Haitian Economic Recovery Act Will Bring Jobs

Jul 7, 2003 | Economy, English, Nation-Building

Rep. John F. Conyers, Jr.

Originally: Become a Co-Sponsor of the Haitian Economic Recovery (HERO) Act


Congress of the United States


Washington, D.C. 20515


Become a Co-Sponsor of the Haitian Economic Recovery (HERO) Act which will bring significant industry and hope to Haiti


February 28, 2003


 


Dear Colleague:


Please join me in co-sponsoring historic bi-partisan legislation, which will we begin the road back to prosperity for the people of Haiti. Through the Haitian Economic Recovery (HERO) Act, we will bring industry, jobs, and hope to the people of Haiti. This bill finally recognizes the economic plight of the country of Haiti, one of the world*s least developed countries. Through similar legislation introduced several years ago, Congress recognized that Africa would benefit from duty free status in regard to textiles but failed to do provide the same recognition and opportunity to the Western Hemisphere.


The HERO Act is designed to create employment in the Haitian textile industry by giving Haiti the opportunity to become a garment production center. Specifically, the bill amends the Trade and Development Act of 2000 by granting duty free status to Haitian apparel articles that are assembled or “knitted to shape” from countries with whom the US has a free trade or regional agreement. This is a departure from the current law which only allows duty-free status to Haitian apparel articles if the article is made from U.S. fabrics or yarns. Additionally, this new law would be a win/win proposition for U.S. workers because it would encourage the emigration of jobs from the Far East back to our hemisphere.


The people of Haiti desperately need industry and jobs?it is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, about 70 percent of its citizen are unemployed and the country has a per-capita income of only about $200.00 a month. This legislation will provide both opportunity for Haitians to rebuild their economy while also keeping jobs and corporations in our hemisphere.


Please contact my staffer, Cynthia Martin at 225?5126 to be a cosponsor of this legislation.


Sincerely,


 


John Conyers, Jr.


Member of Congress


House Co-sponsors:


Reps. Clay Shaw (R-FL), Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Philip Crane (R-IL), Kendrick Meek


(D-FL), Porter Goss (R-FL), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Mark Foley (R-FL), Maxine Waters


(D-CA), Donna Christensen (D-VI), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), and Diane Watson (D?CA)

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