CONYERS: CBC Foundation Braintrust - Haiti: Empowerment Beyond Our Borders

This issue forum will focus on efforts to support and build the Haitian economy and community with an emphasis on housing, education, and economic development.

This panel will feature experts from the non-governmental organizations, the advocacy community, the U.S. government, and the Government of Haiti.

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CONYERS Haiti Report (Unclassified)

PORT AU PR 00000451 001.2 OF 004 1. This message is sensitive but unclassified-please protect accordingly. Summary - - - - 2. (SBU) A Congressional Delegation led by House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers heard President Preval and Prime Minister Pierre Louis make the case that Haiti is at a turning point and needs additional help in the form of budget support. At the international donors conference in Washington April 14-15, Haiti will lay out its priorities of boosting road building and electricity and agricultural production. The President argued that foreign donors should channel more assistance through the Government rather than through NGOs. The Prime Minister praised HOPE 2 legislation for creating jobs. Her government's program focused on improving the lot of the Haitian people and reforming the dysfunctional judicial system. Chairman Conyers and his delegation promised the U.S. would continue to support Haiti. End summary. 3. (SBU) Chairman Conyers led a congressional delegation that included Lamar Smith (R-TX), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Donna Christensen (D-V.I.), and Anthony Weiner (D-NY). Accompanying the delegation were Bob Creamer (Schakowsky spouse), and Judiciary Committee Professional Staff members Keenan Keller, Sean McLaughlin, Cynthia Martin, and Alli Halataei. Dr. Paul Farmer accompanied the delegation in their meeting with President Preval. The Ambassador and PolCouns (notetaker) attended for the Embassy. President Preval: Haiti Has Unique Opportunity - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4. (SBU) President Preval told the delegation in their April 6 meeting that he agreed with former President Clinton's recent statement that for the first time in thirty years, Haiti has an opportunity for making economic progress. The country had made important progress, achieving political stability and it was moving toward holding Senate elections. An impartial electoral authority, with representation from all political parties and churches, was organizing these elections. Now Haiti had to achieve economic progress. The President recalled that the 2008 hurricanes had dealt Haiti a severe blow, causing USD 1 billion in infrastructure losses. He professed not to know whether collapsed bridges were being rebuilt (Note: They are, with help from USAID and the World Bank). Haiti deserves international support, the President declared. International Support, Debt Relief - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5. (SBU) Chairman Conyers said he was optimistic Haiti could move ahead with international support. We needed a comprehensive strategy to meet all Haiti's challenges, which had deep historical roots. International organizations gave Haiti a mere pittance and attached onerous conditions. These set Haiti up for failure. Haiti had an opportunity with the new U.S. Administration. Congresswoman Schakowsky asked about the possibility of debt relief. 6. (SBU) The President recounted that Haiti had worked with the IMF on fiscal and monetary reforms since 2006. Haiti would soon complete this program, resulting in the elimination of USD 1.1 billion in debt, which would remove USD 70 million in debt service per year. Yet Haiti continued to face severe economic challenges. It had brought inflation down from 40 percent in 2004 to 7 percent before the hurricanes in the summer of 2008. GDP growth had risen to 3.4 percent before the 2008 storms. Haiti now needed to create jobs through public investment and supporting the private sector. Donors Should Channel More Aid through Government of Haiti - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7. (SBU) Congressman Smith said that the omnibus bill the Congress had recently passed contained USD 250 million for Haiti. He asked what additional funds Haiti needed. Preval said Haiti needed a lot more. Paul Farmer remarked that a large part of foreign assistance had gone to NGOs. His NGO, Partners in Health, had immediately put this money back into the public sector. The President conceded that NGOs had to play in strong role in weak states like Haiti, but he urged that donors increase the amount of funding given directly to PORT AU PR 00000451 002.2 OF 004 government entities, so that Haiti would