House Set to Debate Debt Relief to Aid Earthquake Recovery
(Washington, DC)— U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) was at the White House today when President Barack Obama and Haitian President Rene Preval discussed recovery efforts in Haiti.
The Rose Garden event came on the same day the House is expected to begin debate on a bill to provide debt relief to Haiti to help aid recovery. The bill, which began in the Financial Services International Monetary Policy Subcommittee on which Moore serves, urges the Treasury Department to work with multilateral development institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund and the Inter-American Development Bank to immediately forgive Haiti’s debts. Haiti owes $828 million to such organizations.
Congresswoman Moore said, “I saw firsthand the total devastation in Haiti. It will take a robust, coordinated, international effort to help the Haitian people recover and rebuild. I am glad to be with President Obama and President Preval to show that the U.S. is committed to doing our part.”
After a one-day trip to Haiti last month, Moore has been a leader of House efforts to help the Haitian people in their recovery. As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, Moore supported this bill in committee and worked with other committee members to build support. Just yesterday, Moore and Congresswomen Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) sent a letter to all of their House colleagues urging support for the Debt Relief for Earthquake Recovery in Haiti Act.
According to the United States Agency for International Development, the January 12th earthquake centered near the Haitian capital of Port-Au-Prince killed 230,000 people and left 1.3 million without shelter.
Moore continued, “This is a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions. By helping forgive Haiti’s debt, we will allow the Haitian government to focus on needed humanitarian efforts, including those targeted to curb the great risk of malaria, hepatitis and typhoid fever.”
Moore will meet with President Preval at a bipartisan meeting on Capitol Hill today. President Preval will also meet with the Congressional Black Caucus, of which Moore is a member.
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For an interview with Congresswoman Gwen Moore, please contact David Frey at 202-225-4572.
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