I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 417 

To provide for professional exchanges with Haiti, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 9, 2009 

Ms. LEE of California (for herself, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. CONYERS, 

Mr. CROWLEY, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. MEEK of Florida, 

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, 

Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. RANGEL, and 

Mr. RUSH) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

To provide for professional exchanges with Haiti, and for 

other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Next Steps for Haiti 

5 Act of 2009’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) Haiti is the world’s first black-led republic 

2 and the first Caribbean country to achieve independ3 ence. 

4 (2) Since its independence on January 1, 1804, 

5 the Government of Haiti has struggled to meet the 

6 promise of freedom and democracy expressed in the 

7 Preliminary Declaration of its 1805 Constitution. 

8 (3) Many government changes in the last three 

9 decades, accompanied with ongoing violence, have 

10 contributed to the government’s inability to provide 

11 security for its citizens and provide an environment 

12 conducive for the development of infrastructure. 

13 (4) Since the return of Haiti’s democracy, the 

14 country has taken steps to achieve a relative meas15 ure of stability. However, the 40 percent rise in 

16 global food prices and subsequent 50 percent rise in 

17 the cost of Haiti’s staple foods since mid-2007 has 

18 threatened Haiti’s security and the capacity of Hai19 ti’s economy to prosper. 

20 (5) Haiti today stands as the Western Hemi21 sphere’s poorest country, and would benefit greatly 

22 from technical assistance in the fields of health care, 

23 sanitation, capacity building, and the environment. 

24 (6) United States Caribbean nationals have tra25 ditionally contributed to the economic and social deVerDate Nov 24 2008 04:28 Jan 12, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H417.IH H417

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1 velopment of their home countries through remit2 tances. Diasporas serve as lobbies in their host coun3 tries and as transnational networks and actors in 

4 their respective societies. Partnering with the re5 sources of a diaspora can lead to staffing and train6 ing of public administration, business development, 

7 job creation, and migration management. 

8 (7) At least 3 million Haitians live abroad, 

9 mostly in the United States and Canada. Members 

10 of the Haitian diaspora are Haiti’s first customers 

11 and investors in tourism, small business, and min12 ing. Return trips by Haitians living abroad provide 

13 significant capital for local economies and tourism. 

14 (8) According to the Inter-American Develop15 ment Bank, remittances to families in Haiti reached 

16 an estimated 1.83 billion in 2007. These remittances 

17 account for 35 percent of Haiti’s gross domestic 

18 product. 

19 (9) The diaspora support is received from 

20 hometown associations of professionals focusing on 

21 specific fields. These help create small- and medium22 sized businesses in Haiti, through micro-volunteer 

23 projects and the channeling of funds through local, 

24 departmental, and national initiatives. 


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1 (10) Mobilizing Haitians abroad is one means 

2 to advance state and economic reconstruction as well 

3 as reversing the brain drain and bring skilled and 

4 professional expatriates back to Haiti to greatly ex5 pand the nation’s management capacity and work6 force. 

7 SEC. 3. THE NEXT STEPS FOR HAITI ACT OF 2009. 

8 (a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Director of For9 eign Assistance, in consultation with the democratically 

10 elected Government of Haiti and Haitian civil society or11 ganizations, is authorized to establish a professional ex12 change program in Haiti, to be known as the ‘‘Haiti Pro13 fessional Exchange Program’’ (in this Act referred to as 

14 the ‘‘Exchange Program’’). At all major phases of the Ex15 change Program, including establishing the Exchange 

16 Program’s priorities, identifying the most appropriate 

17 skills for Exchange Program participants, and selecting 

18 and supervising Exchange Program participants, the 

19 democratically elected Government of Haiti and Haitian 

20 civil society organizations shall be consulted. 

21 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Exchange Pro22 gram is to assign qualified Haitian Americans and others 

23 to provide technical assistance to help Haiti improve in 

24 areas vital to its growth and development, which may in25 clude education, energy, environment, healthcare, infraVerDate Nov 24 2008 04:28 Jan 12, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H417.IH H417

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1 structure, security, transportation, and disaster prepared2 ness. 

3 (c) COORDINATION.—In carrying out the Exchange 

4 Program, the Director of Foreign Assistance shall nego5 tiate an agreement with the democratically elected Govern6 ment of Haiti to— 

7 (1) provide technical assistance in areas vital to 

8 Haiti’s growth and development as provided under 

9 subsection (b); and 

10 (2) identify, in accordance with Haitian needs 

11 and priorities, the sectors or professional fields to 

12 which Exchange Program participants may provide 

13 technical assistance and the objectives to be 

14 achieved, including specific projects or programs. 

