IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1021 

Expressing condolences to and solidarity with the people of Haiti in the 

aftermath of the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 20, 2010 

Ms. LEE of California (for herself, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. BERMAN, Ms. ROSLEHTINEN, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. HOYER, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. 

RANGEL, Mr. TOWNS, Ms. WATERS, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Ms. CLARKE, 

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. MEEK of Florida, Mr. MEEKS of New 

York, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. 

BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. CLAY, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. 

CUMMINGS, Mr. DAVIS of Alabama, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. EDWARDS

of Maryland, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. FATTAH, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. AL GREEN

of Texas, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. JACKSON LEE of 

Texas, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of 

Texas, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mrs. 

MCCARTHY of New York, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Ms. NORTON, Ms. 

RICHARDSON, Mr. RUSH, Mr. SABLAN, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. SCOTT of 

Georgia, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. SIRES, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Ms. WATSON, and Mr. WATT) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition 

to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently 

determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing condolences to and solidarity with the people 

of Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake 

of January 12, 2010. 


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•HRES 1021 IH 

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; 

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 


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•HRES 1021 IH 

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 

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; 


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•HRES 1021 IH 

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; 

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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


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•HRES 1021 IH 

1 (1) expresses its deepest condolences and sym2 pathy for the horrific loss of life and the physical 

3 and psychological damage caused by the earthquake 

4 of January 12, 2010; 

5 (2) expresses solidarity with Haitians, Haitian 

6 Americans, and all those who have lost loved ones or 

7 have otherwise been affected by the tragedy, includ8 ing United States Embassy personnel, United Na9 tions peacekeepers, and humanitarian workers; 

10 (3) commends the efforts and honors the sac11 rifice of the men and women of the Government of 

12 Haiti, the United States Government, the United 

13 Nations, and the international community in their 

14 immediate response to those affected by this calam15 ity; 

16 (4) commends the efforts of the American peo17 ple, including the Haitian-American community, to 

18 provide relief to families, friends, and unknown peo19 ples suffering in the country; 

20 (5) supports the efforts of the Administration 

21 to provide and coordinate international humani22 tarian assistance and to provide relief to affected 

23 communities; 

24 (6) expresses support for the recovery and long25 term reconstruction needs of Haiti; 


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•HRES 1021 IH 

1 (7) recognizes that the recovery and long-term 

2 needs of Haiti will require a sustained commitment 

3 by the United States and international community 

4 based on comprehensive assessments of the develop5 ment needs for Haiti; 

6 (8) urges those who hold debt against Haiti, in7 cluding the Inter-American Development Bank, the 

8 International Monetary Fund, and all other regional 

9 and international institutions and countries, to im10 mediately suspend further debt payments, and to de11 velop processes to cancel all remaining debt; and 

12 (9) urges the President— 

13 (A) to continue to make available to 

14 United States agencies, nongovernmental orga15 nizations, private voluntary organizations, re16 gional institutions, and United Nations agencies 

17 the resources necessary to confront the effects 

18 and consequences of this natural disaster; 

19 (B) to provide, when the emergency sub20 sides, assistance in partnership with the Gov21 ernment of Haiti and in coordination with other 

22 donors to begin the reconstruction of Haiti; 

23 (C) to undertake comprehensive assess24 ments of the long-term needs for recovery and 

25 development in Haiti, ensure transparency and 


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•HRES 1021 IH 

1 accountability, and lead coordination efforts 

2 with international actors who share in the goal 

3 of a better future for Haiti and are willing to 

4 support the costs of meeting those needs; and 

5 (D) to utilize new and innovative thinking 

6 in providing long-term assistance to Haiti, in7 cluding tapping into the insight and immense 

8 potential of the Haitian Diaspora, to help Hai9 tians rebuild upon the strongest possible foun10 dation, in order to promote a stable and sus11 tainable future for Haiti. 

Æ 


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