00:00 Today I stand before you to discuss the future of Haiti. Haiti is a country with an inspirational global history and a rich culture
00:07 But it has encountered numerous obstacles over the years such as political turmoil and dire gang violence
00:13 Gangs currently control 80% of the capital
00:16 1.4 million Haitians are nearing famine
00:19 362,000 people are internally displaced and young girls are regularly victims of gender-based violence. In short,
00:28 the gang violence has caused life in Haiti to be unbearable
00:32 The Haitian people have been crying out for help and the Republican Party has been holding up funding
00:38 for the security mission to help more than
00:41 more than 2 million people in Haiti for the last six months
00:45 The security mission in Haiti is a critical to protecting the Haitian people and creating an environment necessary for peace, stability
00:53 democracy and self-determination
00:56 We are at a tipping point and we need a solution now. No debates, no political games
01:01 Haiti cannot wait any longer for the multinational security mission. Every single day we wait, we risk another life
01:09 We must end this nightmare and terror facing the Haitian people. Instead of actively working towards a solution
01:15 Republicans are holding these funds to further their radical agenda. Haiti is in our backyard
01:21 Its insecurity is a direct threat to America's security. No one wants to leave their homes
01:26 They're forced to. Despite receiving 70 briefings since October 20, 2023
01:31 Republicans continue to spread misinformation and are engaging in fear-mongering towards Haitian migrants coming to the United States
01:40 They're refusing to propose real solutions while lives hang in the balance and our national security is under real threat
01:49 Let me be clear. The United States supports the security of the Haitian people
01:53 I commend the Biden-Harris administration and Secretary Blinken for pledging a total of 300 million to support the MSS
02:00 The Biden-Harris administration just announced an additional 25 million in addition to humanitarian assistance for Haiti
02:07 This builds on the 33 million for humanitarian assistance Secretary of State Blinken announced last month
02:15 Republicans must stop playing these political games with Haitian lives and release their hold on the multi-security mission now
02:22 The longer we hold the funds the more Haitian people die and flee to the United States
02:27 Recently we've seen more governors talking about this fear of Haitian people coming to our borders
02:32 But the truth is if we step in right now and release the funding we would have the security necessary
02:38 So no one has to leave their life their homes. Every day
02:42 We see more children women boys and girls who are being brutalized kidnapped raped in front of their family
02:48 Rape has been used as a tool to intimidate the Haitian people
02:51 How can we stand as Americans who called Haiti and Haitian people our allies and not come to their defense?
02:58 How can we stand in this very moment when we see Haitian lives every single day being sacrificed being killed and do nothing?
03:05 How can we play these political games while we have so many family members who are dying?
03:10 Being the only Haitian American in Congress in the first Democrat
03:14 It breaks my heart that we are in this place and I can see our Republican counterparts playing these games
03:19 Every single day we I live in fear of hearing a family another family member who has died in Haiti every single day
03:25 We have more than 1.2 million Haitian Americans living in the United States who are in fear that their family are being murdered
03:32 Right now we have Haitian Americans who cannot be evacuated soon enough to get out the country
03:37 We have elderly people who came to the United States who worked very hard and went back to retire in their home countries
03:44 Who cannot get out the country who are being threatened who are being beaten?
03:47 We see children every single day being forced into being part of the gangs who have been tasked
03:52 With burning bodies and actually shooting on the first sight when they see people
03:57 How can we as Americans every single day see the seat see these atrocities and do nothing?
04:02 How do we live and have a conscious and come to Congress and continue to play games?
04:07 We must do what is right for the Haitian people and the American people
04:11 we must live up to our greatness and put an end to these political games and do what is right as the
04:17 leaders of the global economy as the leaders of the international world
04:21 Let us stop playing these games and finally lead with compassion
04:25 Our strength is in our ability to come together and service all humanitarian people all humanity
04:32 So let us act today and stop playing these games for the last six months
04:36 We've been begging for these funds to be released and to be honest with you
04:40 40 million dollars being released released for this mission is nothing compared to what we have spent in other regions
04:47 So why not for a country that is right in our backyard?
04:50 With that mr. Speaker I yield back
04:53 gentle lady yields back
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