Brooklyn, N.Y. – Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke released the following statement in commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti, in which 220,000 people were killed, another 300,000 were seriously injured, and 2.3 million people were displaced from their homes.

“Since the earthquake on January 10, 2010, I have worked with my colleagues in Congress to secure relief aid for the people of Haiti and to provide any assistance required to continue the recovery. After the earthquake, I visited Haiti with a delegation from the House of Representatives and the Senate. I will never forget the devastation that had occurred or the many people I encountered there who wanted to rebuild their communities. On returning to the United States, I insisted on answers from the Department of State and from non-governmental institutions about failures in the delivery of relief aid, and I have worked to prevent such problems from occurring  in the future. I remain committed to that work. With Senator Gillibrand, I introduced legislation to expedite the processing of visa applications of Haitian nationals that have already been approved – legislation that was the basis for an executive order that will allow 55,000 Haitian national to come to the United States. Their contributions – particularly remittances to family members and investments in Haiti – will support the recovery. We must also continue to provide Temporary Protected Status to Haitian nationals who are already here. On behalf of the people of the Ninth Congressional District of New York, I want the people of Haiti, there and in the United States, to know that we are dedicated to your recovery.”

U.S. Representative Yvette D. Clarke is a member of the House Committee on Small Business, Ethics, and Homeland Security, where she is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies. She represents many neighborhoods in central and southern Brooklyn, NY which include Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Gerritsen Beach, Madison, Midwood, parts of Park Slope and Flatlands, Prospect Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Sheepshead Bay, and Windsor Terrace.