Rangel and Meek Request Implementation of HOPE Act Trade Benefits to Haiti

Haiti Hemispheric Opportunity Through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act Provides Certain Haitian Textiles with Duty Free Status when Entering the United States

 

Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Charlie B. Rangel (D-NY), Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, and Congressman Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL), a member of the Ways and Means Committee, wrote to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, President of the World Bank, U.S. Treasury Secretary, Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank, and President/Chief Executive Officer of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation requesting the implementation of HOPE Act Trade Benefits to Haiti.

The Haiti Hemispheric Opportunity Through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act Provides Certain Haitian Textiles with Duty Free Status when Entering the United States.

"Chronic unemployment and underemployment in the formal sector are prevalent in Haiti. However, this is most especially true in the areas of Port-au-Prince that abut the industrial park where these factories are located. If these companies were to become operational once more, they would bring thousands of desperately-needed jobs back to this impoverished area and to Haiti overall,” Chairman Rangel and Rep. Meek wrote in the letter.

Rangel and Meek are known as two of Haiti’s strongest advocates in the U.S. Congress.

Congressman Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) represents the 17th Congressional District which includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.

All of Rangel and Meek’s letters are available here and one letter written to U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson appears below:

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April 23, 2007

The Honorable Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Secretary
United States Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220

Dear Secretary Paulson:

In your capacity on the Board of Governors at the Inter-American Development Bank, we write to request that you use the full resources of your office to facilitate and promote the implementation of the Haiti Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act that was passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President in December of last year. The HOPE law provides certain Haitian textiles with duty free status when entering the United States.

The textile industry was once the backbone of Haiti’s manufacturing economy, employing tens of thousands of workers. Unfortunately, a US-imposed embargo in the early 1990’s bankrupted the industry. Many companies still exist, but factory floors, that are full of sewing machines and other valuable equipment, sit idle.

Chronic unemployment and underemployment in the formal sector are prevalent in Haiti. However, this is most especially true in the areas of Port-au-Prince that abut the industrial park where these factories are located. If these companies were to become operational once more, they would bring thousands of desperately-needed jobs back to this impoverished area and to Haiti overall.

It is our understanding that the industry would greatly benefit from your assistance in three key areas: debt restructuring, access to affordable lines of credit, and a loan guarantee program to support commercial lending. We feel that now is the opportune moment for the IDB to play a catalytic role in the effort to stabilize and promote Haiti’s long term economic development.

We would appreciate you informing us of what actions the IDB is undertaking or planning to conduct to assist in the promotion and implementation of HOPE. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.

Sincerely,

CHARLES B. RANGEL Member of Congress Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means

KENDRICK B. MEEK Member of Congress

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