Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to introduce the Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension (HELP) Act, which would extend trade benefits for apparel products produced in Haiti from 2025 to 2035. The products eligible for these benefits comprise 93 percent of Haitian exports and are a vital source of employment for thousands of Haitians, who may otherwise turn to criminal activity to make ends meet or seek to enter the United States, potentially through irregular channels.
“I’m glad to join this bipartisan bill to extend Haiti’s trade preferences, which are crucial to the country’s future economic growth and stability,” said Bennet. “A peaceful and prosperous Haiti will improve countless Haitians’ lives while bolstering U.S. and regional security.”
“Over the years, Haitian families have been devastated by natural disasters and political unrest,” said Cassidy. “Extending trade benefits is good for the U.S. and the Haitian people who need resources and jobs.”
“America is safer and better off when our neighbors are thriving,” said Warnock. “That’s why I was proud to lead this bipartisan effort to strengthen Haiti’s economic future and stability. This bill is a win-win for Georgians and the people of Haiti. It will promote a better future for us all and shows what is possible when we center the people in policymaking.”
“Originally a lifeline to Haiti in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake, the Haiti Economic Lift Program has helped the nation economically by stimulating trade between Haiti and the U.S.,” said Durbin. “As Haiti continues to face economic hardship and political unrest, we should extend its provisions by passing the bipartisan HELP Extension Act.”
In the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Congress passed the HELP Act to broaden the types of goods eligible for duty-free status to over 5,000 types of apparel and footwear. The law, which helped rebuild some of Haiti’s domestic industry, is set to expire in 2025.
Last year, Bennet, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) led 17 bipartisan, bicameral colleagues to urge the Senate and House Appropriations Committees to address illicit weapons trafficking operations in the Western Hemisphere – noting that Haiti’s gangs are armed largely with guns made in the United States. In 2023, Bennet joined Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) to introduce legislation to respond to the immediate needs on the U.S. southern border and interior states, including by building upon the Biden administration’s Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela Parole program, which reduced apprehensions of nationals from those four countries by 97 percent.
The text of the bill is available HERE.