implement its own programs. He had heard that donor countries and IFIs were pouring billions into Eastern Europe and Gaza. It was a pity, he joked, that Haiti was not a former communist country, or a country at war or one that faced a guerrilla insurgency. The Corruption Factor - - - - - - - - - - - 8. (SBU) Congressman Weiner emphasized that the members of this delegation all support foreign aid. The U.S. provides a great deal of assistance through NGOs because of government corruption. Preval acknowledged that Haiti is prey to corruption because it was a weak state. But he was trying to strengthen the Haitian state and had introduced mechanisms for fighting corruption and smuggling. As an underdeveloped country, the corruption that plagued Haiti was on a petty scale. With wages so low ?-and President himself entitled to a pension of only USD 200 per month-? civil servants would inevitably accept illegal payments, because it was the only way to feed their families. Preval claimed that NGOs practiced just as much corruption as Haitian officials. There was less corruption in Haiti than in other countries. Haiti did not deserve its bad reputation on corruption and security. Foreign countries ''should not judge Haiti.'' In any case, his government had an unshakeable will to fight corruption. 9. (SBU) Dr. Farmer remarked that he had not experienced much corruption in Haiti. He had observed, however, that NGOs and church groups bringing aid were proliferating and operating with no coordination. His organization, Partners in Health (PIH), was relatively ineffective for its first 15 years in Haiti, but had then begun partnering with the Ministry of Health. It now treated three million patients per year. ''Privatization'' was not the answer: the bulk of Haiti's education system was private, yet Haiti had a very low literacy rate. It was better if NGOs worked with the government. Haiti's Aid and Development Priorities - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10. (SBU) Preval said Haiti would try to mobilize international aid for three purposes: 1) building three strategic stretches of road, 2) building up farming in three major agricultural planes: the Artibonite, Torbeck, and the (Maribalai) area of the Northeast, and 3) increase Haiti's electrical generating capacity from 100 to 125 MW. Simply making the existing system more reliable would cost USD 13 million. The government's strategy was to pursue simple goals with quick, visible results that would help preserve social stability. Drugs - - - 11. (SBU) Congresswoman Christensen asked how the U.S. could better help the fight the flow of drugs through Haiti, and Preval replied that most effective step the U.S. could take was to reduce its drug consumption. Drugs corrupted Haiti's police, parliamentarians, officials, and judges. Half jokingly, Preval said that if Haiti's did not receive more counternarcotics help, the only solution would be to liberalize drug laws. Congresswoman Christensen said that the U.S. would work on drug demand reduction. Elections - - - - - 12. (SBU) Congresswomen Christensen also expressed concern about the exclusion of all Fanmi Lavalas candidates from the Senate elections. On the election issue, Preval said that the Provisional Electoral Council, Haiti's independent election authority, had simply applied Haitian law, which demands that a party's candidates be designated according to that party's internal statutes. Fanmi Lavalas had not followed those rules, and in fact had nominated three candidates for one Senate post. (Note: different wings of the party nominated different candidates for a few of the 12 Senate seats being contested in the April 19 elections. End note) 13. (SBU) Congresswoman Schakowsky stated that the new U.S. Administration clearly understood the need in Haiti for investment, PORT AU PR 00000451 003.2 OF 004 infrastructure, and bringing stability and development. President Preval closed by quoting former President Clinton to the effect that Haiti was at a turning point: failing to take advantage of this opportunity would set Haiti back 10 to 15 years. Prime Minister: HOPE 2 Creating Jobs - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 14. (SBU) The Ambassador hosted a breakfast April 7 for the Congressional delegation that include Prime Minister Michele Pierre-Louis, Minister of Justice Joseph Exume, and Minister of Economy and Finance Daniel Dorsainvil. The Prime Minister said that HOPE 2 trade preferences had already created 23,000 jobs, could create 50,000 by the end of 2009, and had the potential to create up to 250,000 jobs in total. Replying to Chairman Conyers' observation that factories should not come in to exploit cheap Haitian labor for a few years and