15099: Karshan: Resolution before US Congress on Haiti, March 5, 2003 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

Expressing the need to reengage Congress and the Administration regarding the
social conditions and need for poverty reduction in Haiti, and for other
purposes.

(Introduced in House)

HCON 78 IH

108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 78

Expressing the need to reengage Congress and the Administration regarding the
social conditions and need for poverty reduction in Haiti, and for other
purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 5, 2003

Ms. LEE (for herself, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. OBERSTAR,
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. BROWN of
Ohio, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. MEEK of Florida, Mr. RUSH, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr.
DEUTSCH, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Ms. WATSON, Ms. KILPATRICK, Mrs. JONES of
Ohio, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. WATERS, Mr. OWENS, Mr. PAYNE, Mr.
CLYBURN, Ms. CARSON of Indiana, and Mr. CLAY) submitted the following
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Financial
Services, and in addition to the Committee on International Relations, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the need to reengage Congress and the Administration regarding the
social conditions and need for poverty reduction in Haiti , and for other
purposes.

Whereas the United States has participated in nearly 200 years of bilateral
relations with Haiti and its successive governments;

Whereas Haiti is a nascent democracy, having had less than 7 years to develop
strong democratic institutions, such as its justice system;

Whereas the Government of Haiti has dismantled the national military, which
was responsible for countless human rights violations;

Whereas Haiti's only law enforcement consists of 3,500 national police who
are charged with ensuring the safety of nearly 8,000,000 citizens;
Whereas Haiti is the most impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere;

Whereas on September 4, 2002, the Organization of American States (OAS)
passed Resolution 822 to normalize relations between Haiti and the
international financial institutions;

Whereas since the passage of Resolution 822, no formal action has been taken
on the part of the international financial institutions;

Whereas the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS states that Haiti
accounts for 90 percent of the HIV/AIDS infections and case rates in the
Caribbean;

Whereas the infant mortality rate in Haiti continues to rise and only 1 in
every 10,000 Haitians has access to a physician;

Whereas less than 40 percent of all Haitians have access to potable water;

Whereas the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has approved
the Haitian Government's control mechanisms, which include measures to
address transparency, for disbursement of grants from the Global Fund; and

Whereas the people of Haiti have a constitutional and fundamental human right
to health and the government has the obligation to fulfill these rights to
the level of resources available: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That
Congress--
(1) reaffirms its support for the mission of the Organization of American
States (OAS) to Haiti and calls on the President to urge that this mission
work closely with the Government and people of Haiti to advance their goals
and aspirations and not the objectives of other governments or international
organizations;
(2) calls on the United States Agency for International Development, the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International
Monetary Fund, and the Inter-American Development Bank to convene a meeting
of all donors and potential donors to Haiti , with the objective of launching
a new and sustainable humanitarian initiative, including a lending program
that will help bolster the economic and infrastructure bases of Haiti ;
(3) urges the President to direct the Secretary of State to conduct an
immediate review of United States policy toward Haiti , including adequate
and appropriate consultations with the relevant committees of Congress;
(4) calls specifically upon the International Monetary Fund to reevaluate the
current staff monitoring program conditions outlined for Haiti and work in
the long-term toward a poverty reduction agreement for Haiti ; and
(5) urges the President to instruct the Secretary of Treasury to direct the
United States Executive Director at the Inter-American Development Bank to
release the 4 social sector and development loans totaling $146,000,000, for
health, education, water and sanitation, and transportation, that have been
approved by the Board of Executive Directors of the Bank and ratified by the
Parliament of Haiti .