IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 474 

Honoring the 210th anniversary of Haiti’s independence. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 5, 2014 

Ms. WATERS (for herself, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. SIRES, 

Mr. MEEKS, Ms. BASS, Ms. LEE of California, Ms. CLARKE of New York, 

Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mr. CONYERS, and Mr. RANGEL) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the 210th anniversary of Haiti’s independence. 

Whereas the people of Haiti celebrated the 210th anniversary 

of the independence of Haiti on January 1, 2014; 

Whereas Haiti declared its independence from France on 

January 1, 1804; 

Whereas Haiti achieved its independence as the result of a 

revolt among African slaves against their French colonial 

masters; 

Whereas Haiti is the only country to have achieved its independence as the result of a successful slave rebellion; 

Whereas Haiti first received diplomatic recognition from the 

United States in 1862, during the Presidency of AbraVerDate Mar 15 2010 23:04 Feb 05, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR474.IH HR474

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•HRES 474 IH 

ham Lincoln, who also presided over the emancipation of 

slaves in the United States; 

Whereas Haiti and the United States have each struggled 

throughout their history to achieve racial equality; 

Whereas Haiti has struggled throughout its history to become 

a stable democracy with respect for human rights and 

economic opportunity for the Haitian people; 

Whereas many Haitians have risked their lives to oppose dictatorships and supported the restoration of democracy in 

Haiti; 

Whereas many United States citizens have worked hard to 

advocate respect for human rights and support the restoration of democracy in Haiti in solidarity with the Haitian people; 

Whereas the people of Haiti have endured numerous natural 

disasters and continue to be at high risk for hurricanes 

and tropical storms; 

Whereas, on January 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake; 

Whereas according to the Government of Haiti, more than 

316,000 people died as a result of the earthquake; 

Whereas according to the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration, an estimated 

3,000,000 people were directly affected by the earthquake 

and 1,300,000 people were displaced to settlements; 

Whereas the United States House of Representatives passed 

House Resolution 1021 on January 21, 2010, on a vote 

of 411 to 1, expressing its ‘‘deepest condolences and sympathy for the horrific loss of life’’ and ‘‘support for the 

recovery and long-term reconstruction needs of Haiti’’; 


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•HRES 474 IH 

Whereas the United States Congress passed H.R. 4573, the 

Haiti Debt Relief and Earthquake Recovery Act of 2010, 

which urged the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the 

United States Executive Directors at certain international financial institutions to use the voice, vote, and 

influence of the United States to cancel immediately and 

completely Haiti’s debts to such institutions, and this bill 

was signed into law by President Barack Obama on April 

26, 2010; 

Whereas according to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States disbursed $2.9 billion in Haiti for post-earthquake assistance as of September 30, 2013, including $1.3 billion for 

humanitarian relief and $1.5 billion for recovery, reconstruction, and development; 

Whereas according to the United States Department of State, 

the United States is Haiti’s largest trading partner; 

Whereas according to the Congressional Research Service, 

more than 470,000 Haitians migrated to the United 

States between 1980 and 2011; 

Whereas the people of Haiti have survived slavery, repression, 

and natural disasters; 

Whereas the people of Haiti have demonstrated tremendous 

courage throughout their history and continue to work to 

improve their lives and create a better future for themselves, their families, and their fellow citizens; 

Whereas the people of the United States stand in solidarity 

with the people of Haiti in their desire for effective democratic governance and economic growth and development; 

and 


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•HRES 474 IH 

Whereas the people of the United States and the people of 

Haiti are united by their commitment to the values of 

freedom, democracy, human rights, and racial equality: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) congratulates the people of Haiti upon the 

3 210th anniversary of the independence of Haiti; 

4 (2) reaffirms the enduring friendship between 

5 Haiti and the United States; 

6 (3) recognizes that Haiti and the United States 

7 share a common history and a commitment to free8 dom, democracy, human rights, and racial equality; 

9 and 

10 (4) encourages Haiti and the United States to 

11 continue to pursue strong bilateral relations and mu12 tually beneficial growth and development. 

Æ 


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