[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 9, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H2241-H2245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            CRISIS IN HAITI

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 9, 2023, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-
McCormick) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority 
leader.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include any extraneous material on the subject of this Special 
Order hour.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I 
rise today to co-anchor the CBC Special Order hour, along with my 
distinguished colleagues, Representative Jonathan Jackson and Stacey 
Plaskett.
  For the next 60 minutes, Members of the CBC have an opportunity to 
discuss the crisis of Haiti, an issue of great importance to the 
Congressional Black Caucus, Congress, the constituents we represent, 
and all of America.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke).
  Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise on this day to help shed 
light on an escalating crisis 700 miles from the shores of Florida. 
That crisis is in the island nation of Haiti.
  I thank my colleagues for anchoring this evening's Special Order hour 
as part of our mission in the Congressional Black Caucus: Congresswoman 
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, and Congressman Jonathan Jackson, your 
leadership is tremendous, and, of course, my colleague, Congresswoman 
Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that the Haitian people are 
experiencing some of the most horrific times in modern-day civil 
society. Their democracy has been suspended and there is no viable 
governance. Anarchy is poised to take root, and there is no protection 
for the people.
  This is a humanitarian crisis that has reached unprecedented levels 
with widespread food insecurity, hunger, and undeterred gang violence, 
filling the void and terrorizing the nation.

                              {time}  2030

  According to the U.N., 4 million people in Haiti face acute food 
insecurity and 1 million are one step away from famine. Imagine the 
population of Los Angeles, subject to severe food insecurity and 
violence that has led to a spike in starvation, with goods unable to 
move freely while people are forced to remain in their homes out of 
fear for their lives.
  Haiti is a mere 700 miles from our shores, yet in many ways, Haiti 
has been forgotten. It is urgent, crucial, that we pay attention.
  American lore and ethos paint the United States as a Nation of 
immigrants, but our Nation has historically welcomed mostly immigrants 
of European origin, like Donald Trump, who once asked: Why are we 
having all these people from ``S-hole'' countries come here?
  Some of the wealthiest people in the world, who despite being 
immigrants themselves, continue to push insane conspiracies, completely 
devoid of compassion, logic, and reason. They repeatedly use the 
rhetoric of the white supremacist great replacement conspiracy theory, 
focus efforts on the erasure of Black immigrants' contributions to our 
Nation from our history, and hoping that a whitewashed or real 
replacement theory of disinformation will endure.
  Their racial cruelty and inhumanity have only enabled maltreatment of 
Black immigrants as temporary workers or, worse, as criminals, rather 
than as legal, permanent residents and asylum-seekers, as political 
pawns rather than people in need.
  They describe Haitians as invaders. Desperate families seeking 
refuge, clinging to life and their fleeting tenuous futures are not 
invaders. Such rhetoric reflects an ongoing 21st century vicious quest 
for racial hierarchy in immigration policy that deters and blocks Black 
refugees and immigrants from entering the United States.
  It is urgent that we pay attention, because the Black African 
descendant diaspora has always been the reservoir to Black communities 
and Black families in the United States, from Malcolm X, whose mother 
was from the island nation of Grenada, to Vice President Kamala Harris, 
whose father is Jamaican, just like mine.
  As we continue to bear witness to the hell unfolding on a small 
nation a mere 700 miles off our coast, we can never forget that Black 
history is American history.
  In closing, I implore my colleagues and the administration to come 
together for our Haitian sisters and brothers. My co-chairs from the 
Haiti Caucus and I will continue to push this administration to extend 
TPS for Haiti and a pause in deportations.
  The whole country is unstable and dangerous. There is no excuse to 
send anyone anywhere in Haiti. Let me repeat: There is no excuse to 
send anyone anywhere in Haiti. We cannot give credence to those who 
would have us give in to fear, forsaking our American values for 
reasons beyond logic and comprehension. We cannot forsake our American 
values for reasons beyond comprehension or give credence to those who 
would have us give in to fear.
  Our Nation rises to its greatest heights when we are guided by our 
hearts and compassion and moral obligations to our neighbors in need.
  I, again, thank my colleagues for spending this time tonight.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Yvette 
Clarke for her statements.
  I also recognize that Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has submitted 
her comments for the Record.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. 
Plaskett).
  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-
McCormick, as well as her co-chair, Congressman Jonathan Jackson, who 
have led this Special Order hour for some time now, bringing to 
America, as well as to other Members of Congress, the issues that are 
important to the Congressional Black Caucus, the conscience of the 
Congress.
  It is these Special Order hours which really allow our colleagues and 
others to understand those issues which may not get the kind of 
attention through the media or even in our hearings that they deserve. 
I thank them for spending this time to allow us to talk about a 
festering crisis that is directly at our border, that Congress has not 
engaged in sufficiently to ensure that democracy continues to reign in 
this near neighbor of ours.