then leave, the PM said that HOPE 2 legislation mandated a tripartite commission including the government, management and labor. Haiti needed to expand its base of investors to engage in areas beyond partial assembly. Haitian Government Priorities - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 15. (SBU) Chairman Conyers argued that Haiti needed a comprehensive plan integrating all critical issues. The Prime Minister said that that every element in her government's vision aimed to benefit the Haitian people. She mentioned the priorities of job creation and giving birth certificates and other identity papers to the 60 percent of the Haitian population that didn't have them. Immediate goals were to improve governance, fight corruption, and increase per capita income. Schools and health centers had to be rebuilt, road rebuilt, and agriculture stimulated. The country needed more doctors and teachers. This would require increased government expenditures. The government now is able to cover only 30-40 percent of its investment budget. The government needs to fill a USD 125 million budget gap this year, either through direct budget support or through swaps. The Prime Minister argued that drugs are the most destabilizing factor for Haiti. Traffickers sought political power by running for parliament and the immunity a legislative seat conferred. Drug money was a major factor behind corruption, especially for judges. Government Policy to Encourage Investment - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 16. (SBU) Minister of Finance and Economy Dorsainvil added that the judicial system must uphold the rights of investors. Public money would be very important to stimulate economic growth, build infrastructure, and make available industrial space for investors, especially outside the capital. Even if Haiti collected 25 percent of GDP in taxes (Note: it collects barely more than 10 percent. End note) Haiti would barely cover its current budget, which in any case was inadequate for the country's needs. The one bright spot was the drop in inflation. While month-on-month inflation had been 4.5 percent Feb-Mar 2008, during the peak of the energy and food price inflation, continuation of current trends would leave 2009 with an annual inflation rate of below one percent. Haiti's Judiciary - - - - - - - - - 17. (SBU) Responding to Congresswoman Christensen's question about what the Ministry of Justice needed, Minister of Justice Exume explained that the three elements under his control --judges/prosecutors, police and the penitentiary system-- failed to work together properly. Judges were corrupt. The judiciary was non-functional; many judges did not even show up for work regularly. The U.S. is helping Haiti re-make the judiciary, the correctional system, and the police. The large number of persons held in pre-trial detention was an indicator of the judiciary's failure to bring accused persons to trial. Although Haiti had a low incarceration rate --its 8,000 prison inmates were barely 1 percent of the population-- detention facilities were terribly overcrowded. There was less than one square meter of space per prisoner, whereas 2.5 was needed. Crime is Down PORT AU PR 00000451 004.2 OF 004 - - - - - - - 18. (SBU) The Prime Minister pointed out that kidnapping had decreased. A large-scale anti-kidnapping police operation last November had prevented the usual upsurge in kidnappings around Christmas. There had been 260 kidnappings in December 2007, but only 5 in December of last year. Role of Local Government - - - - - - - - - - - - 19. (SBU) Congressman Weiner suggested that Haiti allow a greater role for local government. The PM conceded that the complicated system of local government mandated by Haiti's constitution often produced conflicts. Each municipality had a mayor and two deputies, who often did not work well together. Justice Minister Exume pointed out that there was a high level of corruption in the municipalities. Minister of Economy and Finance Dorsainvil said that the municipalities suffered from lack of capacity, such as accountants. The Ministry of Interior was training 140 accountants to assign to municipalities. 20. (SBU) When Congressman Weiner suggested that high energy and transport costs gave an advantage to countries such as Haiti that lay close to their main export markets, the PM observed that the costs of operating were also high in countries that Haiti competed with. Haiti was at a turning point and still needed U.S. assistance, especially of the kind provided by HOPE 2. Chairman Conyers concluded by expressing ''cautious optimism'' about Haiti's future. 21. This cable was not cleared by Congressman Conyers' Professional Staffer Keenan Keller. Sanderson

