velopment of their home countries through remit-
tances. Diasporas serve as lobbies in their host coun-
tries and as transnational networks and actors in 
their respective societies. Partnering with the re-
sources of a diaspora can lead to staffing and train-
ing of public administration, business development, 
job creation, and migration management. 
(7) At least 3 million Haitians live abroad, 
mostly in the United States and Canada. Members 
of the Haitian diaspora are Haiti’s first customers 
and investors in tourism, small business, and min-
ing. Return trips by Haitians living abroad provide 
significant capital for local economies and tourism. 
(8) According to the Inter-American Develop-
ment Bank, remittances to families in Haiti reached 
an estimated 1.83 billion in 2007. These remittances 
account for 35 percent of Haiti’s gross domestic 
product. 
(9) The diaspora support is received from 
hometown associations of professionals focusing on 
specific fields. These help create small- and medium- 
sized businesses in Haiti, through micro-volunteer 
projects and the channeling of funds through local, 
departmental, and national initiatives. 
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(10) Mobilizing Haitians abroad is one means 
to advance state and economic reconstruction as well 
as reversing the brain drain and bring skilled and 
professional expatriates back to Haiti to greatly ex-
pand the nation’s management capacity and work-
force. 
SEC. 3. THE NEXT STEPS FOR HAITI ACT OF 2009. 
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Director of For-
eign Assistance, in consultation with the democratically 
elected Government of Haiti and Haitian civil society or-
ganizations, is authorized to establish a professional ex-
change program in Haiti, to be known as the ‘‘Haiti Pro-
fessional Exchange Program’’ (in this Act referred to as 
the ‘‘Exchange Program’’). At all major phases of the Ex-
change Program, including establishing the Exchange 
Program’s priorities, identifying the most appropriate 
skills for Exchange Program participants, and selecting 
and supervising Exchange Program participants, the 
democratically elected Government of Haiti and Haitian 
civil society organizations shall be consulted. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Exchange Pro-
gram is to assign qualified Haitian Americans and others 
to provide technical assistance to help Haiti improve in 
areas vital to its growth and development, which may in-
clude education, energy, environment, healthcare, infra-
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structure, security, transportation, and disaster prepared-
ness. 
(c) COORDINATION.—In carrying out the Exchange 
Program, the Director of Foreign Assistance shall nego-
tiate an agreement with the democratically elected Govern-
ment of Haiti to— 
(1) provide technical assistance in areas vital to 
Haiti’s growth and development as provided under 
subsection (b); and 
(2) identify, in accordance with Haitian needs 
and priorities, the sectors or professional fields to 
which Exchange Program participants may provide 
technical assistance and the objectives to be 
achieved, including specific projects or programs. 
(d) CONSULTATION WITH HAITIAN CIVIL SOCIETY 
ORGANIZATIONS.—The democratically elected Govern-
ment of Haiti should consult with Haitian civil society or-
ganizations to identify the needs and priorities of Haiti 
to outline the sectors or professional fields to which Ex-
change Program participants may provide technical assist-
ance and the objectives to be achieved, including specific 
projects or programs. 
(e) SELECTION OF INDIVIDUALS FOR PARTICIPATION 
IN THE EXCHANGE PROGRAM.—The Director of Foreign 
Assistance shall establish a selections committee, con-
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sisting of representatives of the democratically elected 
Government of Haiti and Haitian civil society organiza-
tions, to identify criteria that should be met by individuals 
who wish to participate in the Exchange Program. In ad-
dition, the selections committee shall review potential eligi-
ble applicants who wish to participate in the Exchange 
Program to ensure that they can act as experts. 
(f) OUTREACH PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE PARTICI-
PATION IN THE EXCHANGE PROGRAM.—The Director of 
Foreign Assistance shall establish an outreach program to 
encourage participation in the Exchange Program, by in-
dividuals who shall meet the following requirements: 
(1) Are citizens of the United States or lawfully 
admitted for permanent residence in the United 
States. 
(2) Are— 
(A) fluent in Kreyol or are working to-
wards a proficiency in Kreyol, or willing to un-
dertake intensive Kreyol training; or 
(B) fluent in French or are working to-
wards a proficiency in French, or willing to un-
dertake intensive French training. 
(3) Possess skills or expertise to further the 
purposes of this Act. 
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(g) TERMS OF PARTICIPATION FOR INDIVIDUALS IN 
THE EXCHANGE PROGRAM.— 
(1) ORIENTATION REQUIRED FOR INDIVIDUALS 
IN
THE
EXCHANGE
PROGRAM.—Participants shall 
attend an orientation outlined by the Director of 
Foreign Assistance, in consultation with the selec-
tion committee. The orientation shall consist of 
workshops and seminars designed to prepare partici-
pants for their stay in Haiti. Topics addressed shall 
include the following: 
(A) A review of the Exchange Program’s 
goals and intentions. 
(B) A review of Haiti’s different ap-
proaches to the country’s development needs. 
(C) A review of the potential cultural and 
behavioral barriers individuals may face while 
participating in the Exchange Program. 
(2) LENGTH OF SERVICE IN EXCHANGE PRO-
GRAM.— 
(A) 27 MONTHS.—Individuals may partici-
pate in the Exchange Program for not longer 
than 27 months. 
(B) EXCEPTION.—If a participant would 
like to extend the duration of time of participa-
tion in the program, an application for such an 
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