for H.R. 
2471, the ``Haiti Development, Accountability, and Institutional 
Transparency Initiative Act,'' which modernizes the U.S. foreign 
assistance strategy to Haiti, and affirms our role as a champion of 
democracy and good neighbor in the Western Hemisphere.
  This legislation, introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from New 
York, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, would promote transparency within 
Haitian humanitarian assistance programs, and place democratic values 
such as good governance, freedom of the press, and human rights at the 
forefront of our bilateral relationship with Haiti.
  Since the catastrophic earthquake on January 12, 2010, which left 
220,000 people dead, 300,000 injured, and 115,000 homes destroyed, the 
United States--in partnership with the international community--mounted 
an unprecedented humanitarian response.
  The United States Government has disbursed more than $4,000,000,000 
in recovery and development funding since the disaster struck in 2010.
  In 2016, Hurricane Matthew caused widespread damage and flooding, 
leaving 1.4 million people in need of immediate assistance.
  Prior to these catastrophes, Haiti registered among the lowest in 
socioeconomic indicators and had the second highest rate of income 
disparity in the world.
  Concurrently, democratic backsliding in Haiti undercuts the shared 
commitment to democracy in our bilateral relationship and stymies our 
effort to ensure that humanitarian aid is reaching and improving the 
welfare of the Haitian people.
  The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner and 
the Human Rights Service jointly found a 333 percent increase in human 
rights violations and abuses from July 2018 through December 2019.
  On top of that, parliamentary elections scheduled for October 2019 
never took place, and since January 2020, President Jovenel Moise has 
ruled by decree.
  As an original co-sponsor of H.R. 3059, the ``Assessing Progress in 
Haiti, Act of 2013,'' I maintain an unshaking belief in the Haitian 
people's resilience, entrepreneurial spirit, and desire for a free and 
fair political system.
  That is why I also staunchly opposed the former president's attempt 
to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians living in 
the United States.
  In tandem with the U.S. Government, Haiti relies on remittances that 
its citizens receive from TPS beneficiaries in the United States.
  The Haitian community in Texas exemplifies this reality.
  As such, I am pleased that Secretary Mayorkas announced a new 18-
month designation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status.
  Following Hurricane Matthew, I called upon Houstonians to do their 
part in alleviating the suffering of our neighbors in Haiti.
  In partnership with local organizations, churches, and the diaspora 
community, we collected and donated clothing, pillows, nonperishable 
foods, and other items to help the Haitian people.

[[Page H3183]]

  Now, I call upon this Congress to answer the call of help--to act in 
accordance with our long-standing record of supporting the Haitian 
people in recovering and building a future worthy of their aspirations.
  The ``Haiti Development, Accountability, and Institutional 
Transparency Initiative Act'' is our response to this call for help.
  H.R. 2471--a bicameral and bipartisan effort--urgently upgrades our 
U.S. foreign assistance strategy and strengthens human rights, promotes 
freedom of the press, and supports disaster resilience and 
reconstruction efforts in Haiti.
  I commend my colleagues, particularly the gentleman from New York, 
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, for shining a light on this issue, and 
remaining firm in our commitment to the Haitian people.
  Let us, with one voice, irrespective of party, come together and 
affirm our role as a bulwark of democracy in the world and good 
neighbor in the hemisphere.
  I urge all Members to join me in voting for this long overdue but 
enormously beneficial legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2471, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mrs. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________