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 Af-
fairs 
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 inde-
pendence as the result of a successful slave rebellion; 
Whereas Haiti first received diplomatic recognition from the 
United States in 1862, during the Presidency of Abra-
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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 dic-
tatorships 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 res-
toration of democracy in Haiti in solidarity with the Hai-
tian 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 dev-
astating 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 Inter-
national 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 sym-
pathy 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 inter-
national 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 Inter-
national Development (USAID), the United States dis-
bursed $2.9 billion in Haiti for post-earthquake assist-
ance as of September 30, 2013, including $1.3 billion for 
humanitarian relief and $1.5 billion for recovery, recon-
struction, 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 them-
selves, 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 demo-
cratic 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 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) congratulates the people of Haiti upon the 
210th anniversary of the independence of Haiti; 
(2) reaffirms the enduring friendship between 
Haiti and the United States; 
(3) recognizes that Haiti and the United States 
share a common history and a commitment to free-
dom, democracy, human rights, and racial equality; 
and 
(4) encourages Haiti and the United States to 
continue to pursue strong bilateral relations and mu-
tually beneficial growth and development. 
Æ 
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