Washington - As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Senator Menendez (D-NJ) chaired a hearing for Pamela White, President Obama's nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to Haiti.

At the hearing, Senator Menendez expressed his concern with the slow pace of Haiti's recovery, and asked Ambassador White to assess the key obstacles to more rapid reconstruction and development in Haiti given the instability of the Haitian government and its ongoing struggle to procure land, secure housing, and protect vulnerable populations.

"As Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Global Narcotics Affairs, I remain concerned with the slow progress in Haiti. Two years after the devastating earthquake that hit the country in 2010 a staggering half a million people remain displaced and the country's government continues to struggle with providing vulnerable populations the basic services they need. Today we had the opportunity to discuss the current situation in Haiti with Ambassador White, the Obama Administration's nominee to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Haiti. After listening to her assessment of the current situation in Haiti and its challenges going forward, I am confident she is qualified to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Haiti and I look forward to supporting and voting in favor of her confirmation," said Senator Menendez.

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