In Wake of Devastating Hurricanes, Wexler Expresses Support for Increased Aid for Haiti
Issues Statement at Hearing in Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere

(Washington, DC) Today, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) made the following statement at a hearing held in the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, chaired by Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY), on Disaster and Recovery in Haiti.  Wexler strongly supports providing additional aid for the humanitarian disaster that has been created by the storms that have ravaged Haiti, as well as immediately ceasing the deportation of Haitians and calling for the Bush Administration to provide them with Temporary Protective Status. Read his statement below:

STATEMENT
CONGRESSMAN ROBERT WEXLER
HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2008

Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you for holding this hearing to discuss the growing humanitarian crises in Haiti.  It is apparent to anyone who cares deeply about the health and well-being of our Caribbean neighbor Haiti that they are facing an unprecedented crisis in the wake of several hurricanes and other natural disaster. 

First and foremost, I want to offer my sincere condolences to those Haitian families who are currently observing three days of mourning for loved ones who perished during and following the hurricanes. It is critical that the United States stand with the Haitian people at this difficult time and provide the disaster assistance the Haitian government is seeking. 

Like my colleagues from South Florida Congressman Alcee Hastings and Congressman Kendrick Meek who are testifying today, I am privileged to represent a significant Haitian-American community.  I share their grave concerns about the plight of Haitians and the need for a greater humanitarian and economic response from the United States and the international community.  According to the United Nations a staggering one-tenth of entire Haitian population (800,000 people) are in immediate need of emergency assistance.

The deadly storms that have hit Haiti have wrought unimaginable destruction, and this destruction is on top of a food crisis earlier this year and years of political and economic struggle.   With more than 45,000 homes damaged or destroyed, close to 500 killed, hundreds of thousands internally displace, we are talking about a tragedy beyond any scale that the Haitian government is capable of managing on its own.  Already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the extent of the flooding, damage, displacement and despair in Haiti calls for immediate assistance from the United States and others. 

To that end, I urge the Administration to heed the call of Congress to significantly increase disaster assistance for Haiti. It is my hope that the Administration will heed my request and that of my colleagues including Congresswoman Waters to provide up to $300 million in assistance for Haiti.  I also want to join Congressman Hastings in urging the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service to immediately cease the deportation of Haitians, and calling for the Administration to provide them Temporary Protective Status.  At a time when Haiti is reeling from death and destruction, it is unacceptable that the Administration is deporting Haitians back to a country that is devastated and unable to care for them. 

Chairman Engel, I am certain that today’s hearing will shed light on the disastrous situation in Haiti and will provide a roadmap to address the many humanitarian and economic needs of the Haitian people.  The plight of Haiti and its people deserves greater attention in Washington and I hope all of my colleagues will join me in acknowledging the need to increase disaster assistance, provide Temporary Protective Status to Haitians facing deportation and help Haiti rebuild its communities for long-term stability and security. 

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Congressman Wexler is Chairman of the Europe Subcommittee and a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Judiciary Committee; and he also sits on the Financial Services Committee.

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