Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Statement on One Year Anniversary of Earthquake in Haiti

(WASHINGTON, DC)–{“The country of Haiti endured an environmental catastrophe one year ago that affected millions of people across Haiti, Haitian Americans and citizens across the world. Within 35 seconds, the January 2010 earthquake killed more than 230,000 people and injured more than 300,000 others. It instantly made more than 1.8 million people displaced. Water and sanitation systems collapsed, hospitals were destroyed, and healthcare delivery systems damaged. The damage to infrastructure alone is estimated at 120 percent of Haiti’s gross domestic product. In addition to this devastating economic impact, the quake destroyed lives, homes, businesses, and livelihoods.

“Having one of the highest constituencies of Haitians in this country, immediately following the earthquake, I conducted several townhalls where I was able to provide my constituents the firsthand knowledge of how they could help their loves ones who were affected by the earthquake. Additionally, I set up one-on-one application assistance in partnership with City University of New York for an attorney to be available in my district office to assist constituents with the application process at no cost and hosted an application day to assist Haitian nationals at York College in my district.
“As chairman of the International Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee in the 111th Congress, I chaired several hearings to expedite the help and support that the people of Haiti needed. I proposed the establishment of the Haiti Marshall Plan Committee that was designed to avoid significant delays in recovery and reconstruction efforts in Haiti by allowing key individuals from international development banks, international financial institutions, United States bilateral aid programs, and major international charities and nongovernmental organizations to collaborate and strategize for a long term recovery. I also convened a subcommittee hearing that brought representatives from the Treasury Department and major non-governmental organizations to discuss the process of bilateral and multilateral debt relief for Haiti. On the House Floor I delivered the passing of the Haiti Debt Relief Bill that canceled Haiti’s Foreign Debts to relieve some of Haiti’s enormous burden and to allow the Haitian government to focus on recovery and reconstruction.
“The 111th Congress and the U.S. people responded swiftly to aid the country of Haiti in their time of great need. More than half of all U.S. households contributed to relief efforts. U.S. government assistance provided food for more than 3.5 million, clean water for more than a million. It allowed removal of more of rubble and helped Haitian families grind that rubble to recycle into new construction material. The U.S. government provided sanctuary for many Haitians visiting the United States when the earthquake struck. Their immediate return was impossible and we granted them an initial 18 months of temporary protected status to allow them to remain legally in the United States. It is clear that rebuilding Haiti to a point where many of these visitors will be able to recover their lives will take much longer and I believe their legal status should be extended an additional 18 months.

“There is still so much more to do. Many Haitians are still suffering in the aftermath of the earthquake. Approximately 810,000 people are still displaced within Haiti, hundreds of thousands of whom remain in camps. Millions of tons more rubble must be removed to make way for rebuilding. As if Haiti had not suffered enough, cholera has spread through the island for the first time in generations, to date infecting more than 180,000 people, killing over 3,700, and challenging assistance and healthcare providers.

“It is vital that we continue to explore all possible options to help Haiti not only recover from such a devastating natural disaster, but to build back better. Doing so will require long-term assistance to meet Haiti’s complex humanitarian and development needs. The international community has pledged $10.2 billion toward the effort and the United States has taken the lead, making good on its pledge of $1.2 billion. Others must now step forward to fulfill their pledges of support. The country of Haiti is still in great despair and there is much more that we can do to expedite their recovery. Our compassion and admiration for the Haitian people and our American values ensure that we will stand by them in their overwhelming need. We expect the rest of the international community to do no less. We will continue to urge them to fulfill their pledges to expedite rebuilding; and we will keep demanding more of them and more of ourselves. I have attached resources and organizations that are actively involved in Haiti’s recovery which I hope will progress.”