S.Res. 12 — Introduced in Senate

III 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 12 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 24 (legislative day, January 3), 2013 Mr. Nelson (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Warren, Ms. Landrieu, and Mr. Harkin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Recognizing the third anniversary of the tragic earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, honoring those who lost their lives in that earthquake, and expressing continued solidarity with the people of Haiti. Whereas, on January 12, 2010, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck the country of Haiti, followed by 59 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater; Whereas more than 220,000 people died as a result of the earthquake, more than 300,000 people were injured, and more than 3,000,000 people were directly affected by the disaster; Whereas the total cost in terms of human lives, infrastructure damage, and economic losses makes the earthquake one of the worst urban disasters in modern history; Whereas President Barack Obama vowed the unwavering support of the United States Government and pledged a swift, coordinated, and aggressive effort to save lives and support the recovery in Haiti; 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, was swift and resolute; Whereas the Haitian diaspora, other individuals, businesses, and philanthropic organizations throughout the United States and the international community overwhelmingly responded to the crisis by sending emergency relief supplies and significant financial contributions; Whereas the Senate passed 3 successive resolutions expressing its profound sympathy and unwavering support for the people of Haiti and urging all nations to assist the people of Haiti with their long-term needs; Whereas, 3 years later, significant challenges still remain in Haiti as it works to recover and rebuild; Whereas, according to the International Organization for Migration, approximately 360,000 people remain in spontaneous and organized camps in Haiti and hundreds of thousands of poor people in Haiti continue to live in non-permanent housing, conditions that make them vulnerable to future natural disasters; Whereas, according to an independent panel investigation by the United Nations, on October 19, 2010, an imported strain of cholera was detected in the Lower Artibonite region of Haiti; Whereas, according to the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population, as of December 31, 2012, more than 7,900 people in Haiti have died from cholera and more than 635,000 have been infected with the disease since the earthquake on January 12, 2010; Whereas the United Nations Secretary-General announced a plan to eliminate cholera from the island of Hispaniola through enhanced treatment and prevention efforts and through the development of clean water and sanitation infrastructure that is accessible to all people in Haiti; Whereas gender-based violence against women and girls in Haiti continues to be a chronic problem, and judicial barriers that have prevented victims from finding redress remain a significant issue of concern; Whereas, in 2012 alone, Haiti faced a long drought period and 2 major tropical storms that destroyed 70 percent of agricultural crops in Haiti, impacting the lives of millions of people in Haiti facing food insecurity and further crippling the economy of Haiti; Whereas the sustained assistance to Haiti from the United States and the international community bolsters the efforts of the Government of Haiti to confront these challenges; and Whereas, since the earthquake on January 12, 2010, the people of Haiti have demonstrated unwavering resilience, dignity, and courage: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate— (1) mourns the loss of lives as a result of the tragic earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, and the subsequent cholera epidemic; (2) honors the sacrifice made by the men and women of the Government of Haiti, civil society, the United States Government, the United Nations, and the international community in their response to those affected by the calamity; (3) reaffirms its solidarity with the Government and people of Haiti as they work to rebuild their country and livelihoods; (4) supports the long-term reconstruction efforts of the United States Government to improve housing, energy, job creation, food security, health care, education, governance, and rule of law in Haiti in full cooperation with the Government of Haiti and civil society, and with the support of the private sector; (5) urges the President and the international community to continue— (A) to focus assistance on increasing the capacity of the public sector of Haiti to sustainably provide services to the people of Haiti; (B) to develop, improve, and increase communication and participation to more substantially involve civil society in Haiti and the Haitian diaspora at all stages of the post-earthquake response; (C) to provide programs that protect and involve vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons, children, women and girls, and persons with disabilities; and (D) to work to enhance the ability of the Government of Haiti, at all stages of the democratic process, to improve economic development, attract private sector investment, pursue judicial reform, enhance the rule of law, reduce incidences of gender-based violence, improve water and sanitation systems, develop a civil registry, and reform land tenure policies; (6) welcomes evidence of progress in building a better future for Haiti, including— (A) significant improvements in agricultural yields via the Feed the Future initiative; (B) the opening of the Caracol Industrial Park in northern Haiti, which is projected to create approximately 20,000 jobs by 2016; (C) programs to support economic opportunities for women and survivors of sexual violence through microcredit, short term jobs programs and leadership training, health services, and reintegration and repatriation assistance to Haitian migrants; (D) the reduction of the cholera mortality rate to lower than one percent, and the provision of sophisticated HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment services; and (E) the recruitment, training, and provisioning of new officers for the Haitian National Police; and (7) urges the President— (A) to continue reconstruction and development efforts, closely coordinated with the Government of Haiti, the Haitian diaspora, and international actors who share in the goal of a better future for Haiti; (B) to ensure close monitoring of the implementation of aid programs funded by the United States Government; and (C) to work with the Government of Haiti and private landowners to prevent the forced eviction of internally displaced people and communities and to provide sustainable and safe housing solutions for the most vulnerable people in Haiti.