U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs
04/05/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/05/2021 16:48
Meeks, Jeffries Requested GAO Report on Haiti Reconstruction After 2010 Earthquake Published
Washington, DC-Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Representative Hakeem Jeffries, welcomed the release of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the effectiveness of USAID funding for reconstruction and development for Haiti since the 2010 earthquake.
In response to an August 2019 request from Congressman Jeffries and the Foreign Affairs Committee, GAO examined the $2.3 billion USAID had allocated in supplemental and annual appropriations funding for reconstruction and development in Haiti since fiscal year 2010. The report found that USAID obligated 95 percent and disbursed nearly 90 percent of allocated funding throughout that time while most of the unobligated funding from earlier years was allocated for a port construction project which was cancelled in May 2018.
'I am pleased to join with Congressman Jeffries in releasing this report which will help Congress and the Biden Administration assess the successes and shortcomings of U.S. assistance to Haiti,' Chairman Meeks said. 'As the situation in Haiti sadly continues to deteriorate, it is crucial to have a strong understanding of our most effective tools to best assist the Haitian people overcome the challenging obstacles they have faced since the devastating 2010 earthquake.'
'Haiti is home to a resilient and entrepreneurial people and has tremendous potential to thrive as a free and fair democracy. However, it faces-and has faced-severe challenges in the wake of natural disasters, food insecurity, the Coronavirus pandemic and political instability. The GAO report will help Congress and the Biden Administration make strategic decisions to best aid the Haitian people as they fight for a self-governing, democratic and prosperous country,' said Rep. Jeffries.
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