Stacey Plaskett: “I thank Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus- McCormick, as well as her co-chair, Congressman Jonathan Jackson, who have led…”

“I thank Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus- McCormick, as well as her co-chair, Congressman Jonathan Jackson, who have led this Special Order hour for some time now, bringing to America, as well as to other Members of Congress, the issues that are important to the Congressional Black Caucus, the conscience of the Congress. It is these Special Order hours which really allow our colleagues and others to understand those issues which may not get the kind of attention through the media or even in our hearings that they deserve. I thank them for spending this time to allow us to talk about a festering crisis that is directly at our border, that Congress has not engaged in sufficiently to ensure that democracy continues to reign in this near neighbor of ours. The time for dawdling, procrastination, pointless disputes, reviews, and continual talking has long expired. Haiti cannot wait. Haiti is a nation that has endured a tremendous amount of misfortune. Although it holds the distinction of being the first republic of people of African descent and one of the oldest nations in the Americas, second only to the United States of America, Haiti faces a significant and ongoing humanitarian and political crisis. The world has witnessed the Republic of Haiti face a profound political, security, and humanitarian crisis as the nation continues to be overwhelmed now by gangs that systematically endanger its democratic process. During this period, the U.S.…”