Political Quotes

“I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1016, a bill introduced by my friend Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California which requires a report to Congress regarding the status of post-earthquake humanitarian reconstruction and development efforts in Haiti. This bill supplements my efforts under the Haiti Act, which I introduced last Congress, to exercise greater oversight over the disbursement of U.S. assistance to Haiti to ensure that it is meeting the intended recipients and purposes, that it is advancing U.S. priorities, that it is promoting Haiti's recovery, and that it is not being derailed by waste, duplication or corruption. This past January, Mr. Speaker, I traveled to Haiti with Secretary Clinton's Chief of Staff and point person on Haiti to observe some of the tremendous work the United States is doing and to learn about U.S. plans for the future as well. Much progress has been seen in Haiti over the past 16 months. More than 2 million cubic meters of rubble have been cleared, there is now a better medical system and increased access to more clean water than before the earthquake, and the interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission has approved 86 reconstruction projects, accounting for about one-third of the total pledges made by international donors last year. However, Mr. Speaker, with each stated achievement, we are reminded of how much further Haiti has to go.…”