[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2299]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         A TRAGEDY IS OCCURRING

  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, a tragedy is occurring off our shores. A 
duly-elected government in Haiti, President Jean Bertrand Aristide's 
government, is in jeopardy. He is being challenged by the former FRAPH, 
a paramilitary group of outlaws and bandits, the former military 
leaders who are across the border in the Dominican Republic and drug 
dealers who have taken over parts of that country, using their 
influence to corrupt the citizenry.
  On the other hand, we have a person who is duly elected, President 
Aristide. I cannot understand why our Nation that stands for democracy 
all over the world stands idly by while we let thugs who are burning 
and raping and looting take a free hand.
  The French have said we are willing to go in. We have 4,000 troops, 
as a matter of fact; and they even said, as a matter of fact, U.S.A., 
we do not need you, just support us.
  I urge our government to help the people of Haiti by coming up with a 
diplomatic solution to the problem in that country.

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