Meek Introduces Haiti Economic Recovery Opportunity Act

HERO Legislation Would Offer Trade Benefits in Exchange for Political, Economic and Social Reforms

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek has introduced in the House the Haiti Economy Recovery Opportunity (HERO) Act of 2005, which would extend important trade benefits to Haiti in return for political, economic and social reforms by the Haitian government.

The HERO legislation, H.R. 4211, would amend the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, by granting duty-free status to Haitian apparel. In order for the Haitian government to be eligible for the benefits, the President of the United States must certify to Congress that the Haitian Government is making significant political, economic and social reforms.

“This bill will help create desperately-needed jobs in Haiti, and at the same time encourage the government of Haiti to make crucially needed governmental reforms, especially in its justice system,” Meek said. “Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere; per capita income is barely $300 a year and the unemployment rate is around 80 percent. Haiti needs help, and this bill will provide the kind of economic boost that is both productive and sustainable.”

Meek was highly critical of the Bush Administration and House Republican leaders, who he said have “talked a good game” about helping Haiti but have consistently failed to produce. “The Senate passed the HERO bill last year, but the House Republican leadership wouldn’t even allow the bill to come up for a vote,” Meek said. “Because the Republicans didn’t act before the trade agreement limiting China’s clothing exports expired, cheap textiles from China have now done even more damage to the Haitian textile industry.”

“The latest blow was the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement, which left out Haiti and encourages the export of Haitian textile jobs to the Dominican Republic. If this President is serious about strengthening democracies abroad, then Haiti should get at least as much support and attention as Iraq,” Meek said.

Meek said the HERO bill, while helpful to Haiti, would have virtually no impact on U.S. employment. Haitian apparel accounts for less than one-half of one percent of all U.S. apparel imports, and the bill would cap the duty-free imports first at 1.5 percent, growing modestly over time to 3.5 percent. Meek noted the legislation would likely have a positive impact on jobs in the United States, since most Haitian foreign exchange earnings are used to purchase American imports.

Meek’s bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. Companion legislation (S. 1937) was introduced in the Senate last week by Senators Mike DeWine of Ohio and Bill Nelson of Florida. The legislation is modeled after the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which was signed in to law by President Clinton in 2000.

The Senate approved the HERO legislation in 2004, but the measure failed to receive a vote in the House of Representatives.

Meek has been a long-standing critic of the Haitian Government’s prolonged detention of political prisoners, many of which have been held indefinitely without trial. Congressman Meek’s 17th Congressional district includes more Haitian-Americans than any other U.S. Congressional district.

-30-