Military

This afternoon we will examine the situation in Haiti.

This situation in Haiti is, as it has been for some time, extremely challenging. The needs of the Haitian people for democracy, jobs, education, healthcare, and for such basics as food and clean water are as great as they have ever been.

One can lay out terrible statistics. But, they can't even begin to describe the situation of Haiti's impoverished citizens.

The efforts of some of the world's most experienced diplomats to resolve the political stalemate in Haiti all ended in frustration. The Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of American States made 20 trips to Haiti to try to work out a solution.

President Aristide resigned and left Haiti. Presidents in other countries, including our own, have resigned for the good of their people.

Let me be clear: I fully support the steps taken by the Bush administration to give the people of Haiti a chance to build a better future. Our government has acted with the backing of other governments, particularly France and Canada, and has secured the unanimous vote of the United Nations Security Council for a resolution that supports our actions to help Haiti.

There is something else I would like to say. There have been accusations that officials of the U.S. government have committed a felony punishable by death: kidnapping. The head of the Steele Foundation, which was responsible for President Aristide's security, told me that had U.S. forces or any other forces tried to kidnap or otherwise harm President Aristide, his men had orders to resist and were authorized to use lethal force if necessary. The accusation that President Aristide was kidnapped is clearly false.

It is my hope that this hearing can support an initiative that I agreed to with several Members to come together on a bipartisan basis to see how we can help Haiti. I have personally committed to deliver humanitarian assistance to Haiti with private funds as soon as the situation there permits.

There is a new provisional president in place in accordance with the Haitian Constitution. American Marines are now on the ground in Haiti. It is time to move forward to help the Haitian people.