Advocacy, Catholics Confront Global Poverty
Help Haiti Rebuild: Advocate for Better U.S. Policies
What’s already been accomplished with your help and what still needs to be done:
Fifty years of experience tells CRS that a successful approach to rebuilding efforts in Haiti must follow a coherent strategy for long-term sustainable development. And further, it should include a coordinated effort between different U.S. government agencies and engage faith-based organizations along with other groups equipped with expertise and experience in Haiti.
Through Catholics Confront Global Poverty, a joint initiative with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, CRS is actively engaging Catholics around the country to speak out and advocate in support of the Haitian people on several legislative proposals that support reconstruction and long-term development.
Celebrate our successes!
- We asked Congress and the Administration to create a coherent strategy to help Haiti in the long-term. With your support, Congress passed the Haiti Economic Lift Program (S. 3275/H.R. 5160) that was recently signed into law by the President. This legislation extends and improves the trade preferences Haiti granted through previous legislation. Specifically, the bill expands duty-free access to the U.S. market for Haitian textile and apparel exports and extends existing trade preference programs for Haiti through 2020.
- We supported and Congress passed the Debt Relief for Earthquake Recovery Act for Haiti (S. 2961/H.R. 4573). The bill instructs representatives of the U.S. to encourage other governments and multilateral institutions to forgive Haiti’s debts, totaling some $1 billion. The cancellation of Haiti’s outstanding multilateral and bilateral debt would give Haiti financial relief and enable it to redirect its limited resources to reconstruction and investments in development. The President signed this bill into law in early spring.
Pending Legislation:
- We asked Congress to include emergency relief and long-term reconstruction assistance for Haiti in the FY 2010 Supplemental Appropriations bill. The Senate passed its version of the bill that included $2.8 billion for Haiti reconstruction assistance. We are awaiting action from the House of Representatives. You can make a difference by letting your members of Congress know it’s important to provide the resources necessary to assist Haitians now.
- Recently, Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Corker (R-TN) introduced the Haiti Empowerment, Assistance and Rebuilding (HEAR) Act (S.3317) that establishes a policy framework for the long-term rebuilding and development of Haiti. It authorizes up to $3.5 billion over five years to support Haiti reconstruction and rebuilding; directs the U.S. Agency for International Development 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, other implementing partners, and in coordination with the international community; and mandates a Senior Haiti Policy Coordinator, appointed by the President, to be responsible for overseeing and coordinating all policies of the U. S. government related to Haiti. CRS and the USCCB are assessing the merits of this legislation and will provide more information soon. Join Catholics Confront Global Poverty to receive updates and action alerts now: www.crs.org/ccgp
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July 21st, 2010 at 3:53 pm
[...] a recap of USCCB and CRS’ advocacy efforts on Haiti to [...]