[[Page H2242]]

  The time for dawdling, procrastination, pointless disputes, reviews, 
and continual talking has long expired. Haiti cannot wait.
  Haiti is a nation that has endured a tremendous amount of misfortune. 
Although it holds the distinction of being the first republic of people 
of African descent and one of the oldest nations in the Americas, 
second only to the United States of America, Haiti faces a significant 
and ongoing humanitarian and political crisis.
  The world has witnessed the Republic of Haiti face a profound 
political, security, and humanitarian crisis as the nation continues to 
be overwhelmed now by gangs that systematically endanger its democratic 
process. During this period, the U.S. has condemned the violence, 
imposed sanctions on gang leaders, and called to hasten the transition 
to elections.
  That is not enough. While observing Haiti's plight--the sustained, 
consistent misfortune, lack of access to resources, abject poverty, and 
rampant corruption--one might wonder: What is the root cause of these 
issues? I know I have. I know others have. They have said: Why are they 
in this situation?
  In understanding Haiti's disadvantaged state, we must acknowledge the 
ways in which the nation and its resources have, in fact, been 
exploited for many years.
  In the early 1800s, Haiti was forced to pay huge reparations to 
France in exchange for independence, which they had won fairly. They 
have paid to the tune of $21 billion to France, a debt that took over a 
century to pay off, payment for freedom.
  Can we as Americans imagine paying England for the right to be 
independent, for winning a revolution?
  But France required it, and we, the United States, forced that 
payment on Haiti, a debt that took over a century to pay, paid to a 
European superpower that had colonized and enslaved them in order to 
profit from their labor and the resources of the land. Like many 
European nations, the wealth and ease of living enjoyed by the French 
today were built at the expense of Haiti, the Haitian people, and many 
other colonized areas, affecting many generations.
  The continuous and often gross exploitation that organically 
accompanied colonial rule in places like Haiti, along with the results 
that followed, is something that is often ignored. We want to forget 
that that happened. We want to just look at the state that they are in 
now and not think about what brought them there, how we may have led to 
that exploitation as well. It is rarely acknowledged and almost never 
remediated. The nation of Haiti, with its past, current, and ongoing 
dilemmas, is a testament to the tragedy of this reality.
  How could a nation, entrenched in billions of dollars of debt over 
multiple generations, even begin to establish the necessary 
infrastructure and societal structure needed to build a semblance of 
normalcy and make significant progress towards economic growth and 
prosperity?
  The severity of the situation has far surpassed the usefulness of 
words.
  We, in the United States, must assist. We are operating on borrowed 
time, with Russia having already set its sights on expanding its reach 
from the African Continent closer to our shores. Intent on capitalizing 
on Haiti's political instability, the Wagner Group has sought to offer 
the Haitian Government military strength to combat the gangs. If the 
United States does not take immediate action, our foreign adversaries, 
not limited to Russia and China, may be 700 miles from our shores. That 
is how close Haiti is, as you have heard from Congresswoman Yvette 
Clarke, to the United States.
  This continued marginalization has negatively impacted the entire 
region--in this case, Haiti--and threatened to derail U.S. security and 
economic interests in the Western Hemisphere. The fiscal year 2023 
National Defense Authorization Act included an amendment that directed 
the Department of Defense to assess the standing U.S. military force 
posture in the Caribbean, given U.S. national and regional security 
interests, and to thwart our foreign adversaries, Russia and China.
  Those adversaries have set their sights on expanding their reach in 
the region of the Caribbean and Latin America. The continued expansion 
of Russian and Chinese influence threatens our national security, our 
prosperity, and our democratic values.
  China's economic investments and financial assistance target 
vulnerable countries in the Caribbean and carry collateral conditions, 
including diplomatic expectations.
  Through their Belt and Road Initiative, BRI, China has entrenched its 
presence by signing agreements with countries such as Antigua and 
Barbuda, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Guyana, the 
Dominican Republic, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and others. These 
investments span vast infrastructure projects including the development 
of major ports, highways, and energy sectors.
  For example, recently, the Dominican Republic received a $600 million 
loan to expand the country's electric grid, along with a $3.1 billion 
package of investments. Do we not think that China will not use this as 
leverage while these projects bolster economic growth and 
infrastructure development? They also raise concerns about the leverage 
and strategic advantages the investments have.
  What will happen to Haiti?
  Haiti is in a position where they need financial support. We in the 
United States have got to pass the Caribbean Trade Resolution. The 
resolution recognizes the importance of enhanced trade and investment 
in the Caribbean. We are also working on strengthening existing trade 
relationships, like the Caribbean Basin Initiative or the sponsorship 
of HOPE for Haitian Prosperity Act of 2023, to signal our long-term 
commitment to Haiti.
  As a member of the New Democratic Coalition, I join my colleagues in 
calling for renewal and enhancement of the Generalized System of 
Preferences, in which numerous Caribbean nations participate. In 
strengthening our economic partnership, the support of these nations is 
vital not only to their economic growth but to our national security.
  As the United States' third border, the Caribbean's economic 
stagnation directly impacts U.S. security and stability.
  As co-chair of the Congressional Caribbean Caucus, I am acutely aware 
that the economic and political challenges facing our neighbors are 
complex and as such require collaborative and sustained efforts from 
policymakers, industry experts, financial institutions, and civil 
society.

