H.R. 1016, Assessing Progress in Haiti Act

Washington, DC – Congressman Howard L. Berman, Ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee mark-up of H.R. 1016, Assessing Progress in Haiti Act.

Madam Chairman, I first want to commend our former committee Member, Ms. Barbara Lee, for introducing this bill.

H.R 1016 provides a detailed snapshot of where Haiti is roughly a year after the horrific January 10, 2010 earthquake which left more than 316,000 dead.

Many international actors and donors have joined the U.S. in a complex program to assist the people of Haiti.

To help us understand all of the moving parts of this process, the bill requires a report from the President on the state of US programs and projects in place to protect vulnerable populations, to improve water and sanitation, of coordination with other donors, NGOs, the Haitian diaspora, and the Haitian government.

We must remain engaged in helping Haiti rebuild its future. This bill and its report will help us help Haiti, and I strongly support it.

I am pleased we have reached agreement on a bipartisan amendment in the nature of a substitute and look forward to helping get this bill to the Floor.