Carribean-Haiti

To see video of Congresswoman Lee speaking on this issue, please click here.

 Caribbean – Strengthening Relations with our Neighbors

                                                                                                                           -Congresswoman Barbara Lee

The rich cultural legacy of our neighbors in the Caribbean is reflected throughout the history of the United States across a wide range of disciplines, including the arts, business, and even politics.  Congresswoman Lee believes that the strength of the United States is a reflection of the rich diversity of its people, many of whom share a common ancestry with people in the Caribbean.

Inspired to enter into politics by the life and legacy of former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm who was of Caribbean descent, Congresswoman Lee has worked tirelessly to strengthen relations between the United States and our neighbors in the region.  She strongly believes that continued engagement and dialogue through educational exchange programs, travel, and fair trade – including the ending of the arbitrary embargo with Cuba – are essential to fostering the spread of democratic values and good governance within the Caribbean.

Sponsored Legislation

•    H.Con.Res. 363: Supports the goals and ideals of National Caribbean American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day which is recognized each year on June 8th.

•    H.Con.Res. 364: Recognizes the significance of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month.

•    H.Con.Res.438: Expresses support for providing humanitarian assistance to countries of the Caribbean devastated by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike and Tropical Storms Fay and Hanna

•    H.R. 176: Shirley A. Chisholm United States-Caribbean Educational Exchange Act of 2007 – Authorizes assistance to the countries of the Caribbean to fund educational development and exchange programs.

•    H.R. 177: The Pursuit of International Education (PIE) Act of 2007 – Removes all restrictions on educational related travel to Cuba.

•    H.R. 351: Establish an Independent Commission to examine the involvement of the United States in the 2004 Coup d'Etat in the Republic of Haiti.

•    H.R. 6255: Next Steps for Haiti Act 2008 – Creates a professional exchange program targeted to Haitian Americans in particular, to provide technical assistance to Haiti in the areas of education, energy, environment, health care, infrastructure, security, transportation, and disaster preparedness.
 
Co-Sponsored Legislation

•    H.R. 454: HRIFA Improvement Act of 2007 – Amends the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA) to provide relief to Haitians who were legally considered children on the date of HRIFA’s enactment into law but who were effectively “aged out” of receiving benefits from the act based on long delays in processing their applications.

•    H.R. 522: Haitian Protection Act of 2007 – Extends temporary protected status (TPS) to qualifying Haitian nationals for an initial 18 month period to allow them to remain in the United States during the current environmental, political, and economic turmoil in Haiti.

•    H.R. 654: Export Freedom to Cuba Act of 2007 – Promotes democracy in Cuba by allowing American students and tourists to travel to Cuba and to interact with the Cuban people.

•    H.R. 2819: Protecting American Agricultural and Medical Exports to Cuba Act of 2007 – Promotes and protects the American sale and shipment of vital food and medicines to the Cuban people.

•    H.R. 6962: Humanitarian Relief to Cuba Act – Temporarily allows Americans with family in Cuba to help their families recover from the effects of Hurricane Gustav.

For more information contact the Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee at 202-225-2661 or send a message from my email gateway at lee.house.gov