                              {time}  2045

  We must have U.S. leadership in the region. Neighboring nations will 
continue to look elsewhere for support.
  Venezuela is another country that they are looking to. My colleagues 
in the Congressional Black Caucus agree that Haiti is at an inflection 
point and that we need to act decisively by approving the State 
Department's request for $40 million in funding for the Multinational 
Security Support Mission to Haiti.
  For over 6 months, this Congress has held those funds. Congressional 
Republicans have refused to deliver the necessary resources to carry 
out this mission, even as the situation on the ground has deteriorated.
  The instability in Haiti is not only a humanitarian crisis but a 
threat to our national security. We believe that the Multinational 
Security Support Mission would advance the national security interests 
not just of Haiti but of the United States. It would demonstrate 
American leadership in the Caribbean and provide a lifeline to the 
Haitian people.
  Depending in large part on what Congress does or does not do next, 
the situation could start to improve or, by contrast, devolve into 
chaos and even civil war. If we act decisively, then Haiti has a 
fighting chance. If we dither and delay, then we are likely to watch as 
the Haitian National Police collapses, violent gangs overrun the 
country, and irregular immigration to the United States and other 
countries surges.
  We recognize that, of course, there is a right and responsibility to 
be careful to scrutinize the funds to ensure the State Department has 
explained, but we believe that the burden of persuasion has been met 
and that it is time to release the remaining funds.
  We regard American leadership as indispensable in this area. What is 
happening in Haiti is a test of American

[[Page H2243]]

