Meanwhile, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is getting ready to introduce legislation that would set the legal framework for aid to Haiti over the next several years to help it rebuild its economy. “It lays out a policy framework and delineates key strategic objectives that would guide, in partnership with the Haitian government, how resources will be spent,” said a committee spokesperson. That bill will pave the way for aid related to governance, security, urban development, agricultural development, environmental sustainability, health systems, education, and disability assistance, he said.
Congressional action on the supplemental funding package is likely to get underway next month, when Members return from a two-week recess. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Thursday that “this emergency funding for Haiti is a must.”
The situation in Haiti continues to be dire. If donor fatigue sets in, the country could be headed for long-term disaster. As the New York Times put it, “The emergency in Haiti isn’t over. It’s getting worse, as the outside world’s attention fades away.”