White House Conference on Haiti Act of 2011

H.R.3711 -- White House Conference on Haiti Act of 2011 (Introduced in House - IH)

HR 3711 IH

112th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3711

To require the President to call a White House Conference on Haiti.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 16, 2011

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To require the President to call a White House Conference on Haiti.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `White House Conference on Haiti Act of 2011'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

(1) Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

(2) On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the country of Haiti.

(3) The earthquake caused massive devastation across Haiti, destroying government buildings, hospitals, schools, and vital aid offices including the headquarters of the United Nations mission to Haiti.

(4) An estimated 3,000,000 people have been directly affected by the disaster in Haiti, nearly one-third of the country's population, who are currently at risk of long-term displacement and vulnerability.

(5) Prior to the earthquake, Haiti was still in the process of recovering from a recent series of hurricanes and tropical storms, previous natural disasters, and food shortages and rising commodity prices, but was showing encouraging signs of improvement.

(6) On October 21, 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed an outbreak of cholera in Haiti.

(7) As of May 29, 2011, there have been 321,066 cases of cholera and 5,337 deaths, and 500,000 total cases are expected by the end of the year.

(8) President Obama vowed the `unwavering support' of the United States and pledged a `swift, coordinated and aggressive effort to save lives and support the recovery in Haiti'.

(9) Prior to the earthquake, there were approximately 10,000 nongovernmental organizations operating in Haiti.

(10) At least 3,000,000 Haitians live abroad.

(11) Haitians abroad provide significant capital to local economies in Haiti through travel and remittances and have the potential to advance reconstruction efforts by providing needed skills and resources.

(12) The response to the tragedy from the global community has been overwhelmingly positive.

(13) Individuals, businesses, and philanthropic organizations across the United States and throughout the international community have responded in support of Haiti during this time of crisis.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF THE CONFERENCE.

(a) Authority To Call Conference- Not later than June 30, 2012, the President shall call the White House Conference on Haiti (in this Act referred to as the `Conference') to be convened not later than 6 months after the selection of the Policy Committee established in section 4, in order to make fundamental policy recommendations on ways to assist in the recovery and long-term development of Haiti.

(b) Planning and Direction- The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security (in this Act referred to as the `Co-chairs') shall plan, conduct, and convene the Conference, in consultation with other appropriate Cabinet members.

(c) Purposes of Conference- The purposes of the Conference are to--

(1) bring attention to the ongoing challenges facing Haiti and the progress made in its recovery from the January 12, 2010, earthquake;

(2) promote collaboration and coordination between the United States Government, foreign governments, the private sector, international nongovernmental organizations, and the Haitian Diaspora;

(3) identify gaps or duplication in the provision of humanitarian assistance;

(4) highlight innovative ideas for sustainable rebuilding and redevelopment in Haiti;

(5) share best practices in development assistance in Haiti and in nations facing similar challenges;

(6) develop opportunities for greater involvement in Haiti's recovery by the Haitian Diaspora and the private sector;

(7) review the structure, scope, and effectiveness of existing policies and initiatives by public and private entities regarding development assistance, stability, and long-term economic growth in Haiti; and

(8) identify possible changes to United States immigration, trade, and foreign aid policies that may assist in a more rapid, sustainable recovery.

SEC. 4. POLICY COMMITTEE; RELATED COMMITTEES.

(a) Establishment- Not later than July 31, 2012, there is established a Policy Committee comprising of 17 members to be selected as follows:

(1) PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES- Nine members shall be selected by the President and shall include--

(A) 3 members who are officers or employees of the United States; and

(B) 6 members with experience in addressing the needs of disaster-stricken and developing countries.

(2) HOUSE APPOINTEES-

(A) SELECTION BY SPEAKER- Two members shall be selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives after consultation with the chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the chairperson of the Committee on Homeland Security, the chairperson of the Committee on the Judiciary, the chairperson of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the chairperson of the Committee on Financial Services, of the House of Representatives.

(B) SELECTION BY MINORITY LEADER- Two members shall be selected by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, after consultation with the ranking minority members of such committees.

(3) SENATE APPOINTEES-

(A) SELECTION BY MAJORITY LEADER- Two members shall be selected by the majority leader of the Senate, after consultation with members of the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Finance, of the Senate.

(B) SELECTION BY MINORITY LEADER- Two members shall be selected by the minority leader of the Senate, after consultation with members of such committees.

(b) Voting; Chairperson-

(1) VOTING- The Policy Committee shall act by the vote of a majority of the members present. A quorum of Committee members shall not be required to conduct Committee business.

(2) CHAIRPERSON- The Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs shall serve as the chairperson of the Policy Committee. The chairperson may vote only to break a tie vote of the other members of the Policy Committee.

(c) Duties of the Policy Committee- The Policy Committee shall initially meet at the call of the Co-chairs, not later than 30 days after the last member is selected under subsection (a). Subsequent meetings of the Policy Committee shall be held at the call of the chairperson. Through meetings, hearings, and working sessions, the Policy Committee shall--

(1) make recommendations to the Co-chairs to facilitate the timely convening of the Conference;

(2) submit to the Co-chairs a proposed agenda for the Conference not later than 90 days after the first meeting of the Policy Committee;

(3) make recommendations for the delegates of the Conference;

(4) establish the number of delegates to be selected under section 5; and

(5) establish an executive committee consisting of 3 members of the Policy Committee to work with delegates of the Conference.

SEC. 5. CONFERENCE DELEGATES.