mettle, and we must pass this test. Our hands-off and apathetic 
approach to Haiti is an affront to our values. This is a country that 
helped us during our Revolutionary War. Haitian men came and fought 
alongside our American soldiers in the American Revolution. When they 
sought their own revolution, what did we do at the end but require them 
to pay our ally France?
  Our support of Haiti must be clear. We must support our democratic 
neighbor to the south.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support all measures that would 
advance stability in this nation and ensure that the people of Haiti 
can, in fact, prosper.
  I thank Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick for the opportunity to 
speak. I know that this is an issue that is very dear to her not only 
because of her own familial ties to Haiti but so many of her 
constituents as well in Florida are crying out for support for their 
families and friends who remain there. They are Americans trying to 
ensure that their brothers and sisters, their family members, can, in 
fact, prosper. I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership on this 
issue.
  I thank the Congressional Black Caucus for doing all that they can 
do. Of course, my sister from another mister, Yvette Clarke of 
Brooklyn, I thank her for always being there in the fight, as well.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Stacey 
Plaskett. Again, I thank our Congresswoman from New York, Yvette 
Clarke, for working tirelessly with us.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson).
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Honorable Stacey 
Plaskett for her leadership, and I thank my colleague, the Honorable 
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, for yielding.
  Much of the world today has their attention focused on Gaza, and it 
seems as if Haiti has been ignored. Mr. Speaker, when you consider the 
long and difficult journey of the Haitian people from bondage to 
freedom and all that has been done to destabilize and punish Haitian 
independence, I say to you that Haiti cannot be ignored.
  It would be easy to blame the Haitian people for the overwhelming 
violence being committed on the streets of Port-au-Prince, in Jacmel, 
and in the countryside, but such thinking would be the result of a 
tragic reductionism more so intended to manipulate the facts than to 
teach them. What is happening in Haiti today is the result of what 
happens when empires and colonial powers conspire to make it 
economically impossible for liberated countries to flourish and 
survive.
  To think that Haiti had to pay France the equivalent of what would be 
today $21 billion in 1804 after Dessalines had declared independence--
King Charles X of France, a slaver and a colonial power, had the 
American Government, after its independence, enforce a payment to 
American, French, and German bankers and put a tax on the Haitian 
people for 150 years. Haitians did not stop paying French bankers until 
1947.
  Yes, a 150-year tax was put on the first freed African group of 
people to resist slavery and colonialism.
  How is it even possible for the world to stand by and allow France to 
put a tax on the people of Haiti because they dared to do what 
Americans had done just 20 years prior to the Haitian Revolution?
  Mr. Speaker, can you imagine the outcry in this country if Great 
Britain had required America to pay a freedom tax after the 
Revolutionary War to make up for lost wages and profits?
  Americans would still be angry. Americans would be resentful. More 
importantly, Americans would still be recovering from having to 
dedicate most of its GDP to paying an unconscionable tax for the 
subsequent loans and interest needed to resolve it.
  How did it happen that for 150 years the nation of Haiti was trapped 
in a vicious cycle of economic extortion and exploitation while the 
rest of the so-called civilized world acted as if making the victim pay 
the brutalizer was not a crime against humanity and the complete 
inversion of common sense?
  This is what has happened to Haiti. This is the root cause and the 
base behind the bottomless music of chaos and violence happening in 
Haiti right now.
  The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., said that violence is the 
language of the unheard, a point to which I shall add that criminality 
is the syntax and verbiage of the poor. People who have neither the 
means nor the opportunity to participate and benefit from the wealth of 
their own country will, in the end, act against the national interest 
because the politics of bread is unrelenting.
  I stand with all of my colleagues who condemn the violence going on 
in Haiti because violence is never the answer. More than that, I call 
on all the Western powers to, once and for all, take their knees off of 
the neck of the Haitian economy. The world owes the Haitian people an 
apology and the real support Haiti has never received.
  America should celebrate our longest and greatest democratic ally in 
the Western Hemisphere, Haiti. The Haitian Army fought with America in 
the American Revolution in Savannah, Georgia. We can end this violence 
not with soldiers but with real economic investment.
  If the manifest destiny of America is to be concerned about the 
quality of life in our hemisphere, then the investment we make in Haiti 
is, in effect, an investment in the future stability of the 
neighborhood we live in. Charity begins at home, our Scriptures teach 
us. It is about time the Nation and the world support Haitians' self-
determination.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of 
my time.
  Today, I stand before you, Mr. Speaker, to discuss the future of 
Haiti. Haiti is a country with an inspirational global history and a 
rich culture, but it has encountered numerous obstacles over the years, 
such as political turmoil and dire gang violence.
  Gangs currently control 80 percent of the capital; 1.4 million 
Haitians are nearing famine; 362,000 people are internally displaced; 
and young girls are regularly victims of gender-based violence. In 
short, the gang violence has caused life in Haiti to be unbearable.
  The Haitian people have been crying out for help, but the Republican 
Party has been holding up funding for the security mission to help more 
than 2 million people in Haiti for the last 6 months. The security 
mission in Haiti is critical to protecting the Haitian people and 
creating an environment necessary for peace, stability, democracy, and 
self-determination.
  We are at a tipping point, and we need a solution now--no debates and 
no political games. Haiti cannot wait any longer for the Multinational 
Security Support Mission. Every single day we wait, we risk another 
life.
  We must end this nightmare and terror facing the Haitian people. 
Instead of actively working toward a solution, Republicans are holding 
these funds to further their radical agenda.
  Haiti is in our backyard. Its insecurity is a direct threat to 
America's security. No one wants to leave their homes; they are forced 
to.
  Despite receiving 70 briefings since October 2023, Republicans 
continue to spread misinformation and are engaging in fearmongering 
toward Haitian migrants coming to the United States. They are refusing 
to propose real solutions while lives hang in the balance and our 
national security is under real threat.
  Let me be clear. The United States supports the security of the 
Haitian people. I commend the Biden-Harris administration and Secretary 
Blinken for pledging a total of $300 million to support the MSS. The 
Biden-Harris administration just announced an additional $25 million in 
addition to humanitarian assistance for Haiti. This builds on the $33 
million for humanitarian assistance Secretary of State Blinken 
announced last month.
  Republicans must stop playing these political games with Haitian 
lives and release their hold on the Multinational Security Support 
Mission now. The longer we hold the funds, the more Haitian people die 
and flee to the United States.
  Recently, we have seen more Governors talking about this fear of 
Haitian people coming to our borders, but the truth is that if we step 
in now and release the funding, we would have the security necessary so 
no one has to leave their homes.
  Every day, we see more children, women, boys, and girls who are being

