Haiti has had a long, difficult history highlighted by prolonged poverty, political instability, and underdevelopment resulting in a politically fragile state with the lowest standard of living in the Western Hemisphere. With the assistance of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and large amounts of international aid, Haiti has been attempting to establish a foundation for longer-term economic development. Security issues have presented the primaryÂ risk to stability, while restoring economic growth, investment, employment, and accessÂ toÂ basic social services have been the major and equally formidable challenges to sustainable development. Since assuming his second non-consecutive term of office in May 2006, President RenÃ© PrÃ©val has emphasized the importance of rebuilding democratic institutions and establishing conditions for private investment to create jobs. The success of his government will depend largely on its ability to improve security and socioeconomic conditions in Haiti, a country in which 76% of the population lives on less than $2 a day. During his first two years in office, security conditions have improved, but Haitians have seen their already substandard living conditions deteriorate further with the rise in global food prices and recent devastation by a series of hurricanes. In a country where more than half of the working age population is unemployed, even many of those who have jobs do not earn enough to provide their families with more than one meal a day. Steeply rising food prices and resulting riots in Haiti were a catalyst for action by Congress and the Bush Administration. The 110 th Congress responded directly to Haiti's immediate food needs, but has also taken the opportunity to advance legislation on other fronts it deems critical for Haiti's longer term development. In April 2008, the House unanimously passed an amendment to the Jubilee Act ( H.Amdt. 993 to H.R. 2634 ) that recommends immediate cancellation of Haiti's outstanding multilateral debts. In June 2008, the House and Senate passed the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 ( H.R. 6124 / P.L. 110-246 ), the Farm Bill. Title XV includes the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act of 2008, which gives trade preferences to U.S. imports of Haitian apparel. In late June 2008, Congress amended the MÃ©rida Initiative, an aid package for Mexico and Central America that was part of the FY2008 Supplemental Appropriations Act, H.R. 2642 ( P.L. 110-252 ), to include counternarcotics funds for Haiti. Some Members of Congress have also urged the Administration to grant temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants living in the United States ( H.R. 522 ). Collectively, these efforts form the basis for a multifaceted congressional response to Haiti's stability and development challenges. Rising food prices are having economic and political effects around the world, but especially among poor people in low-income developing countries like Haiti. Prices for basic food commodities in Haiti, the vast majority of which are imported, have risen by an average of 30-40% over the last year. In early April 2008, weeks of protests against rising food prices turned violent, with at least six people killed, including one U.N. peacekeeper. Haitians were reportedly frustrated by the PrÃ©val government's lack of action and protests continued until the President announced a plan to partially subsidize the cost of rice. On April 12, Haiti's Prime Minister resigned after the Haitian Parliament accused him of mishandling the government's response to the food crisis. Since then, the Haitian Parliament rejected two PrÃ©val nominees for Prime Minister on technical grounds, before ratifying Michele Pierre-Louis, who was sworn in on September 6, 2008. Nonetheless, the parliament, comprising 19 political parties, continues to be a fractious body, creating a serious governance challenge. Some observers have warned that, should conditions not improve, supporters of ousted President Jean Bertrand Aristide may push for his return. Aristide's last government (2001-2004) was marred by tension and violence, and his departure from office led to the introduction of U.N. forces to stabilize the country's security situation. To overcome the current crisis, observers maintain that President PrÃ©val will have to solidify his governing coalition, a formidable task, and secure significant support from the international community. The World Bank is providing $10 million in grant funding, and the IDB is reportedly providing a $24.5 million grant to Haiti. Emergency assistance from individual donor countries has increased significantly in recent weeks, particularly since the U.S. and Canadian governments announced major pledges to the World Food Program (WFP) for its efforts in Haiti. The WFP has received 49% of the support estimated to be needed over the next two years to support the Haitian government's efforts to strengthen social safety nets and create food price stabilization programs. The Bush Administration initially responded to the food crisis in Haiti by redirecting $6.5 million in development assistance funds to support President PrÃ©val's plan to subsidize the cost of rice ($1 million) and to create short-term employment programs ($5.5 million). Haiti had already been allocated a regular appropriation of approximately $234 million in U.S. assistance in FY2008, including some $34 million in P.L. 480 Title II food aid. The FY2009 request for Haiti was for roughly $246 million, including $35.5 million in P.L. 480 food assistance. On April 14, 2008, President Bush directed the Secretary of Agriculture to draw down the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust by $200 million to help meet global emergency food needs. USAID has indicated that it will use that $200 million worth of commodities plus an additional $40 million in emergency P.L. 480 Title II food aid to assist 10 priority countries in FY2008, including Haiti. The food aid will be distributed by the WFP and private voluntary organizations. On May 16, 2008, USAID announced that it would provide $20 million worth of emergency food aid to Haiti, and on May 23, 2008, USAID pledged an additional $25 million to support the WFP's programs in Haiti. In late June 2008, Congress appropriated $1.2 billion in FY2008 and FY2009 supplemental assistance for P.L. 480 food aid in the FY2008 Supplemental Appropriations Act, H.R. 2642 ( P.L. 110-252 ). Members from both the House and Senate have asked the Administration to provide Haiti with no less than $60 million in emergency supplemental food assistance. The additional food aid could be used to support the PrÃ©val government's effort to subsidize the cost of rice and WFP programs in Haiti, including communal kitchens and school feeding programs. Haiti, however, will have to compete for food aid allocations with other larger countries that also have pressing needs, such as Afghanistan and Sudan. While responding to Haiti's emergency food needs is the immediate priority, some advocates have urged Congress to consider funding programs to promote agricultural development in Haiti as a long-term solution to the country's food insecurity. They have recommended U.S. support for new initiatives aimed at diversifying food production and supporting agricultural, conservation, and infrastructure projects. Many analysts also point to the large Haitian diaspora as a possible avenue to promote rural development projects, possibly through short-term consultancies with the Haitian government. To assist Haiti with rebuilding its economy by encouraging investment and job creation in the once vibrant apparel sector, the 109 th Congress passed the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement in December 2006 (HOPE I). The act provided duty-free treatment for select apparel imports from Haiti that are made in part from less expensive third country (e.g. Asian) yarns and fabrics, provided Haiti meets eligibility criteria related to labor, human rights, and anti-poverty policies. Early assessments of HOPE I were disappointed in the progress made. To enhance the effectiveness of these provisions, the 110 th Congress expanded them in June 2008 when it passed the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 ( H.R. 6124 / P.L. 110-246 )âthe Farm Bill, Title XV of which includes the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act of 2008 (HOPE II). Support for the duty preferences recognizes the dominant role of the U.S. market as the main destination for Haitian apparel exports. Apparel assembly is also Haiti's core export sector and essential for its economic well-being because it generates up to 80% of the country's foreign exchange used to finance Haiti's large food import bill, among other needs. In 2007, apparel constituted over 80% of Haiti's total exports and 93% of exports to the United States (81% knit, 12% woven articles), so the sector provides one potential avenue for employment growth. The preferences also support textile firms in the Dominican Republic, which have an expanding co-production arrangement with Haiti. The HOPE Acts differ from other trade arrangements with the Caribbean that emphasize apparel benefits. Unlike apparel provisions in the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA), of which Haiti is a beneficiary country, and the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which does not include Haiti, those in the HOPE Acts permit duty-free treatment for apparel imports in limited quantities assembled or knit-to-shape in Haiti with inputs from third-party countries, or those outside the region that are not in a trade arrangement or agreement with the United States. The competitive advantage to Haitian firms derives from their ability to use less expensive Asian inputs and still receive duty-free treatment.