Washington, DC— Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) held a press conference today asking President Bush to prioritize immediate relief for Haiti. Rep. Watson serves on the Congressional Black Caucus Task Force on Haiti.

Rep. Watson called on President Bush to provide immediate intervention to alleviate the growing humanitarian crisis in Haiti. Rep. Watson co-signed a letter authored by Rep. Alcee L. Hastings to President Bush urging him to expedite debt relief to Haiti, increase food aid, and extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants currently in the United States.

“It is imperative that we act quickly to help alleviate the food and economic crisis that is impacting the lives of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere,” said Rep. Watson. “It is a disgrace that we allow our southern neighbors to descend into social anarchy due to lack of food and access to the bare essentials necessary for human survival.

“Haiti cannot wait for humanitarian relief to trickle into the hands and mouths of its starving population. We call on President Bush to take swift action to alleviate this burgeoning crisis.”