Haitian-Americans
may help rebuild Haiti
By
Andrea NurkoPalm
Beach Washington Bureau
Thursday,
June 30, 2005
WASHINGTON
— A proposal to pay college-educated Haitian-Americans to spend one
to
three years in Haiti rebuilding the country was narrowly approved Wednesday by
a House subcommittee.
The
House International Relation's Western Hemisphere subcommittee voted 7-6 along
party lines to pass the Haiti Economic and Infrastructure Reconstruction Act,
which now will move to the full committee. Rep. Mark Foley, R-Jupiter, introduced
the bill in the House in February.
The
bill would authorize $3 million a year for five years to send recruits to Haiti
to improve the nation's economy as well as bolster its judicial, education and
health care systems. Recruits also would help rebuild Haiti's infrastructure,
which includes roads, bridges and ports.
"The
bill seeks to bring badly needed manpower to the rebuilding efforts going on in
Haiti," Foley said. "This legislation provides us with an opportunity
to reinvigorate the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation."
The
bill also would authorize a $3 million program for five years to combat the spread
of infectious disease including AIDS in Haiti.
`Haiti
Economic and Infrastructure Reconstruction Act’.
U.S
House Representative
MR.
FOLEY (FOR HIMSELF, MR. RANGEL, AND MR. SHAW) INTRODUCED THE FOLLOWING BILL ;
WHICH WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
H.
R. 611
A BILL
To
authorize the establishment of a program to provide economic and infrastructure
reconstruction assistance to the Republic of Haiti, and for other purposes.
Be
it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled,
SECTION
1. SHORT TITLE.
This
Act may be cited as the `Haiti Economic and Infrastructure Reconstruction Act’.
SEC.
2. ECONOMIC AND INFRASTRUCTURE RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM FOR THE REPUBLIC OF HAITI.
(a)
Program Authorized- The President is authorized to establish an economic and infrastructure
reconstruction program for the Republic of Haiti, to be known as the `Haiti Economic
and Infrastructure Reconstruction Program’ (in this section referred to as
the `Reconstruction Program’), under which individuals who are recruited
into the Program will be deployed to Haiti to provide assistance to the Government
of Haiti related to economic and infrastructure reconstruction and development.
(b)
Appointment- If the President establishes the Reconstruction Program under subsection
(a), the President shall appoint an officer or employee of the Bureau for Latin
America and the Caribbean of the United States Agency for International Development
to serve as the Director of the Reconstruction Program. The Director shall possess
expertise with respect to—
(1)
Haiti ; or
(2)
economic, educational, judicial, law enforcement, healthcare, or infrastructure
reconstruction and recovery efforts in developing countries.
(c)
Coordination- The Director shall coordinate with appropriate officials from the
Government of Haiti to identify ministries and agencies of the Government of Haiti
that require assistance concerning the reconstruction and development in Haiti
with respect to—
(1)
the economy, including a special emphasis on the development of private and public
domestic and foreign business investment ;
(2)
the educational system, including a special emphasis on the development of school
facilities, teacher training programs, and administration management programs
;
(3)
the judiciary and the rule of law ;
(4)
the healthcare system ; and
(5)
the infrastructure.
(d)
Recruitment of Individuals for Participation in the Reconstruction Program-
(1)
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS- The Director shall recruit individuals who are citizens
of the United States and who possess—
(A)
at minimum, a four-year college or university degree awarded from an accredited
college or university located in the United States ; or
(B)
such skills or expertise as the Director determines to be relevant or appropriate
to carry out the Reconstruction Program.
(2)
HAITIAN-AMERICANS- To the maximum extent practicable, the Director shall recruit
Haitian-Americans.
(e)
Use of Funds- The Director shall use funds appropriated for the Reconstruction
Program to—
(1)
cover the costs of housing, in such amounts as the Director determines to be appropriate,
for individuals who are deployed to Haiti to carry out the Reconstruction Program
; and
(2)
pay such individuals a salary, in such amounts as the Director determines to be
appropriate, taking into consideration the expertise of an individual and the
position in the Reconstruction Program held by such individual.
(f)
Length of Deployment in Haiti-
(1)
ONE YEAR- Individuals recruited under subsection (d) may be deployed to Haiti
under the Reconstruction Program for no longer than one year.
(2)
EXCEPTION- If the Director determines that an extended period of deployment for
any individual is appropriate, and such individual consents to such extension,
the Director may extend the deployment of such individual for no longer than two
additional years.
(g)
Reports-
(1)
FIRST INTERIM REPORT- Not later than six months after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress a first interim report regarding
the Reconstruction Program.
(2)
SECOND INTERIM REPORT- Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress a second interim report regarding
the Reconstruction Program.
(3)
FINAL REPORT- Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the President shall submit to Congress a final report regarding the Reconstruction
Program.
(4)
CONTENTS- The interim and final reports shall include information relating to
the following :
(A)
A description and explanation of the process of recruitment of individuals for
participation in the Reconstruction Program, including a description and explanation
of—
(i)
the selection criteria used ; and
(ii)
any incentives offered and the cost of such incentives.
(B)
The number of individuals recruited and the ministry or agency and the locality
in which each individual is placed.
(C)
The potential for expansion of the Reconstruction Program.
(h)
Infrastructure Defined- In this section, the term `infrastructure’ means
a road, highway, bridge, tunnel, airport, mass transportation vehicle or system,
intermodal transportation facility, waterway, commercial port, drinking or waste
water treatment facility, solid waste disposal facility, pollution control system,
and gas, electricity, and oil utilities.
(i)
Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to the
President to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of
the fiscal years 2006 through 2011. It is the sense of Congress that at least
$3,000,000 should be made available for each of those fiscal years to carry out
this section.
SEC.
3. HEALTHCARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR HAITI.
(a)
Healthcare Program Authorized- The President is authorized to establish a healthcare
assistance program for Haiti, to be known as the `Haiti Healthcare Assistance
Program’ (in this section referred to as the `Healthcare Program’),
under which grants may be made to qualified nongovernmental organizations to establish
programs in Haiti related to the prevention of infectious diseases in Haiti.
(b)
Coordination- If the President establishes the Healthcare Program under subsection
(a), the President shall seek to work with appropriate officials from the Government
of Haiti and with appropriate individuals from international financial institutions,
civil society, nongovernmental organizations, and international organizations
to work in coordination and cooperation with qualified nongovernmental organizations.
(c)
Use of Grant Funds- A qualified nongovernmental organization that receives a grant
through this section shall use the grant to promulgate a comprehensive and integrated
strategy to combat and control infectious diseases in Haiti through the establishment
of a comprehensive healthcare infrastructure in Haiti that focuses on education,
prevention, care, treatment, support, capacity development, and other related
activities.
(d)
Satisfaction of Criteria to Be Considered a Qualified Nongovernmental Organization-
The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall
promulgate criteria that shall be satisfied by a nongovernmental organization
in order for such organization to be considered a qualified nongovernmental organization
for purposes of this section.
(e)
Healthcare Infrastructure Defined- In this section, the term `healthcare infrastructure’
means an inpatient or outpatient hospital, clinic, or medical facility and medical
programs, including programs for hiring physicians, nurses, or other medical personnel
and programs for acquiring transportation and communications systems for medical
purposes.
(f)
Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to the
President to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of
the fiscal years 2006 through 2011. It is the sense of Congress that at least
$3,000,000 should be made available for each of those fiscal years to carry out
this section.
END
