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Congressman C. Shays' letter on U.S.
projected expenditures in Haiti
Letter dated March 30, 2005
Ms. Marie-Chantal Laurent
Stamford, CT
Dear Marie-Chantal:
Thank you for following up on my letter of August 31 regarding Haiti.
You have also sent several other emails expressing concern about the
political, economic and humanitarian crisis in Haiti. I appreciate you
taking the time to shar your views with me, as well as your patience
awaiting my reply.
I share your concern about the situation in Haiti. As the poorest nation
in the hemisphere, Haiti needs our assistance, and I will work continue
to support increasing aid to the Haitian people.
In July 2004, the Bush Administration announced an additional $120 million
in assistance to Haiti, for a total of about $230 million for fiscal
years 2004 and 2005. According to the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID), the aid will be distributed as follows: $22 million
for job creation; $45 million for government infrastructure support;
$26 million for improved security through improved administration of
justice; $122 million for humanitarian aid, including health care, nutrition,
and education; and $15 million for elections support.
On November 20, 2004, I voted for H.R. 4818, the Fiscal Year 2005 (FY
05) Omnibus Appropriations Act, which passed the House by a vote of
344 to 51. This legislation provides $20 million for child survival
and health programs, $25 million for development assistance, including
agriculture, environment, and basic education programs $40 million in
Economic Support Funds (ESP) for judicial reform, police training, and
national elections; funding for the Organization of American States
(OAS) to help Haiti hold elections in 2005, and $2 million to Zanmi
Lasante, a Haitian health care organization, for maternal and child
health activities. The President signed this legislation into law on
December 7.
You ma also be interested to know on October 9, 2004, I voted for H.r.
4837, the Military Construction Appropriations and Emergency Hurricane
Supplemental Appropriations Act, which passed the House by a vote of
374 to 0. This legislation included $100 million in international disaster
assistance for nations., including Haiti, that were affected by several
hurricanes last summer.
Please do not hesitate to contact my office again. Because we have not
had regular mail delivery since the Anthrax threat in 2001, e-mails,
phone calls, faxes, and in-person visits are the most effective ways
to communicate with my office. I also invite you to visit my website
at www.house.gov/shays.
Sincerely,
Christopher Shays
Member of Congress |
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