[[Page H2244]]

brutalized, kidnapped, and raped in front of their families. Rape has 
been used as a tool to intimidate the Haitian people.
  How can we stand as Americans who call Haiti and Haitian people our 
allies and not come to their defense?
  How can we stand in this very moment when we see Haitian lives every 
single day being sacrificed and being killed and do nothing?
  How can we play these political games while we have so many family 
members who are dying?
  Being the only Haitian American in Congress and the first Democrat, 
it breaks my heart that we are in this place, and I can see my 
Republican counterparts playing these games.

  Every single day, I live in fear of hearing another family member has 
died in Haiti. Every single day, we have more than 1.2 million Haitian 
Americans living in the United States who are in fear that family are 
being murdered. Right now, we have Haitian Americans who cannot be 
evacuated soon enough to get out of the country.
  We have elderly people who came to the United States, worked very 
hard, and went back to retire in their home country but cannot get out 
of the country and are being threatened and beaten. We see children 
every single day being forced into being part of a gang and have been 
tasked with burning bodies and actually shooting on first sight when 
they see people.
  How can we as Americans every single day see these atrocities and do 
nothing? How do we live and have a conscience and come to Congress and 
continue to play games?
  We must do what is right for the Haitian people and the American 
people. We must live up to our greatness and put an end to these 
political games and do what is right.
  As the leaders of the global economy and as the leaders of the 
international world, let us stop playing these games and finally lead 
with compassion.
  Our strength is in our ability to come together and service all 
humanitarian people, all humanity. Let us act today and stop playing 
these games.
  For the last 6 months, we have been begging for these funds to be 
released. To be honest with you, Mr. Speaker, $40 million being 
released for this mission is nothing compared to what we have spent in 
other regions, so why not for a country that is right in our backyard?
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the critical 
crisis that is occurring in Haiti, an increasing escalating situation.
  The situation in Haiti is deteriorating and the Haitian government 
has recently declared a state of emergency.
  In the last couple of years, Haiti has seen an increase in violence, 
including kidnappings and sexual violence in Haiti's capital, Port-au-
Prince which have ravished the country.
  At least 80 percent of the capital is under the control of gangs.
  Many Haitian citizens cannot leave their homes for fear that they 
will never make it back.
  In 2023, there were 5,000 murders and 2,000 kidnappings and over 
300,000 people have been displaced within the country while another 1.4 
million Haitians are near famine.
  It is truly devastating to see Haiti in such a condition considering 
its history of resilience and fervent fighting spirit.
  For decades, Haiti has faced significant challenges, including 
natural disasters and environmental shocks as well as multiple 
political crises.
  Intensified gang violence and recurring political and civil unrest 
since July 2018 have severely exacerbated Haiti's dire economic and 
humanitarian conditions: unemployment and inflation are high; the 
national currency is volatile; fuel shortages are recurring and severe; 
foreign reserves are dangerously low; more than 60 percent of the 
population lives below the poverty line, and more than four million 
Haitians face crisis- or emergency-level food insecurity.
  Following the catastrophic events that occurred in 2018, I introduced 
H.R. 6325, the Continue American Safety Act (CASA) which provided 
temporary protected status for certain countries, such as Haiti.
  The proportion of people in Haiti facing acute food insecurity has 
increased significantly, from 1 in 3 people in 2018 to almost 1 in 2 
people in 2022, according to the study ``Food security in Central 
America, Panama, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Haiti,'' published by 
the Inter-American Development Bank.
  In addition to grappling with the COVID-l9 pandemic and an economic 
recession, President Jovenel Moise was assassinated on July 7, 2021, 
and weeks later a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit southern Haiti on August 
14.
  A nearly two-month long gang-led blockage of the nation's largest 
fuel terminal from late September to early November 2022 led to a 
nationwide fuel shortage, shutting down hospitals and water treatment 
facilities at the same time cholera reemerged for the first time since 
2019.
  While humanitarian assistance can alleviate some urgent needs, it 
will not, and cannot, address the root causes of the current economic 
and political paralysis in Haiti.
