May 6, 2010 - A congressional delegation (CODEL) will depart for Haiti at 7:30 AM EST on Friday May
7, nearly five months after a shocking earthquake rocked the poor island nation. The group of 10 members and other U.S. officials
will be led by Rep David Price (D-NC) and will include Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-IL). This is the latest collection of lawmakers
to travel to the Caribbean country since the January 12 tragedy that killed 210,000 people. The CODEL is expected to
arrive at Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s Toussaint L’Ouverture International Airport at 10 AM EST.
The delegation includes one Republican and nine Democrats including Rep. David Dreier (R-CA),
Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard
(D-CA), Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Rep. Brad Miller
(D-NC), and Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI).
The lawmakers will travel as part of the House Democracy Partnership (HDP), a legislative
exchange and capacity-building program established by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2005. The bipartisan, twenty-member
commission works directly with fifteen partner legislatures around the world to support the development and consolidation
of effective, independent, and democratic institutions of government.
HDP’s partnership with the National Assembly of Haiti was initiated in
2007 following the country’s successful 2006 legislative elections. The
earthquake completely destroyed the parliament and took the lives of several of its members and staff, and HDP has been working
in its wake to help the Assembly identify a meeting space and procure badly-needed equipment in order to regain its ability
to function as an institution. With the National Assembly’s mandate scheduled to expire in May 2010, HDP has been emphasizing
the need for the legislature to remain involved in the long-term reconstruction effort.
“I
want a first-hand look at how the Haitian Parliament is meeting the needs of the Haitian people in the wake of this devastating
tragedy and I want to see the progress that’s been made to stabilize Haiti," Rep Rush said. “Not only were thousands
of lives lost but the political and economic infrastructure of the country was also disrupted. This will be a long process.
We will meet with members of parliament, U.S. embassy officials and visit relief camps so we might access how well our intervention
is going.”
The mission comes two days after the House on Wednesday approved
trade breaks for Haiti's textile industry, the latest of several actions aimed at helping the hemisphere's poorest nation
recover from the most devastating earthquake in the country’s history.
The CODEL will returned to Washington on Friday night.
Related:
Haiti Help
Update: President Obama remarks on Haitian Flag Day.
"On
behalf of the American people, I send my congratulations to all those who celebrate Haitian Flag Day – here in America,
in Haiti, and around the world. Over 200 years ago, freedmen from what is now the Republic of Haiti came to the aid
of American patriots fighting for freedom at the Siege of Savannah. Then, in 1803, Haiti declared their independence,
and this day celebrates the flying of that first Haitian flag. The bonds between our nations have been strong and vibrant
since that day.
But as we observe this day of celebration, let us also remember the ongoing efforts in Haiti
to rebuild and recover from that tragic earthquake. We stand with the international community in our support for the
government of Haiti and the Haitian people as they continue to create a foundation for a brighter future. On this Haitian
Flag Day, the people of Haiti should remember that they have a friend and partner in America.”
