Eliot Engel

"Too small is our world to allow discrimination, bigotry and intolerance to thrive in any corner of it, let alone in the United States of America."

"While Haiti has recently celebrated more than 200 years of independence from French colonial rule, the citizens of the island remain vulnerable to poverty, poor health, and political chaos."

"We all would like to see a brighter future for Haiti, and I hope this conference will serve to explore many views. Respect for human rights, freedom, and the rule of law must be established in the poorest nation in our hemisphere."