Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2005-Continued

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005-CONTINUED

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss an amendment I have sponsored, along with Senator Nelson of Florida and Senator Coleman of Minnesota, to increase the amount of funding that we can provide to the people of Haiti. It is a commonsense amendment, as it recognizes the reality of the situation in Haiti right now. It recognizes that we have a lot of work ahead of us in Haiti and that it is going to require considerable resources and a long-term commitment. And, it mirrors the suggested $150 million budget benchmark which was included in S. 2144, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, which was passed out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week.

As many of my colleagues know, over the last 9 years since I have been in the Senate, I have traveled to Haiti 13 or 14 different times. And, if I have learned anything in the course of those trips, it is this: There is no other nation in our hemisphere like Haiti.

Haiti is different. Haiti is unique. No other nation in our hemisphere is as impoverished. Today, at least 80 percent of all Haitians live in dire poverty, with at least 75 to 85 percent underemployed or unemployed. Per capita annual income is less than $400.

No other nation in our hemisphere has a higher rate of HIV/AIDS. Today, AIDS is the number one cause of all adult deaths in Haiti, killing at least 30,000 Haitians annually and orphaning 200,000 children.

No other nation in our hemisphere has a higher infant mortality rate or a lower life expectancy rate.

And no other nation in our hemisphere is as environmentally strapped. Haiti is an ecological disaster, with a 98-percent deforestation rate and extreme topsoil erosion.

Despite its radical differences, Haiti remains in our backyard. It is intrinsically linked to the United States-by history, geography, humanitarian concerns, the illicit drug trade, and the ever-present possibility of waves of incoming refugees. Haiti's problems are our problems, and we are not going to be able to do anything about any of these problems unless Haiti, the United States, and the international community are willing to take several bold, radical steps.

First, the international community must help Haiti restore a democratically elected government-one free of corruption and the influence and involvement of violent, human rights abusing thugs and killers.

Second, we must free Haiti of its $1.17 billion in foreign debt.

Third, we must increase trade and create jobs. Along with Congressman Clay Shaw, I have written a trade bill-the "Haiti Economic Recovery Opportunity Act," S. 489. If enacted, this legislation will help restore some of those jobs and create new ones.

Fourth, we must help Haiti develop a self-sufficient system of agriculture.

Fifth, we must help Haiti restore the rule of law. The international community needs to resume programs for mentoring magistrate and judges, and the new Haitian Government needs to create a functioning disciplinary body to oversee the entire judiciary.

Sixth, we must help Haiti establish an independent, professional national police force-one capable of quelling the violence of the armed thugs who threaten the streets of Haiti with abandon.

And finally, the international community should immediately restore the direct aid to the government that was suspended under Aristide, so Haiti can rebuild much-needed institutions and infrastructure for the delivery of food, humanitarian aid, and health care.

In 1994, prior to Mr. Aristide's reinstatement of power-during a time of military dictatorship, under Lieutenant General Cedras-our assistance to Haiti was far greater than it is today. Back in 1994, we provided $69.5 million. In fact, our assistance to Haiti reached an all time high in 1995, when it spiked to $235.2 million. The following year, it drastically fell by over half to $104.9 million. Four years later, it fell even more-down to $58.2 million. And today, we are looking at a $54 million budget. It simply isn't enough. That is why our amendment is so important.

Ultimately, the United States can't "fix" Haiti, nor can the international community. But we can improve the situation, and we can help Haiti begin to help itself. But, it is going to take a serious, sustained commitment. Things won't change overnight, and we must remain committed to Haiti for as long as it takes for reforms to take root and for a democratic system of government to emerge. The first step in this process is providing a realistic level of funding for these efforts.