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Statement of the Honorable John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member for the Hearing on Oversight of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Before the Committee on the Judiciary

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

I want to begin my remarks by thanking Director Sarah Saldaña for her service and appearing before our Committee today.  As head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Director Saldaña has one of the toughest jobs in government.  With limited resources, she must ensure that our immigration statutes are enforced as well as ensure that this is done in fair, just, and balanced way. 

For that reason,  the Department of Homeland Security’s enforcement priorities recognize that millions of unauthorized immigrants have been living and working in the United States for 5 or 10 years or longer. 

These men and women are parents of U.S. citizen children; pray at our churches, synagogues, mosques, and other houses of worship; and make significant contributions to our economy.  Their removal is not and should not be an enforcement priority.

           

We are here today to, first, examine how our immigration laws are enforced and how this enforcement affects our communities.  As we conduct this examination, however, we must keep in mind that many of the challenges faced by ICE and immigrant communities are a result of Congress’s failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

           

Yet, we are now in the waning days of the current Congress, which will soon adjourn without having addressed this failure even though every day families continue to be separated and hard-working members of our society are forced to live in the shadows. 

           

Despite all of these challenges, the Majority continues to focus exclusively on immigration enforcement that would criminalize entire communities.  The Republican presidential nominee advocates policies, based on the abhorrent 1950s program, “Operation Wetback.”  If enacted and carried out, the ensuing chaos would be a tragedy rivaling the darkest episodes in America’s history. 

Comprehensive immigration reform is the only real option to repair our broken immigration system.

Another issue we should consider at this hearing is the fact that there is a significant increase in the time non-criminal asylum seekers are being detained. 

           

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees states that the detention of an asylum seeker is an exceptional circumstance and should only be used for a limited period of time.  I agree. 

And, I encourage ICE to use its parole authority to release asylum seekers who have passed credible fear screenings, or in the alternative to consider non-custodial forms of alternatives to detention.

           

I am pleased to see that the Department of Homeland Security will be conducting a review of private prison policies.  I have long been deeply concerned about the use of private prison companies, particularly in light of reports of serious medical neglect, physical abuse, preventable deaths and other forms of mistreatment.  The Department of Justice recently decided to end its relationship with private prison companies, in part, because of abusive treatment of inmates.   I encourage ICE to follow suit and end its reliance on private prisons.

           

Finally, just yesterday DHS announced a change in policy for Haitian nationals arriving at our ports of entry.  I know this is a complex area of the law with no easy answers.  But, deporting Haitians back to a country still reeling from the devastating earthquake and a cholera epidemic caused by the U.N. is concerning and warrants close oversight.

I thank the Chairman and yield back the balance of my time.

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CONYERS & 76 CONGRESSIONAL COLLEAGUES SEND LETTER TO UN URGING DUE PROCESS FOR HAITIAN CHOLERA VICTIMS

DETROIT - Today, Congressman John Conyers Jr. (MI-13) and 76 Members of Congress sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, urging UN authorities to ensure that victims of the cholera epidemic in Haiti have access to a fair and impartial procedure for adjudication of their claims.

Scientific evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that the UN introduced cholera to Haiti in October 2010 through improper waste disposal on a base located on the banks of a tributary to the Artibonite River.  To date, more than 8,500 Haitians have died from the disease and over 700,000 people have been infected, becoming the largest single-country cholera epidemic in the world.

In July, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Haiti and acknowledged the UN’s “moral responsibility” to respond, but no major actions have been taken with regard to the cholera crisis since that time.   

“Haiti’s cholera crisis has been a stain on the world’s conscience,” said Rep. Conyers.  “We are united in working to ensure that the United Nations upholds its obligations to provide a fair process to adjudicate claims by individuals harmed in the course of its operations.”

Congressional Letter to United Nations on Haiti Cholera Victims 12.19.14

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REPS. JOHN CONYERS AND YVETE CLARKE APPLAUD THE EXPEDITION OF THE HAITI FAMILY REUNIFICATION PROGRAM

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman John Conyers (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary, and Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), lauded the Department of Homeland Security for moving forward with implementation of the Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program in 2015, which will expedite the reunification of Haitian families and support safe and legal migration from Haiti to the United States.

