Haiti action

ONGRESSWOMAN WATERS URGES APPROPRIATORS
TO FULLY FUND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
FOR HAITI AND LIBERIA

Washington, D.C. - On June 6, 2006, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
sent a
letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Appropriations
Committee
and the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations Appropriations urging them
not to
cut emergency assistance for Haiti and Liberia. The letter was
signed by 22
members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). The text of the letter
follows:

We write as members of the Congressional Black
Caucus to ask you to include $40 million in emergency assistance for
Haiti
and $50 million in emergency assistance for Liberia in the Conference
Report
for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006.
These emergency appropriations were added to the Administration's
supplemental request during congressional consideration.

The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, as
passed by the Senate, includes $40 million for Haiti to increase
economic
opportunities; support police, judicial and legal reforms; and address
critical health needs. Both the House and the Senate versions of the
bill
include $50 million for Liberia to facilitate emergency employment
activities; infrastructure development projects; democracy, human
rights and
rule of law programs; and activities to assist with the
demobilization of
ex-rebel combatants and their reintegration into society. None of these
emergency appropriations were included in the Administration's original
request. However, they are essential for the respective development of
these countries.

Both Haiti and Liberia recently held successful
democratic elections. Large numbers of citizens in each of these
countries
proved their commitment to democracy by participating in the
elections and
lining up for hours to vote. Rene Garcia Preval was elected
President of
Haiti on February 7, 2006, during national elections in which more
than 60
percent of registered voters participated. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was
elected President of Liberia on November 8, 2005, in a run-off,
following
national elections in which 74 percent of registered voters
participated.
In addition, President Johnson-Sirleaf is the first woman to be elected
president of any country in Africa.

The populations of Haiti and Liberia have each
suffered tremendously in past years as a result of poverty, political
violence and oppression, and the challenges facing the newly elected
governments of these countries are enormous. They will need the
support and
assistance of the United States to ensure national reconciliation and
development and to improve the lives of their people. Now is the
time for
the United States to provide emergency assistance funds that will
help these
two newly elected governments build a better future for the people they
serve.

Therefore, we respectfully urge you to include
$40 million for Haiti and $50 million for Liberia in the Conference
Report
for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year
2006. We
thank you for your attention to our concerns and look forward to working
with you to promote democracy and development in Haiti and Liberia.

Sincerely,

Maxine Waters
Donald Payne
Barbara Lee John
Conyers
Charles Rangel
Gregory Meeks
Donna Christensen
Eleanor Holmes Norton
Edolphus Towns Elijah
Cummings
Melvin L. Watt
Sheila Jackson-Lee
Corrine Brown
Kendrick B. Meek
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott Diane Watson

Cynthia McKinney
Chaka Fattah
Major R. Owens Alcee
Hastings
Juanita Millender-McDonald
Julia Carson