WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) today praised the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s passage of the
Haiti Recovery Act.
“There are many important steps that we, and the international community, can take in order to help Haiti rebuild and recover,” said Dodd. “The people of Haiti have suffered innumerable tragedies as a result of the earthquake, and the Haiti Recovery Act takes important, immediate steps towards helping them rebuild and recover. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure swift passage of this bill.”
“Many Americans have deep ties to Haiti and are interested in giving a helping hand. The Senate will continue to assess measures that will help Haiti and develop greater stability and hopefully new opportunities. Dealing with Haiti’s crippling debt burden is an important initial step,” U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Dick Lugar said.
Dodd and Lugar
introduced the Haiti Recovery Act last month. The legislation would eliminate Haiti’s remaining debt to international financial institutions, currently totaling over $1 billion, by instructing and encouraging these institutions to offer grants rather than loan assistance to Haiti, in order to end the debt-relief cycle.
Additionally, the bill calls on the Administration to support the creation of an international trust fund for Haiti, to support investment in infrastructure including the development of electric grids, roads, water and sanitation facilities, and reforestation initiatives.
Dodd is a senior member of Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Global Narcotics Affairs.
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