Starting in early 2015, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services will offer certain eligible Haitian beneficiaries of previously approved family-based immigrant visa petitions, who are currently in Haiti, an opportunity to come to the United States about two years before their immigrant visa priority dates become current.  Families who are eligible will receive a written notice from the National Visa Center.

“The decision by the Department of Homeland Security to implement a Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program will benefit everyone," said Congressman Conyers.  "Families who would otherwise be unnecessarily separated for years while awaiting the availability of an immigrant visa soon will be allowed to wait together.  Communities here and in Haiti will be strengthened.  And as Haiti continues to rebuild from the earthquake that devastated the country in 2010, this program will allow greater remittances to be sent back to fund critically needed recovery efforts."

“I want to commend the Department of Homeland Security on the development of this program, which will allow for the reunification of families that have been separated – in some instances for many years.  The continued failure of Congress to enact – or even to debate – comprehensive immigration reform continues to separate parents from their children and husbands from their wives.  The wait must end.  I am hopeful that this program will form the basis for a broader policy that will allow families from around the world to avoid unnecessary delays in reuniting here in the United States,” said Congresswoman Clarke.

The Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program builds upon the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program, which was established in 2007 under the Bush Administration.  Members of Congress, editorial boards, and faith leaders have urged the Administration to adopt a similar program for Haitian families since 2010.

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Conyers & 64 Colleagues Write Ambassador Samantha Power Urging UN to Take Responsibility & Remedial Action for Haiti Cholera Outbreak

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), along with 65 other Members of Congress, wrote Ambassador Samantha Power, the Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), about the UN’s inadequate response to the cholera epidemic in Haiti. Specifically, the letter detailed how in October 2010, UN peacekeepers in Haiti introduced cholera to the Caribbean nation and urged the UN to take immediate legal responsibility for the resulting harms. While the UN has expressed a desire to repair the damage, to date, no significant action has been taken. Following transmission of the letter to Ambassador Power, Rep. Conyers issued the following statement:

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

“As we approach the fourth anniversary of the tragic earthquake that devastated Haiti, much work remains to be done to rebuild and rehabilitate the Caribbean nation. Unfortunately, this effort has been imperiled since October 2010, when United Nations peacekeepers operating out of a base camp nearby Port au Prince inadvertently introduced cholera to the Haitian people. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Haitians have been hospitalized, and thousands of Haitians have died. The UN has a moral and legal obligation to repair the harm resulting from its peacekeeping operations,” said Conyers.

“Current efforts by the UN to eradicate the cholera epidemic in Haiti are far from sufficient. In order for the UN to maintain its credibility around the world, it is imperative for it to acknowledge its legal responsibility and act now. This means fully funding the Cholera Elimination Plan and working to improve the water and sanitation infrastructure in Haiti. Failure to do so will jeopardize the UN’s standing and moral authority in Haiti and other countries where its personnel are deployed.

“Although the United States’ mission to the UN has demonstrated its interest in remedying the massive harm caused by the cholera epidemic, on the dawn of the fourth anniversary of the Haitian Earthquake, I urge the Obama administration to intensify its efforts to find a just solution that will address the needs of the Haitian people. Access to clean water and adequate sanitation are fundamental building blocks for economic recovery, and the United States must not waver in advocating for the needs of the Haitian people.”

Conyers & 64 Congressional Colleagues Write Ambassador Samantha Power Urging UN to Take Responsibility...

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Conyers, Members of Congress Urge Rice to Organize Support for UN Cholera Initiative

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and four other Members of Congress sent a letter to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, encouraging her to urge the United Nations to ensure full funding and speedy implementation of a new initiative aimed at eliminating cholera in Haiti. 

This letter follows a letter sent last July, in which Conyers and 103 other Members of Congress encouraged Rice to urge the United Nations to take a leading role in addressing the cholera crisis.

