Salazar's Bill Passes to Extend Critical Trade Program Supporting Haiti’s Economic Recovery

Washington, D.C. - Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6504, an amended version of Rep. Salazar's H.R. 1625, the HELP Extension Act, bipartisan legislation extending the HOPE/HELP trade preference programs with Haiti for three years. Representative Salazar will continue to push a long-term extension of the trade programs as originally proposed. The bill continues key U.S.-Haiti trade provisions under the Haitian Economic Lift Program (HELP), providing a critical source of formal employment through Haiti's textile industry while strengthening America's nearshoring supply chains and supporting long-term economic stability in the Caribbean.

Representative María Elvira Salazar, a longtime championof the HOPE/HELP trade programs, helped build the framework now extended by the legislation passed today. As Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, she has consistently emphasized that economic engagement is essential to promoting stability in Haiti and reducing the conditions that drive humanitarian crises and irregular migration.

"As Haiti faces an unprecedented humanitarian and security crisis, keeping legitimate businesses operating in the country is essential," said Chairwoman María Elvira Salazar."The HOPE/HELP trade programs support more than 10,000 Haitian jobs, reduce migration pressures, and provide a real pathway to stability and recovery. Strengthening Haiti's economy is not only the right thing to do, it is in the strategic interest of the United States."

During her first term in Congress, Rep. Salazar introduced the original HOPE/HELPextension legislation in the House, with companion legislation sponsored in the Senate by then-Sen. Marco Rubio. The current version of the bill was introduced this Congress by Rep. Greg Murphy, in conjunction with Rep. Salazar.

"The HOPE/HELP programs have delivered meaningful economic opportunities to thousands of people in Haiti who desperately need stability, hope, and a path forward in the face of unprecedented crises," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "Having served as a medical missionary in this country, I know firsthand the desperation of the people. What happens there affects the broader stability of the Caribbean and our hemisphere. Ensuring stability, opportunity, and lawful economic activity in Haiti is squarely in the national interest of the United States and a strong deterrent to violent gangs, transnational criminal organizations, or hostile foreign actors. I am grateful for the leadership of Chairman Jason Smith on this issue and the broad bipartisan support of the House of Representatives."

The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.

BACKGROUND:

• In 2006, Congress enacted the Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership and Encouragement (HOPE) Act, eliminating duties on certain Haitian apparel exports to the United States.
  
• Following Haiti's devastating 2010 earthquake, Congress passed the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act, expanding and strengthening duty-free access for Haitian exports.
  
• Together, the HOPE and HELP programs have supported the growth of Haiti's textile sector, one of the country's largest sources of formal, private-sector employment.
  
• Without action by Congress, the programs were scheduled to expire in September 2025, putting thousands of jobs at risk.
  
• The HELP Extension Act, long championed by Rep. Salazar, provides a multi-year extension, offering long-term certainty for workers, manufacturers, and U.S. supply chains.