To carry out the purposes of the Conference, the Co-chairs shall bring together delegates representative of the spectrum of thought in the fields of development and humanitarian assistance, infrastructure development, trade, democratic strengthening, and Haitian culture and history, without regard to political affiliation or past partisan activity, who shall include--

(1) representatives of the United States and international governments;

(2) members of the Haitian Diaspora;

(3) representatives of international nongovernmental organizations; and

(4) individuals from private sector entities.

SEC. 6. CONFERENCE ADMINISTRATION.

(a) Administration- In administering this section, the Co-chairs shall--

(1) provide written notice to all members of the Policy Committee of each meeting, hearing, or working session of such Committee not later than 48 hours before the occurrence of such meeting, hearing, or working session;

(2) request the cooperation and assistance of the heads of such other Federal departments and agencies as may be appropriate, including the detailing of personnel;

(3) make available for public comment a proposed agenda prepared by the Policy Committee, which will reflect to the greatest extent possible the major issues facing assistance to Haiti with the purposes of the Conference set forth in section 3(c);

(4) prepare and make available background materials that the Co-chairs deem necessary for the use of delegates to the Conference; and

(5) employ such additional personnel as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act without regard to provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.

(b) Duties- In carrying out the Co-chairs's responsibilities and functions under this section, the Co-chairs shall ensure that--

(1) the proposed agenda prepared under subsection (a)(3) is published in the Federal Register not later than 30 days after such agenda is approved by the Policy Committee;

(2) the personnel employed under subsection (a)(5) are fairly balanced in terms of points of views represented and are appointed without regard to political affiliation or previous partisan activities;

(3) the recommendations of the Conference are not inappropriately influenced by any public official or by any special interest, but instead are the result of the independent and collective judgment of the delegates of the Conference; and

(4) before the Conference is convened--

(A) current and adequate statistical data and other information on health and social outcomes in Haiti, and

(B) such information as may be necessary to evaluate programs and policies relating to Haiti,

which the Co-chairs may obtain by making grants to or entering into an agreement with, public agencies or nonprofit organizations, are readily available in advance of the Conference to the delegates.

(c) Gifts- The Co-chairs may accept, on behalf of the United States, gifts (in cash or in kind, including voluntary and uncompensated services), which shall be available to carry out this Act. Gifts of cash shall be available in addition to amounts appropriated to carry out this Act. Gifts may be earmarked by the donor or the executive committee for a specific purpose.

(d) Records- The Co-chairs shall maintain records regarding--

(1) the sources, amounts, and uses of gifts accepted under subsection (c); and

(2) the identity of each person receiving assistance to carry out this Act, and the amount of such assistance received by each such person.

SEC. 7. REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE.

(a) Preliminary Report- Not later than 100 days after the Conference adjourns, the Policy Committee shall prepare a preliminary report on the Conference which shall be published in the Federal Register and submitted to Members of Congress and relevant administration officials. The Policy Committee shall request that Members of Congress and administration officials submit to the Policy Committee, not later than 45 days after receiving such report, their views and findings on such report.

(b) Final Report- Not later than 6 months after the date on which the Conference adjourns, the Policy Committee shall--

(1) prepare a final report of the Conference which shall include a compilation of the views and findings of the Members of Congress and administration officials received under subsection (a); and

(2) publish in the Federal Register, and transmit to the President and to Congress, the recommendations for the administrative action and the legislation necessary to implement the recommendations contained in such report.

SEC. 8. STATUS REPORTS.

(a) Initial Status Report- Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Conference adjourns, the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs shall--

(1) prepare a status report documenting the implementation of the recommendations contained in the final report described in section 7(b)(1); and

(2) publish in the Federal Register, and transmit to the President and to Congress, such status report.

(b) Subsequent Status Reports- Not later than 5 years after the date on which the Conference adjourns, and every 5 years thereafter until all recommendations in the final report described in section 7(b)(1) are achieved, the Comptroller General shall--

(1) prepare a status report documenting the implementation of the recommendations contained in such final report; and

(2) publish in the Federal Register, and transmit to the President and to Congress, such status report.

SEC. 9. COMMITTEE HEARINGS.

(a) Hearings on Reports- The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate shall each hold hearings on the recommendations and status reports received by Congress under sections 7(b)(2), 8(a)(2), and 8(b)(2).

(b) Hearings- The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate shall each hold annual hearings on recovery and long-term development of Haiti.

(c) Exercise of Rulemaking Authority- Subsections (a) and (b) are enacted--

(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the House of Representatives and Senate, and, as such, they shall be considered as part of the rules of the House or Senate (as the case may be), and such rules shall supersede any other rule of the House or Senate only to the extent that rule is inconsistent therewith; and

(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change such rules (so far as relating to the procedure in such House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of the House or Senate.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) Authorization-

(1) IN GENERAL- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--

(A) such sums as may be necessary for the first fiscal year in which the Policy Committee plans the Conference and for the following fiscal year; and

(B) such sums as may be necessary for the fiscal year in which the Conference is held.

(2) LIMITATION- Any new spending authority or new authority to enter into contracts under this Act, and under which the United States is obligated to make outlays, shall be effective only to the extent, and in such amounts, as are provided in advance in appropriations Acts.

(b) Availability of Funds-

(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (3), funds appropriated to carry out this Act and funds received as gifts under section 6(c) shall remain available for obligation or expenditure until the expiration of the 1-year period beginning on the date the Conference adjourns.

(2) UNOBLIGATED FUNDS- Except as provided in paragraph (3), any such funds neither obligated nor expended before the expiration of the 1-year period beginning on the date the Conference adjourns shall be returned to the United States Treasury.

(3) CONFERENCE NOT CONVENED- If the Conference is not convened before December 31, 2012, a trust fund shall be established and such funds shall be deposited in the trust fund and shall only be available for a future Conference on Haiti.