 The Members specifically argued that every effort should be made to ensure the cholera initiative is funded adequately and implemented without delay:  

“We are, however, concerned that nearly two months after Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced his initiative to support the plan, only 10 percent of the funding has been secured and only one percent of this funding has been pledged from the United Nations itself. The United Nations has a special responsibility to ensure this plan is funded and we need your assistance in ensuring that cholera is indeed eliminated from the island of Hispaniola." 

The Members also ask that every effort be made to ensure that assistance is prioritized for vulnerable Haitians and that“local communities and organizations be closely consulted during the implementation process.”   

The letter was also signed by Representatives Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL).

You can read the full text of the letter below.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

February 19, 2013

The Honorable Susan Rice

United States Ambassador to the United Nations

Permanent Mission to the United Nations

799 UN Plaza

New York, NY 10017-3505

Dear Secretary Rice:

We are writing to thank you for your efforts to organize a robust international response to the cholera crisis in Haiti and to urge you to ensure that the United Nations continues to take a leading role in addressing the crisis by funding and implementing the cholera elimination initiative organized by the UN Secretary General without delay.   We believe that it is paramount that the plan prioritize assistance for the most vulnerable Haitians, help the Haitian government attain the capacity necessary to maintain the plan’s infrastructure sustainably, and that local communities and organizations be closely consulted during the implementation process.

As you know, the cholera epidemic continues to pose a major challenge to Haiti’s health authorities, and continues to kill Haitians at an alarming rate.  While the significant actions of Haitian authorities and international actors – including $95 million in emergency support by the United States – have helped reduce fatality rates significantly, cholera was still responsible for the deaths of 900 people last year.  This past December, 193 Haitians died of cholera, a 190 percent increase in fatalities compared to December of 2011.

In November of last year, the media reported that a plan to eliminate cholera in Haiti was being developed jointly by the Haitian government and international and U.S. agencies.  The plan apparently places major emphasis on helping Haiti acquire adequate water and sanitation infrastructure, widely considered to be the only effective means of ridding Haiti of cholera. News reports suggested that the plan was on the verge of being launched, but many weeks later there is still no sign that implementation of the plan has begun. 

Although the United Nations has failed to take formal responsibility for introducing cholera to Haiti, it is clear that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has taken important steps.  We thank you for the key role you and your staff played in encouraging the Secretary General’s office to adopt an initial set of significant measures. 

We are, however, concerned that nearly two months after Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced his initiative to support the plan, only 10 percent of the funding has been secured and only one percent of this funding has been pledged from the United Nations itself. The United Nations has a special responsibility to ensure this plan is funded and we need your assistance in ensuring that cholera is indeed eliminated from the island of Hispaniola.

As you know, the cholera situation in Haiti has generated worldwide concern.  Over 28,000 people from around the world have signed an on-line petition urging the Secretary General “to lead international efforts to mobilize the funds and technical resources required to achieve this urgent task in the shortest time frame possible.”  In order for the United Nations to maintain its credibility around the world, it must get this right. This means a fully funded initiative that focuses on marginalized populations and is implemented with the input of local communities and organizations.

All too often important development projects for Haiti are launched with much fanfare, but then are never executed or are quickly abandoned. This cannot be allowed to happen with the current plans to assist Haiti in eliminating cholera.  Without effective follow-through on these plans, Haiti will be burdened with this deadly epidemic for the foreseeable future. If these plans are effectively executed, however, the payback is enormous: not only will the country be finally able to control cholera and other water-borne diseases; it will also finally achieve the basic standards of health and hygiene enjoyed by nearly every other nation of this hemisphere. 

We therefore respectfully reiterate our request for you to continue urging the Secretary General and other key U.N. actors to take action to rid Haiti of cholera as quickly as possible.  We also request that you provide Congress with regular updates on the status of the plan to eliminate cholera, and on the process by which the U.N. is ensuring that the plan will be adequately funded.

