Legislation extends the HOPE and HELP trade preference programs for certain apparel and textile products from Haiti.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) delivered the following remarks during debate in the U.S. House of Representatives on the Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act (H.R. 6504).
As prepared for delivery.
“I rise today in support of H.R. 6504, the Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act, introduced by my colleague, Representative Murphy.
“This legislation extends the HOPE and HELP trade preference programs, which provide trade preferences for certain apparel and textile imports from Haiti.
“Haiti has endured years of profound hardship — political instability, economic collapse, and repeated natural disasters. As our bill author, Dr. Murphy, shares from his time serving as a medical missionary in Haiti, these trade programs represent an economic lifeline that support tens of thousands of jobs and sustain one of the last remaining formal industries in the country.
“Failing to extend these programs would further destabilize an already fragile situation, worsening humanitarian conditions. Strengthening economic opportunity in Haiti promotes regional stability, pushes back on malign actors trying to gain influence with our neighbors, and advances U.S. interests. Prosperity in our hemisphere enhances security here at home.
“Renewing HOPE and HELP supports nearshoring and more resilient supply chains, benefitting American workers and businesses while reducing reliance on distant and unreliable sources.
“I want to commend Dr. Murphy for his leadership on this issue. Through his numerous trips to Haiti, he has seen firsthand the human consequences of economic collapse. He also understands the value these programs provide to American businesses, including those in North Carolina that have built reliable partnerships in Haiti.
“Last month, the Ways and Means Committee passed this bill unanimously, 41 to 0—a strong bipartisan signal that these programs work.
“I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.”