Political Quotes

“Thank you very much, Chairman Meeks. Let me just first say how much I want to support this bill today and thank Chairman Meeks for his steady and consistent support for Haiti, and also Chairman Frank. Also, let me just say, as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, I have to extend our thanks to Congresswoman Maxine Waters for her work on this bipartisan resolution, especially also for her long-term leadership on the campaign for debt relief for Haiti and for all countries in the developing world. Congresswoman Waters has been a friend, an ally of the Haitian people for many years, long before this devastating earthquake struck. Also, to the ranking members, your support and your sense of justice for Haiti is deeply appreciated. The Congressional Black Caucus has a long history of working with the Haitian and Haitian-American communities, and many of us have traveled to Haiti several times. During the current crisis, the Congressional Black Caucus has and will continue to work closely with the Obama administration, the Government of Haiti, and the nongovernmental organizations to provide whatever assistance we can on an ongoing basis to help with the recovery and reconstruction efforts. Debt relief is not a matter of charity; it is really a matter of economic justice. Over half of Haiti's debt was borrowed under Haiti's dictatorships, some of which were brutally repressive.”