A CALL FOR U.S. AID FOR HAITI HURRICANE RELIEF: THE PRESIDENT AND THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES

HELP: Making remittances to Haiti tax deductible by Stanley Lucas, September 25, 2008 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Members of Congress:

We were delighted and moved by the efforts on behalf of Congressional leaders to provide US support to Haiti's hurricane relief efforts. We appreciate that so many Members considered the proposals that were outlined in my September 9 letter, and that so many Members took action. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Special appreciation goes to Representative Engel, who organized a hearing on the situation in Haiti providing a better understanding of the dimension of the challenges that lie ahead for Haiti. Representative Burton's expression of support during those hearings provided much hope for the success of relief efforts. Further, the testimony of the various members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Representative Kendrick Meeks, was an important expression of support. We also thank Representative Maxine Waters for her letter to the Speaker on behalf of Haiti. We appreciate the support for the $300 million aid package and the TPS supported by 67 Members of Congress.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My colleagues in the Haitian Diaspora community have organized a Coalition that will raise a relief fund and organize donations. One additional area where we could use support from Congress is with ensuring that remittances to Haiti be tax deductible for Haitians living in the United States for five years. To ensure that this provision could not be exploited for business transactions, we would propose to limit the monthly tax deductible remittance amount to $750. By way of background, Haitians send almost $1.2 billion a year to their relatives in Haiti, providing a significant source of funds in Haiti. By making remittances tax deductible, we believe that the amount of funds sent to Haiti would double providing a significant source of funding and a significant boost to the Haitian economy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you again for your support. I would be pleased to meet with you to discuss this idea further and am available at any time to answer questions. I can be reached at (202) 256-6026 or centurionlucas@gmail.com --------------------------------------------------------

Regards, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stanley Lucas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hurricane Aid Update September 18, 2008 ---------------------------------------

I wanted to take a quick moment to provide an update on the status of the letter that was sent to Congress requesting they support an hurricane relief aid package for Haiti in the amount of $300 million (see letter below posted on this blog). The letter was sent to 80 Members of Congress. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On September 11 a letter was sent to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Hon. Nancy Pelosi signed by 67 Congressman requesting that Congress provide the aid package. This is certainly good news and substantial progress in a short time. A copy of the letter is posted on my mailing list: http://haitipolitics.googlegroups.com/web/Haiti_Disaster_relief_sign-on_9-11-08%5B1%5D.pdf?gda=u7s3mmIAAABIWwlIrzklQxxRTwUywY0wxXj_PaoNn6FvURkaxnQcMtfvvTLtrqA6wak0H0hwPpoQY49of_q6VviihkaCtkvngJ_9uaSXPmtF2Mf0XDlGoFXi7dpriIAjJhAipsb2do-CHqjxxwsG8_oKG53kozMh&hl=fr&hl=fr&gsc=B8l2whYAAAD-TqEH65poAUN8oviKOxhw5QzTRg0a_4LqA7LDDLzsAA . --------------------

Best regards, Stanley LUCAS------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A CALL FOR U.S. AID FOR HAITI HURRICANE RELIEF:
LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ----------------------

THE HAITIAN COALITION USA------------------------------------------------------

The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States of America
White House
1600 Pensylvania Avenue
Whashington D.C. ----------------September 9, 2008------------------------------

Dear Mr President:---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Haiti has been hit by three devastating hurricanes – Gustav, Hanna and Ike – over the past three weeks. Hurricane Josephine is a continuing source of concern. These hurricanes have brought incalculable devastation to a country that is already the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. Recovery efforts will need your help. After conversations with many organizations on the ground in Haiti, we respectfully request that the Bush Administration consider a special emergency recovery aid package for Haiti in the amount of $300 million. This package is not only key to helping the Haitian citizenry recover from the massive devastation, but will also protect the fragile stability of the country. -------------------------------------------------

Preliminary damage assessments indicate that:-------------------------------------------

- more than 600 people have been killed and 7,500 injured -----------------------------
- nearly 400,000 people have lost everything – their homes and their belonging;------
- an additional 250,000 have severe damage to their homes; ----------------------------
- agricultural fields in the following regions have been destroyed by floods: in various cities in each of the following regions, Artibonite, South, Southeast, North, Northeast, Northwest, Plateau Central, and Nippes;--------------------------------------
- and 35% of the already weak infrastructure in these departments have been destroyed, including two key bridges: Montrouis, and the bridge linking the Central Plateau to the Artibonite.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the short term, Haiti needs emergency humanitarian assistance, including food, medical supplies, water, cots, tents, clothing, and financial assistance. In the past, the United States has deployed hospital ships, delivered food via helicopter, and built provisional bridges. Given the enormous hit to agricultural production, Haiti could use emergency shipments of seeds, agricultural tools, fertilizers, as well as farmer credit assistance. The Haitian Red Cross could also use additional funding. Specifically, Haiti could benefit from: ------------------------------------------------------