  Haiti has been one of the closest, and longest-standing allies of the 
United States.
  Haiti needs help because the stability of Haiti and its surrounding 
nations is interconnected. It is only through a unified voice that we 
will be able to experience a vibrant and successful Haiti that is a 
leader in the Caribbean.
  I have supported legislation in the past, such as the introduction of 
the HOPE for Haitian Prosperity Act of 2023.
  An Act that would extend trade preferences with Haiti, expand core 
labor standards, and provide technical assistance to the Haitian 
government.
  It is imperative that we support Haiti and help with this ongoing 
crisis.
  The Haiti Support Project is an initiative of the Institute of the 
Black World 21st Century, who recently visited with my office here on 
Capitol Hill.
  The primary mission of the Haiti Support Project is to marshal moral, 
political, and material support to assist the Haitian people to develop 
a strong and vital democratic society and a vibrant and sustainable 
economy as a free and self-determining people.
  Given Haiti's unique history as the first Black Republic in the 
western hemisphere, the Haiti Support Project seeks to build a 
constituency and effective base of support for Haiti in the U.S., 
primarily focusing on mobilizing the human and material resources of 
African Americans in collaboration with Haitian Americans.
  Although democracy in Haiti requires a Haitian-led solution, there 
are many ways we can assist our Haitian brothers and sisters because 
public safety should be our number one priority, especially in 
countries outside of our own.
  It is imperative that we support Haiti in its desire to transition 
towards free and fair elections while applying pressure to political 
and economic actors who are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in 
Haiti.
  Haiti's transition to a functional democracy is important to the 
United States.
  Strong democratic institutions, including holding regular free and 
fair elections, can help guarantee Haiti's democratic traditions and 
ensure a voice for the Haitian people in their governance.
  By promoting democratic core values, such as respect for human 
rights, the rule of law, and economic development both in the region 
and around the world, we can be the prime example for country 
development and assistance.
  Additionally, we must subvert the trade and sale of illegal guns 
which is a major contributor to Haiti's growing gang crisis and the 
current instability that plagues the country.
  Haitians have long asked for safety from gang violence and they 
deserve help that the U.S. can provide.
  Illicit arms trafficking from the United States to the Caribbean is a 
regional and national security threat.
  In 2022, the Department of Homeland Security reported an increase in 
the number, caliber, and types of firearms illegally trafficked to the 
Caribbean.
  The steady flow of illicit firearms has exacerbated crime and 
migration in the Caribbean.
  In Haiti, illicit firearms from thejUnited States have enabled 
violent gangs to control over 80 percent of Port-au-Prince and have 
caused a dramatic increase in migration to the United States.
  In the 117th Congress, I also supported the introduction of H. Res. 
670, Condemning the inhumane treatment of Haitian migrants at the 
southern border of the United States, as they should not be mistreated 
for fleeing a country riddled with violence.
  My colleague, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and others have 
introduced the Caribbean Arms Trafficking Causes Harm (CATCH) Act to 
curb U.S. Firearms Trafficking to the Caribbean.
  By requiring the Coordinator for Caribbean Firearms Prosecutions to 
report on their implementation of anti-firearm-trafficking provisions 
in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, this legislation will combat 
firearms trafficking from the United States to the Caribbean.
  We must also invest our resources in the people of Haiti by building 
schools, encouraging education, creating job opportunities. Education 
is the key that unlocks the possibilities of the future; it changes 
lives.

[[Page H2245]]

  Sixty-four percent of the Haitian population is under 24 years of 
age.
  Working to foster a culture of education in Haiti is the greatest 
investment we can make in eliminating poverty, boosting economic 
growth, strengthening democracy, and promoting prosperity.
  Finally, as members of Congress, we must collaborate to unlock the 
$40 million in aid that the Biden administration has requested to help 
stabilize Haiti amid an increase in gang violence there, despite 
warnings that continued chaos could lead to a humanitarian crisis and 
drive migrants fleeing the country into the United States.
  Haiti's insecurity is a threat to America's security.
  It is past time for the United States to step up and come together 
and carry out our responsibility as the leader of the free world.

                          ____________________