Letter to Senate on Haiti Supplemental in Appropriations Budget, April 13, 2010

Letter from Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, Chairman, Committee on International Justice and Peace and Ken Hackett, President, Catholic Relief Services to the U.S. Senate on Haiti Supplemental in Appropriations Budget, April 13, 2010

The tragic earthquake in Haiti has led to an enormous outpouring of humanitarian assistance from the international community.  It is encouraging that the U.S. government has led the way in delivering much needed aid to those who continue to struggle to recover and rebuild.   

In order to strengthen the U.S. response to Haiti and to continue to maintain the U.S. ability to cover humanitarian needs in other parts of the world, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the relief and development agency of the Catholic Bishops in the United States, urge you to approve a robust Supplemental funding request.   

The USCCB and CRS support foreign assistance based on our belief that each person is created in the image of God.  Aid to poor people overseas protects human life and dignity by promoting human development and reducing crushing poverty, deadly diseases and malnutrition.  Our positions are also informed by our relationships with the Catholic Church in developing nations and CRS’ daily on-the-ground work in about one hundred countries.  As you know, CRS was one of the very first responders in Haiti, where CRS already had over 300 staff working with Church and other partners on disaster preparedness and development issues, among others.

letter-to-senate-on-haiti-supplemental-in-appropriations-budget-for-2010-2010-04-13.pdf