Special recovery aid package: Announce a special aid package to help the Western Hemisphere's poorest country recover from this most difficult hurricane season. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI): Encourage Congress to renew the Caribbean Basin Initiative, prior to the September recess, in order to provide a path to more opportunities for a country that needs help desperately. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

International financial institutions: TheAdministration could also provide valuable support by encouraging the international financial institutions – the World Bank, IADB and IMF – to provide loan and debt relief to Haiti.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know that the United States has many urgencies around the world and resources need to be prioritized. Haiti could benefit tremendously from ongoing U.S. support, especially at this critical time. If you have any questions or would like to discuss any of the information in greater depth, I am always available and can be reached at (202) 256-6026.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sincerely,-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stanley Lucas
President
The Haitian Coalition USA
www.solutionshaiti.blogspot.com

A CALL FOR U.S. AID FOR HAITI HURRICANE RELIEF:

LETTER TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS ----------------------------------

Dear Members of Congress :-----------------September 9, 2008---------------------

Haiti has been hit by three devastating hurricanes – Gustav, Hanna and Ike – over the past three weeks. Hurricane Josephine is a continuing source of concern. These hurricanes have brought incalculable devastation to a country that is already the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. Recovery efforts will need your help. After conversations with many organizations on the ground in Haiti, we respectfully request that Congress consider a special emergency recovery aid package for Haiti in the amount of $300 million. This package is not only key to helping the Haitian citizenry recover from the massive devastation, but will also protect the fragile stability of the country. ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Preliminary damage assessments indicate that: -------------------------------------------
- more than 600 people have been killed and 7,500 injured------------------------------
- nearly 400,000 people have lost everything – their homes and their belonging;------
- an additional 250,000 have severe damage to their homes; ----------------------------
- agricultural fields in the following regions have been destroyed by floods: in various cities in each of the following regions, Artibonite, South, Southeast, North, Northeast, Northwest, Plateau Central, and Nippes;--------------------------------------
- and 35% of the already weak infrastructure in these departments have been destroyed, including two key bridges: Montrouis, and the bridge linking the Central Plateau to the Artibonite.--------------------------------------------------------------------
In the short term, Haiti needs emergency humanitarian assistance, including food, medical supplies, water, cots, tents, clothing, and financial assistance. In the past, the United States has deployed hospital ships, delivered food via helicopter, and built provisional bridges. Given the enormous hit to agricultural production, Haiti could use emergency shipments of seeds, agricultural tools, fertilizers, as well as farmer credit assistance. The Haitian Red Cross could also use additional funding.
In addition to the tangible recovery support, Congress also can help by shining a spotlight on a country that is often forgotten through several initiatives, including:

Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI): Congress will renew the Caribbean Basin Initiative, prior to the September recess, in order to provide a path to more opportunities for a country that needs help desperately; ---------------------------------
Congressional Delegation: Members could organize a trip to Haiti to witness firsthand the situation on the ground and draw attention to the situation in Haiti.-----
Hearings: Congress could organize a hearing on the impact of the hurricanes on the Caribbean, and Haiti. These hearings could take up some of the longer term issues that could lead to a sustained policy to promote hurricane readiness and build capacity to address the aftermath of the hurricanes. Specific topics that could be examined in such hearings could include: launching training programs for Haiti’s Civil Protection Bureau (tasked with disaster relief); providing micro credit programs aimed at women to help rebuild neighborhoods and homes; exploring USAID-sponsored school rebuilding initiatives for areas that were hardest hit; and a jobs creation program linked with infrastructure building.-------------------------------------
International financial institutions: Congress could also provide valuable support by encouraging the international financial institutions – the World Bank, IADB and IMF – to provide loan and debt relief to Haiti.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I know that the United States has many urgencies around the world and resources need to be prioritized. Haiti could benefit tremendously from ongoing U.S. support, especially at this critical time. If you have any questions or would like to discuss any of the information in greater depth, I am always available and can be reached at (202) 256-6026.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sincerely,-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stanley Lucas
The Haitian Coalition USA
www.solutionshaiti.blogspot.com