H. Res. 1021 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

January 21, 2010. 

Whereas on January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake 

struck the country of Haiti; 

Whereas according to the United States Geological Survey 

(USGS) the earthquake epicenter was located approximately 10 miles southwest of the capital, Port-au-Prince; 

Whereas the earthquake has been followed by dangerous 

aftershocks, including two of 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude, and 

with the most severe to date, at 6.1, coming on January 

20, 2010; 

Whereas casualty estimates, still being compiled, as well as 

infrastructure damage, including to roads, ports, hospitals, and residential dwellings, place this earthquake as 

the worst cataclysm to hit Haiti in over two centuries; 

Whereas an estimated 3,000,000 people have been directly affected by the disaster in Haiti, nearly one-third of the 

country’s population, who are currently at risk of longterm displacement and vulnerability; 

Whereas the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti 

(MINUSTAH) headquarters collapsed with approximately 150 staff members inside, including the head of 

the mission, Hedi Annabi, causing the largest loss of life 

in United Nations history; 
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Whereas an unknown number of individuals remain trapped 

under collapsed buildings, as rescue teams work aroundthe-clock to locate and extract survivors; 

Whereas the destruction of infrastructure, particularly to the 

port, airport, roads, and telecommunications, continues to 

hinder the immediate delivery of humanitarian assistance 

in Haiti; 

Whereas Haiti is the poorest, least developed country in the 

Western Hemisphere, and prior to the earthquake was 

ranked 149 out of 182 countries on the United Nations 

Human Development Index; 

Whereas prior to the earthquake, Haiti was still in the process of recovering from a ruinous recent series of hurricanes and tropical storms, food shortages and rising commodity prices, and political instability, but was showing 

encouraging signs of improvement; 

Whereas in addition to the pressure to secure communities 

and prevent looters from causing further harm to their 

citizens who are struggling to recover, Haiti’s penitentiary collapsed and spilled untold numbers of criminals 

into an already disturbing security situation; 

Whereas a number of children legally confirmed as orphans 

are eligible for intercountry adoption, and the uncertain 

welfare of children who are already in the process of 

being adopted is of urgent concern to their prospective 

adoptive parents in the United States; 

Whereas it is in the interests of these orphans and their prospective adoptive parents to facilitate and expedite legal 

adoptions of Haitian orphans to the United States; 

Whereas President Obama vowed the ‘‘unwavering support’’ 

of the United States and pledged a ‘‘swift, coordinated 
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and aggressive effort to save lives and support the recovery in Haiti’’; 

Whereas the response to the tragedy from the global community has been overwhelmingly positive; 

Whereas the initial emergency response of the men and 

women of the United States Government, led by the 

United States Agency for International Development and 

United States Southern Command, has been swift and 

resolute; 

Whereas MINUSTAH peacekeepers, while still trying to rescue their colleagues in their headquarters, have taken a 

leading role to assist in clearing roads and providing security around Port-au-Prince to facilitate aid into the 

earthquake disaster zone; 

Whereas the United States Department of Homeland Security has temporarily halted the deportation of Haitian nationals to Haiti in response to the devastation caused by 

the earthquake; 

Whereas the United States Department of Homeland Security granted the designation of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals who are in the United States 

and unable to return to their country due to the destruction and humanitarian crisis in Haiti; 

Whereas individuals, businesses, and philanthropic organizations across the United States and throughout the international community have responded in support of Haiti 

and its populace during this time of crisis, sometimes in 

innovative ways such as fundraising through text messaging; 
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Whereas throughout this terrible calamity, the Haitian people 

continue to demonstrate unwavering resilience, dignity, 

and courage; and 

Whereas once proper surveys and assessments are conducted, 

the initial and crucial emergency relief response will likely 

move to a comprehensive mission requiring sustained assistance from the United States and the international 

community for reconstruction and development efforts: 

Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) expresses its deepest condolences and sympathy 

for the horrific loss of life and the physical and psychological damage caused by the earthquake of January 12, 

2010; 

(2) expresses solidarity with Haitians, Haitian 

Americans, and all those who have lost loved ones or 

have otherwise been affected by the tragedy, including 

United States Embassy personnel, United Nations 

peacekeepers, and humanitarian workers; 

(3) commends the efforts and honors the sacrifice 

of the men and women of the Government of Haiti, the 

United States Government, the United Nations, and the 

international community in their immediate response to 

those affected by this calamity; 

(4) commends the efforts of the American people, 

including the Haitian-American community, to provide 
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relief to families, friends, and unknown peoples suffering 

in the country; 

(5) supports the efforts of the Administration to 

provide and coordinate international humanitarian assistance and to provide relief to affected communities; 

(6) expresses support for the recovery and longterm reconstruction needs of Haiti; 

(7) recognizes that the recovery and long-term 

needs of Haiti will require a sustained commitment by 

the United States and international community based on 

comprehensive assessments of the development needs for 

Haiti; 

(8) urges those who hold debt against Haiti, including the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and all other regional and 

international institutions and countries, to immediately 

suspend further debt payments, and to develop processes 

to cancel all remaining debt; and 

(9) urges the President— 

(A) to continue to make available to United 

States agencies, nongovernmental organizations, 

private voluntary organizations, regional institutions, and United Nations agencies the resources 

necessary to confront the effects and consequences 

of this natural disaster; 
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(B) to provide, when the emergency subsides, 

assistance in partnership with the Government of 

Haiti and in coordination with other donors to 

begin the reconstruction of Haiti; 

(C) to undertake comprehensive assessments of 

the long-term needs for recovery and development 

in Haiti, ensure transparency and accountability, 

and lead coordination efforts with international actors who share in the goal of a better future for 

Haiti and are willing to support the costs of meeting those needs; and 

(D) to utilize new and innovative thinking in 

providing long-term assistance to Haiti, including 

tapping into the insight and immense potential of 

the Haitian Diaspora, to help Haitians rebuild upon 

the strongest possible foundation, in order to promote a stable and sustainable future for Haiti. 

Attest: 

Clerk.