The human tragedy unfolding in Haiti is no less significant in this hemisphere than the invasion of Kuwait was in the Middle East. President Bush needs to take two actions immediately. First. until it can be clearly determined that a political solution has been obtained which clearly restores democracy in Haiti. the United States and other countries should continue to offer a safe haven to Haitian refugees. Second. the President should take a leadership role. as he did in the Persian Gulf. with the OAS and the international community. to help achieve real stability in Haiti and safe refuge for those who have fled. The legitimate and immediate security concerns of the refugees will be best served by the passage of this legislation and I support the amendments offered by my colleagues JOHN CONYERS and LARRY SMITH. The Conyers amendment grants temporary protected status to the refugees which will ensure that they are not being returned to a volatile and dangerous homeland. The Smith amendment addresses the need for the involvement of peacekeeping forces from either the United Nations or the OAS. It Is totally irresponsible to retum refugees without a reliable network on the ground in Haiti which can monitor and protect them. We have insisted upon democracy thousands of miles across the oceans. We can demand no less in our own hemisphere. We have proudly and appropriately stood with refugees from everywherefrom the Soviet Union. from Eastern Europe. from Southeast Asia. We must find a way to stand with the refugees in our own sphere of Immediate interest. The fledgling democracy In Haiti was killed in its infancy. We must help it to be born again by standing In support of H.R. 3844. The Haitian Refugee Protection Act.
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Refugee temporary protected status refugees