I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3711 
To require the President to call a White House Conference on Haiti. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 16, 2011 
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 
Rules, 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 
A BILL 
To require the President to call a White House Conference 
on Haiti. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘White House Con-
ference on Haiti Act of 2011’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Haiti is the poorest country in the Western 
Hemisphere. 
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(2) On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude 
earthquake struck the country of Haiti. 
(3) The earthquake caused massive devastation 
across Haiti, destroying government buildings, hos-
pitals, schools, and vital aid offices including the 
headquarters of the United Nations mission to 
Haiti. 
(4) 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 long-term displacement and vulnerability. 
(5) Prior to the earthquake, Haiti was still in 
the process of recovering from a recent series of hur-
ricanes and tropical storms, previous natural disas-
ters, and food shortages and rising commodity 
prices, but was showing encouraging signs of im-
provement. 
(6) On October 21, 2010, the Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention confirmed an outbreak 
of cholera in Haiti. 
(7) As of May 29, 2011, there have been 
321,066 cases of cholera and 5,337 deaths, and 
500,000 total cases are expected by the end of the 
year. 
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(8) 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’’. 
(9) Prior to the earthquake, there were approxi-
mately 10,000 nongovernmental organizations oper-
ating in Haiti. 
(10) At least 3,000,000 Haitians live abroad. 
(11) Haitians abroad provide significant capital 
to local economies in Haiti through travel and remit-
tances and have the potential to advance reconstruc-
tion efforts by providing needed skills and resources. 
(12) The response to the tragedy from the glob-
al community has been overwhelmingly positive. 
(13) Individuals, businesses, and philanthropic 
organizations across the United States and through-
out the international community have responded in 
support of Haiti during this time of crisis. 
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF THE CONFERENCE. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO CALL CONFERENCE.—Not later 
than June 30, 2012, the President shall call the White 
House Conference on Haiti (in this Act referred to as the 
‘‘Conference’’) to be convened not later than 6 months 
after the selection of the Policy Committee established in 
section 4, in order to make fundamental policy rec-
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ommendations on ways to assist in the recovery and long- 
term development of Haiti. 
(b) PLANNING AND DIRECTION.—The Secretary of 
State and the Secretary of Homeland Security (in this Act 
referred to as the ‘‘Co-chairs’’) shall plan, conduct, and 
convene the Conference, in consultation with other appro-
priate Cabinet members. 
(c) PURPOSES OF CONFERENCE.—The purposes of 
the Conference are to— 
(1) bring attention to the ongoing challenges 
facing Haiti and the progress made in its recovery 
from the January 12, 2010, earthquake; 
(2) promote collaboration and coordination be-
tween the United States Government, foreign gov-
ernments, the private sector, international non-
governmental organizations, and the Haitian Dias-
pora; 
(3) identify gaps or duplication in the provision 
of humanitarian assistance; 
(4) highlight innovative ideas for sustainable re-
building and redevelopment in Haiti; 
(5) share best practices in development assist-
ance in Haiti and in nations facing similar chal-
lenges; 
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(6) develop opportunities for greater involve-
ment in Haiti’s recovery by the Haitian Diaspora 
and the private sector; 
(7) review the structure, scope, and effective-
ness of existing policies and initiatives by public and 
private entities regarding development assistance, 
stability, and long-term economic growth in Haiti; 
and 
(8) identify possible changes to United States 
immigration, trade, and foreign aid policies that may 
assist in a more rapid, sustainable recovery. 
SEC. 4. POLICY COMMITTEE; RELATED COMMITTEES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than July 31, 2012, 
there is established a Policy Committee comprising of 17 
members to be selected as follows: 
(1) PRESIDENTIAL
APPOINTEES.—Nine mem-
bers shall be selected by the President and shall in-
clude— 
(A) 3 members who are officers or employ-
ees of the United States; and 
(B) 6 members with experience in address-
ing the needs of disaster-stricken and devel-
oping countries. 
(2) HOUSE APPOINTEES.— 
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(A) SELECTION BY SPEAKER.—Two mem-
bers shall be selected by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives after consultation 
with the chairperson of the Committee on For-
eign Affairs, the chairperson of the Committee 
on Homeland Security, the chairperson of the 
Committee on the Judiciary, the chairperson of 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and 
the chairperson of the Committee on Financial 
Services, of the House of Representatives. 
(B) SELECTION BY MINORITY LEADER.— 
Two members shall be selected by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives, after 
consultation with the ranking minority members 
of such committees. 
(3) SENATE APPOINTEES.— 
(A) SELECTION BY MAJORITY LEADER.— 
Two members shall be selected by the majority 
leader of the Senate, after consultation with 
members of the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions, the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and 
the Committee on Finance, of the Senate. 
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(B) SELECTION BY MINORITY LEADER.— 
Two members shall be selected by the minority 
leader of the Senate, after consultation with 
members of such committees. 
(b) VOTING; CHAIRPERSON.— 
(1) VOTING.—The Policy Committee shall act 
by the vote of a majority of the members present. 
A quorum of Committee members shall not be re-
quired to conduct Committee business. 
(2) CHAIRPERSON.—The Under Secretary of 
State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs shall 
serve as the chairperson of the Policy Committee. 
The chairperson may vote only to break a tie vote 
of the other members of the Policy Committee. 
(c) DUTIES OF THE POLICY COMMITTEE.—The Pol-
icy Committee shall initially meet at the call of the Co- 
chairs, not later than 30 days after the last member is 
selected under subsection (a). Subsequent meetings of the 
Policy Committee shall be held at the call of the chair-
person. Through meetings, hearings, and working ses-
sions, the Policy Committee shall— 
(1) make recommendations to the Co-chairs to 
facilitate the timely convening of the Conference; 
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(2) submit to the Co-chairs a proposed agenda 
for the Conference not later than 90 days after the 
first meeting of the Policy Committee; 
(3) make recommendations for the delegates of 
the Conference; 
(4) establish the number of delegates to be se-
lected under section 5; and 
(5) establish an executive committee consisting 
of 3 members of the Policy Committee to work with 
delegates of the Conference. 
SEC. 5. CONFERENCE DELEGATES. 
To carry out the purposes of the Conference, the Co- 
chairs shall bring together delegates representative of the 
spectrum of thought in the fields of development and hu-
manitarian assistance, infrastructure development, trade, 
democratic strengthening, and Haitian culture and his-
tory, without regard to political affiliation or past partisan 
activity, who shall include— 
(1) representatives of the United States and 
international governments; 
(2) members of the Haitian Diaspora; 
(3) representatives of international nongovern-
mental organizations; and 
(4) individuals from private sector entities. 
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