15 (d) CONSULTATION WITH HAITIAN CIVIL SOCIETY

16 ORGANIZATIONS.—The democratically elected Govern17 ment of Haiti should consult with Haitian civil society or18 ganizations to identify the needs and priorities of Haiti 

19 to outline the sectors or professional fields to which Ex20 change Program participants may provide technical assist21 ance and the objectives to be achieved, including specific 

22 projects or programs. 

23 (e) SELECTION OF INDIVIDUALS FOR PARTICIPATION

24 IN THE EXCHANGE PROGRAM.—The Director of Foreign 

25 Assistance shall establish a selections committee, conVerDate Nov 24 2008 04:28 Jan 12, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H417.IH H417

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1 sisting of representatives of the democratically elected 

2 Government of Haiti and Haitian civil society organiza3 tions, to identify criteria that should be met by individuals 

4 who wish to participate in the Exchange Program. In ad5 dition, the selections committee shall review potential eligi6 ble applicants who wish to participate in the Exchange 

7 Program to ensure that they can act as experts. 

8 (f) OUTREACH PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE PARTICI9 PATION IN THE EXCHANGE PROGRAM.—The Director of 

10 Foreign Assistance shall establish an outreach program to 

11 encourage participation in the Exchange Program, by in12 dividuals who shall meet the following requirements: 

13 (1) Are citizens of the United States or lawfully 

14 admitted for permanent residence in the United 

15 States. 

16 (2) Are— 

17 (A) fluent in Kreyol or are working to18 wards a proficiency in Kreyol, or willing to un19 dertake intensive Kreyol training; or 

20 (B) fluent in French or are working to21 wards a proficiency in French, or willing to un22 dertake intensive French training. 

23 (3) Possess skills or expertise to further the 

24 purposes of this Act. 


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1 (g) TERMS OF PARTICIPATION FOR INDIVIDUALS IN

2 THE EXCHANGE PROGRAM.— 

3 (1) ORIENTATION REQUIRED FOR INDIVIDUALS

4 IN THE EXCHANGE PROGRAM.—Participants shall 

5 attend an orientation outlined by the Director of 

6 Foreign Assistance, in consultation with the selec7 tion committee. The orientation shall consist of 

8 workshops and seminars designed to prepare partici9 pants for their stay in Haiti. Topics addressed shall 

10 include the following: 

11 (A) A review of the Exchange Program’s 

12 goals and intentions. 

13 (B) A review of Haiti’s different ap14 proaches to the country’s development needs. 

15 (C) A review of the potential cultural and 

16 behavioral barriers individuals may face while 

17 participating in the Exchange Program. 

18 (2) LENGTH OF SERVICE IN EXCHANGE PRO19 GRAM.— 

20 (A) 27 MONTHS.—Individuals may partici21 pate in the Exchange Program for not longer 

22 than 27 months. 

23 (B) EXCEPTION.—If a participant would 

24 like to extend the duration of time of participa25 tion in the program, an application for such an 


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1 extension shall be subject to approval of the Di2 rector of Foreign Assistance, in consultation 

3 with the democratically elected Government of 

4 Haiti. Upon approval, individuals may partici5 pate in the Exchange Program for one addi6 tional year. 

7 (C) COMPENSATION AND READJUSTMENT

8 ALLOWANCE.— 

9 (i) COMPENSATION.—An individual 

10 who participates in the Exchange Program 

11 shall receive monthly compensation equal 

12 to the average monthly salary of such indi13 vidual’s professional Haitian counterpart. 

14 (ii) READJUSTMENT ALLOWANCE.—At 

15 the end of an individual’s participation in 

16 the Exchange Program, the Director of 

17 Foreign Assistance shall provide to such 

18 individual a readjustment allowance in an 

19 amount equal to the number of months 

20 such individual participated in the Ex21 change Program multiplied by $250. 

22 (3) ENACTMENT, NOTICE.— 

23 (A) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Exchange 

24 Program shall be established not later than 180 


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1 days after the date of the enactment of this 

2 Act. 

3 (B) NOTICE.—Not later than 30 days 

4 after the date on which the Director of Foreign 

5 Assistance establishes the Exchange Program 

6 under subsection (a), the Director shall— 

7 (i) provide notice thereof to Congress; 

8 and 

9 (ii) submit to Congress information on 

10 the Exchange Program that contains the 

11 agreement governing the scope of work ne12 gotiated with the democratically elected 

13 Government of Haiti, a recruitment plan 

14 for participants, and a description of the 

15 qualifications and other appropriate infor16 mation relating to individuals who are to 

17 be recruited to participate in the Exchange 

18 Program, including the needs that the indi19 viduals are expected to fill under the Ex20 change Program. 

21 (4) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

22 (A) CIVIL SOCIETY.—The term ‘‘civil soci23 ety’’ means voluntary civic and social organiza24 tions and may include registered charities, 


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1 grassroots organizations, coalitions and advo2 cacy groups, and professional associations. 

