One Year Anniversary of the Earthquake in Haiti

Floor Speech

* Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, this week marks the one year anniversary of the horrific earthquake that struck our neighbor Haiti last year, killing over 200,000 men, women, and children including U.S. citizens. I join my colleagues in commemorating this somber event and in reaffirming the commitment of our nation to continue to work with the Haitian people and government to not only rebuild Haiti, but make a better Haiti.

* There has been progress in the recovery from the devastating earthquake and I applaud the individuals within the State Department, USAID, the U.S. embassy in Haiti, and the many people from communities throughout our country, including my district in Wisconsin, who have volunteered, donated money, and gone to Haiti in the past year to try and make life a little better for those who have suffered so much. I also want to highlight and applaud the brave men and women in our military who were our nation's first responders during the deadly and dark first days of this catastrophe and in the months following the earthquake. For many Haitians, these men and women were the first face of hope in a hopeless situation.

* Nonetheless, we are all aware of the various challenges that Haiti continues to face and will face for the foreseeable future. We all see the tent cities. Over a million people are still waiting for both ``temporary'' and permanent housing solutions. Dozens of issues, from resolving disputes over land ownership to rubble removal still need to be addressed. For far too many, permanent housing solutions are no closer today than they were on January 13, 2010.

* Other challenges remain. A cholera outbreak has killed over 3,500 people and affects over 150,000 more. Millions of cubic meters of rubble still remain in Port Au Prince. Add to this mix the controversy and ``irregularities'' surrounding the recently held Presidential and Parliamentary elections and there are plenty of obstacles to rebuilding Haiti. These come on top of the challenges existing pre-earthquake.

* Additionally, I am distressed and disgusted by the recent reports about the continuing sexual violence and assault being committed in these camps against women and girls. When displacement occurs, whether because of conflict or natural disaster, women almost always suffer the most severe deprivations and consequences. According to UNICEF, a lack of security and the ``hard living conditions'' in the camps have been major factors increasing the risk of violence against women and girls.

* Our Haiti efforts must prioritize--less with words and with more deeds and actions--the rights of vulnerable Haitian women and girls. And first and foremost, must be their immediate protection against these despicable assaults which violate basic human rights. We must strengthen the UN peacekeeping mission and the Haitian police so they can make stopping these attacks a priority.

* According to Amnesty International, the risk of rape and other forms of gender-based violence in Haiti's camps has increased ``dramatically'' in the past year and ``Women and girls, already struggling to come to terms with the grief and trauma of losing their loved ones, homes and livelihoods in the earthquake, are living in camps in tents that cannot be made secure, with the constant threat of sexual violence. Without access to medical care and with little prospect of receiving any support or seeing their attackers brought to justice, survivors see no end to their plight.''

* The U.S. and international community then must drastically increase their attention and focus on preventing this violence against women and girls immediately. It is also critical for the U.S. to push the Haitian government and other international donors to include women and girls in the rebuilding and recovery decisionmaking process and plans.

* Their have also been reports of significant delays in moving the aid that Congress approved for Haiti relief, recovery, and rebuilding out of the federal agencies and into the hands of partners on the ground in Haiti. What we need to see in 2011 is not a trickle of assistance but a downpour and I hope that these unnecessary delays have been resolved and the Administration will move to ensure that this relief gets to the Haitian people.

* We also need to continue to make efforts to strengthen the ability of the Haitian government to take the lead in responding to the long-term rebuilding and recovery needs of the Haitian people. U.S. aid to Haiti, to the maximum extent possible, must be directed through or with the input of the duly-elected Haitian government. While the well-documented problems with recent elections make this goal even more difficult in the short term, I think we all understand that the future for Haiti depends on it having an effective, accountable, and transparent government that responds to the needs of its people.

* Ramping up housing efforts is also critical at this moment. More than 1 million people--approximately 380,000 of whom are children--still live in crowded camps. USAID has reported that it has spent over $100 million for emergency and transition shelters, including temporary shelters designed to last up to three years. By the end of 2010, its temporary solutions were able to house almost 60,000 Haitians. It is an understatement to say more needs to be done.

* Additionally, in the mix of all this, sometime this year, the President must also decide whether to continue Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians in the U.S. After the earthquake, at the urging of a number of Members of Congress including myself, President Obama extended TPS for Haitians in the U.S. preventing them from being deported to the devastated country citing among other reasons, that these individuals ``personal safety would be endangered by returning to Haiti.'' That original order will lapse in a few months. It is clear however that Haiti is still in the midst of the earthquake caused crisis that led to TPS being granted.

* Lastly, even with the best intentions and the most diligent of efforts, problems and challenges will continue to affect the rebuilding efforts in Haiti. A cholera epidemic, Hurricane Tomas, highly controversial recent elections, you name it, it appears it will happen to Haiti. Therefore patience is crucial. We must rededicate ourselves to a long-term commitment to our neighbors in Haiti.

* Mr. Speaker, we all have an important role to play in Haiti's recovery as it continues on this long road from tragedy to triumph. We know that many hard months remain ahead and much hard work needs to be done.

* I want to make clear to the Haitian people that the U.S. government commitment to helping them rebuild is no less clear or strong today than it was on that terrible January day one year ago. This is a key moment for Haiti and for testing our commitment that was so evident in the days following January 12, 2010. Normal will not come soon enough for the Haitian people. As we commemorate the tragic events that took place one year ago, let us redouble our commitment, support, and efforts to rebuild Haiti.

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