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Conyers Calls for Protection for Human Rights Advocates in Haiti

(DETROIT)- Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement today in response to recent reports of escalating threats, harassment, and intimidation of human rights advocates and attorneys in Haiti:  

“As a long-time supporter of Haiti in the United States Congress, I am concerned by recent reports that suggest that Haitian attorneys and human rights advocates, including prominent attorney Mario Joesph of theBureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI), are being targeted with political intimidation and threats of physical harm as a result of their legal representation of politically vulnerable individuals and groups,” said Conyers.

“The ability of an attorney to provide legal assistance free of harassment to any client is a critically important component of a well-functioning justice system.  All necessary steps should be taken to protect these attorneys and advocates, who help ensure that all Haitians have equitable access to justice and due process.  My office has contacted the State Department to express my concern about these recent reports.”      

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Conyers Reintroduces Haiti Recovery Legislation On The Second Anniversary of Devastating Earthquake

Conyers Reintroduces Haiti Recovery Legislation On The Second Anniversary of Devastating Earthquake

**Follow Me On Twitter @RepJohnConyers**

For Immediate Release
Date:  Thursday, January 12, 2012
Contact: Matthew Morgan – 202-226-5543

Conyers Reintroduces Haiti Recovery Legislation On The Second Anniversary of Devastating Earthquake

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) announced the reintroduction of the “Haiti Empowerment, Assistance and Rebuilding (HEAR) Act of 2012.”  The HEAR Act authorizes up to $2 billion over the next two years to support the sustainable recovery and long- term rebuilding of Haiti.   The bill outlines critical strategic initiatives and mandates to ensure that U.S. assistance efforts comprehensively address the priorities of the people of Haiti. 

“Two years after its devastating earthquake, stability and long-term recovery in Haiti remains elusive,” said Conyers.  “If we are to fulfill the commitments made by the American people in the weeks and months following that terrible tragedy, the United States must establish and commit to a long-term reconstruction assistance plan.  The HEAR Act would allow for the creation and implementation of such a strategy and I call on my colleagues in the House and the Senate to pass it without delay.

“With 70 percent of the population unemployed or underemployed and half a million Haitians still living in camps, there is clearly much more that must be accomplished.  A comprehensive development and recovery strategy will go a long way towards remedying these failings and ultimately creating a country that provides greater economic equality, independence, and democratic accountability for the Haitian people.”

The HEAR Act will improve the United States’ ability to assist with the long-term rebuilding of Haiti by:

·         Authorizing up to $2 billion over the next two years to support Haiti reconstruction and rebuilding in order to demonstrate a long-term commitment to assisting the people of Haiti recover from the devastation of the January 12, 2010 earthquake.

·         Directing the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to prepare and submit a comprehensive rebuilding and development strategy for Haiti, in consultation with the Government of Haiti, civil society organizations, private sector entities, and other implementing partners, and in coordination with the international community.  The strategy should include specific and measurable goals, benchmarks and time frames, an implementation plan to achieve policy objectives, and a detailed monitoring and evaluation plan tied to quantifiable and measurable indicators.

·         Establishing a strategic policy framework to affirm and build a long-term partnership with Haiti and ensure U.S. assistance efforts will comprehensively address critical priorities, in support of the Government of Haiti and the Haitian people, including:

o   Just, democratic, and competent governance, including security sector reform and strengthening;

o   Economic growth and economic sustainability, including investments in infrastructure, improved urban management, and agricultural development;

o   Environmentally sustainable programs that are respectful and restorative of Haiti’s natural resources; and

o   Investments in people, particularly women and children.

·         Ensuring that rebuilding and reconstruction efforts build from existing assessments for Haiti and support the Government of Haiti’s Action Plan for the Reconstruction and National Development of Haiti, other existing development plans for Haiti, including the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper for Haiti, and follow shared principles in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Accra Agenda for Action.

Learn more: BEVERLY TRAN: Conyers Reintroduces Haiti Recovery Legislation On The Second Anniversary of Devastating Earthquake http://beverlytran.blogspot.com/2012/01/conyers-reintroduces-haiti-recovery.html#ixzz1jPZ0MMxb
Stop Medicaid Fraud in Child Welfare

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