3 (B) EXPERT ADVISORS.—The term ‘‘expert 

4 advisors’’ means individuals who possess exten5 sive experience in fields which will benefit Haiti 

6 that may include education, energy, environ7 ment, health care, infrastructure, security, 

8 transportation, and disaster preparedness. 

9 (5) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

10 (A) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to 

11 be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2009 

12 through 2014 such sums as may be necessary 

13 to carry out this section. 

14 (B) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense 

15 of Congress that at least $3,000,000 should be 

16 made available for each of the fiscal years speci17 fied in subparagraph (A) to carry out this sec18 tion. 

19 (h) REPORTS.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 

21 after the date of the enactment of this Act and an22 nually thereafter, the Director of Foreign Assistance 

23 shall submit to Congress a report regarding the Ex24 change Program. 


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1 (2) CONTENTS.—The reports shall include in2 formation relating to the following: 

3 (A) Individuals and organizations selected 

4 to participate and receive funds and a detailed 

5 breakdown of the uses of such funds, including 

6 purpose, locations, and results. 

7 (B) The potential for expansion of the Ex8 change Program. 

9 (C) The number of individuals recruited to 

10 participate in the Exchange Program, their 

11 countries of origin and their current residences, 

12 and the ministry or agency and the locality in 

13 which each individual is placed. 

14 (D) A statement of financial accounting. 

15 SEC. 4. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR EXCHANGE PROGRAM 

16 PARTICIPANTS. 

17 (a) PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.— 

18 (1) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of 

19 State, in cooperation with the Secretary of Edu20 cation, shall establish and implement a program to 

21 cancel the obligation of loan borrowers to pay the 

22 principal and interest on student loans for program 

23 participants, during their service in the Exchange 

24 Program under section 2. 


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1 (2) METHOD OF REPAYMENT.—The Secretary 

2 of State shall carry out such program by repaying 

3 in accordance with subsection (b) the principal and 

4 interest, not to exceed a total of $10,000, on a loan 

5 made under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 

6 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) for a borrower who— 

7 (A) has obtained an undergraduate or 

8 graduate degree; 

9 (B) is selected to participate in the Ex10 change Program under section 2 of this Act; 

11 (C) is a United States citizen or perma12 nent legal resident; and 

13 (D) is in repayment status on such loan 

14 and is not in default on a loan for which the 

15 borrower seeks forgiveness of principal and in16 terest payments. 

17 (b) TERMS.— 

18 (1) PROMISE TO COMPLETE SERVICE REQUIRED

19 FOR PAYMENT.—Any application for payment under 

20 subsection (a) shall contain an agreement by the ap21 plicant that the applicant will continue in a quali22 fying service described in subsection (a)(2)(B) for 

23 not less than 1 complete year, or will, upon a failure 

24 to complete such year, repay the United States the 

25 amount of the principal and interest repaid by the 


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1 Secretary under subsection (a), at a rate and sched2 ule, and in accordance with regulations, prescribed 

3 by the Secretary. Such regulations may provide for 

4 waiver by the Secretary of such repayment obliga5 tions upon proof of economic hardship as specified 

6 in such regulations. 

7 (2) PAYMENT IN INSTALLMENTS.—After a bor8 rower has been selected as a participant of the Ex9 change Program under section 2, the Secretary shall 

10 make payments under this section while the bor11 rower is in loan repayment status and continues as 

12 a participant of such program. The Secretary shall 

13 repay a portion of a borrower’s outstanding loan, 

14 not to exceed a total of $10,000, in the following in15 crements: 

16 (A) Up to $2,000, or 20 percent of the 

17 borrower’s outstanding loan balance, whichever 

18 is less, at the completion of the first year of 

19 such service. 

20 (B) Up to $2,500, or 25 percent of the 

21 borrower’s outstanding loan balance, whichever 

22 is less, at the completion of the second year of 

23 such service. 

24 (C) Up to $5,000, or 50 percent of the 

25 borrower’s outstanding loan balance, whichever 


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1 is less, at the completion of the third and final 

2 year of such service. 

3 (c) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of State is au4 thorized to issue such regulations as may be necessary to 

5 carry out this section. Such regulations shall establish pro6 cedures by which borrowers shall apply for loan repayment 

7 under this section. 

Æ 


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