http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills info@washingtonwatch.com http://www.pjdoland.com/chai/?v=0.1 http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6255.html#41443 This program is a good idea, but needs to be further developed. I see them limiting the salaries b/c in the past, non-Haitians would go to Haiti and make waaaaaay more $$ than the locals and this created tensions b/w the people. Considering the high insecurity in Haiti, there needs to be more incentives/benefits for Haitian-Americans to take such risks. Similar to the Foreign Service, diplomats do not make $$ but the benefits counter that. More awareness needs to be raised about this get actual responses on this initiative. I conducted a brief survey about it among Haitian Americans, and none of them knew about it and 74% were interested in participating.... 41443@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_6255.html?rev=29629 <p>H.R. 6255 would provide for professional exchanges with Haiti.</p> <h2 id="toc0"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Next Steps for Haiti Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Director of Foreign Assistance, in consultation with the government of Haiti and Haitian civil society organizations, to establish the Haiti Professional Exchange Program whose purpose shall be to assign qualified Haitian Americans and others to provide technical assistance to help Haiti improve in areas vital to its growth and development, including education, energy, environment, health care, infrastructure, security, transportation, and disaster preparedness.</p> <p>Requires that the Director establish an outreach program to encourage Exchange Program participation.</p> <p>Sets forth Program provisions.</p> <p>Authorizes appropriations.</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc1"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 6/12/2008: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc2"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc3"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 29629@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6255.html#37873 This is nothing but a token gesture on the part of the Congressional friends of Haiti. It's a step forward, but it's unlikely to trigger much of favorable response from the Haitians whom the program seeks to attract. There is no dollar amount tagged to this program. I agree with Jacques that the restrictions on salaries are a disincentive. The loan forgiveness program is puny. The US government should invest far more than contemplated in this bill. If it does, the returns are likely to be much bigger both for the US and Haiti... 37873@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6255.html#37738 (i) COMPENSATION- An individual who participates in the Exchange Program shall receive monthly compensation equal to the average monthly salary of such individual's professional Haitian counterpart.??? You get what you pay for. This program will never get qualified Haitian-Americans to participate.... 37738@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_6255.html?rev=25590 <p>H.R. 6255 would provide for professional exchanges with Haiti.</p> <h2 id="toc4"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc5"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to update the status of the bill!)</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc6"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc7"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 25590@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_6255.html?rev=25591 <p>H.R. 6255 would provide for professional exchanges with Haiti.</p> <h2 id="toc8"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc9"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 6/12/2008: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc10"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc11"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 25591@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6255.html 6/12/2008: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. 36583@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT