From left to right: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Haitian President René Préval, and Senator Chris Dodd
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today met with Haitian President René Préval to discuss relief efforts and Dodd’s legislation to speed Haiti’s recovery.
“At today’s meeting with President Préval, we reaffirmed America’s commitment to supporting the country of Haiti as it recovers from January’s earthquake,” said Dodd. “Nearly two months after that crisis, the Haitian people are still in dire need of international assistance. One of the most critical things the United States and the international community can do to speed Haiti’s recovery is cancel the country’s remaining debt to international financial institutions, currently totaling more than $1 billion. Last week, the Senate passed my legislation to cancel Haiti’s debt, and I look forward to working with the House and the President to ensure that this bill becomes law.”
Last week, the Haiti Recovery Act, legislation introduced by Dodd and Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), passed the Senate by unanimous consent. In addition to eliminating Haiti’s remaining debt, the legislation would instruct the same international financial institutions to offer grants rather than loan assistance to Haiti, in order to end the debt-relief cycle.
Additionally, the Haiti Recovery Act 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 its Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Global Narcotics Affairs.
