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. ROS- 
LEHTINEN, 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 Mis-
sissippi, 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 provi-
sions 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 approxi-
mately 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, hos-
pitals, 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 af-
fected by the disaster in Haiti, nearly one-third of the 
country’s population, who are currently at risk of long- 
term displacement and vulnerability; 
Whereas the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti 
(MINUSTAH) headquarters collapsed with approxi-
mately 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 around- 
the-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 proc-
ess of recovering from a ruinous recent series of hurri-
canes and tropical storms, food shortages and rising com-
modity 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 peniten-
tiary 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 pro-
spective 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 recov-
ery in Haiti’’; 
Whereas the response to the tragedy from the global commu-
nity 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 res-
cue their colleagues in their headquarters, have taken a 
leading role to assist in clearing roads and providing se-
curity around Port-au-Prince to facilitate aid into the 
earthquake disaster zone; 
Whereas the United States Department of Homeland Secu-
rity has temporarily halted the deportation of Haitian na-
tionals to Haiti in response to the devastation caused by 
the earthquake; 
Whereas the United States Department of Homeland Secu-
rity granted the designation of Temporary Protected Sta-
tus for Haitian nationals who are in the United States 
and unable to return to their country due to the destruc-
tion and humanitarian crisis in Haiti; 
Whereas individuals, businesses, and philanthropic organiza-
tions across the United States and throughout the inter-
national community have responded in support of Haiti 
and its populace during this time of crisis, sometimes in 
innovative ways such as fundraising through text mes-
saging; 
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 as-
sistance from the United States and the international 
community for reconstruction and development efforts: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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•HRES 1021 IH 
(1) expresses its deepest condolences and sym-
pathy 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, includ-
ing United States Embassy personnel, United Na-
tions peacekeepers, and humanitarian workers; 
(3) commends the efforts and honors the sac-
rifice 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 calam-
ity; 
(4) commends the efforts of the American peo-
ple, including the Haitian-American community, to 
provide relief to families, friends, and unknown peo-
ples suffering in the country; 
(5) supports the efforts of the Administration 
to provide and coordinate international humani-
tarian assistance and to provide relief to affected 
communities; 
(6) expresses support for the recovery and long- 
term reconstruction needs of Haiti; 
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•HRES 1021 IH 
(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 develop-
ment needs for Haiti; 
(8) urges those who hold debt against Haiti, in-
cluding the Inter-American Development Bank, the 
International Monetary Fund, and all other regional 
and international institutions and countries, to im-
mediately suspend further debt payments, and to de-
velop processes to cancel all remaining debt; and 
(9) urges the President— 
(A) to continue to make available to 
United States agencies, nongovernmental orga-
nizations, private voluntary organizations, re-
gional institutions, and United Nations agencies 
the resources necessary to confront the effects 
and consequences of this natural disaster; 
(B) to provide, when the emergency sub-
sides, assistance in partnership with the Gov-
ernment of Haiti and in coordination with other 
donors to begin the reconstruction of Haiti; 
(C) to undertake comprehensive assess-
ments of the long-term needs for recovery and 
development in Haiti, ensure transparency and 
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•HRES 1021 IH 
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, in-
cluding tapping into the insight and immense 
potential of the Haitian Diaspora, to help Hai-
tians rebuild upon the strongest possible foun-
dation, in order to promote a stable and sus-
tainable future for Haiti. 
Æ 
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