Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued this statement following the passage of the Assessing Progress in Haiti Act which was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today.

"Five years after the earthquake that devastated Haiti, meaningful rebuilding and redevelopment continues, but it is far from complete," Menendez said. "The U.S. Congress played an instrumental role in the recovery effort by approving $3.6 billion in assistance for the Haitian government and its people, but more work is needed. This legislation requires the State Department to provide Congress with a comprehensive report on what the U.S. Government has accomplished these last five years and includes establishing a new strategy with key benchmarks for monitoring progress.Though recovery is unfinished, the U.S. government, the Haitian-American community in New Jersey, and communities throughout our nation all have a vital role to play in seeing continued reconstruction and redevelopment in Haiti."

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