Bill Delahunt: “I want to join with the American people in paying tribute to the Haitian people. Who have suffered so much. But who have…”

“I want to join with the American people in paying tribute to the Haitian people. Who have suffered so much. But who have proven so strong. While the world does all it can to help, it is the Haitian people, first and foremost, who are saving themselves. I also want to honor those who have rushed to Haiti's aid from across the globe: the diplomats and aid workers, the humanitarians, the volunteers, and the members of the military--particularly the United States Coast Guard. Last but certainly not least, I want to pay tribute to the men and women of the United Nations peacekeeping mission known as MINUSTAH. They came to a foreign land. To help give a foreign people a better life. Now many of them are dead. Or injured. Or missing. We must ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain. We must work with the Haitian people and the world to help Haiti recover. Because doing so is not just in line with our interests. It is in keeping with our most basic and cherished values of compassion and common decency.”