HOPE for Haitian Prosperity Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5209
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Foreign Trade and International Finance
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-08: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-15T17:29:25Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act to update labor compliance rules for Haiti, extend the HOPE preferential duty treatment program, and establish new technical assistance for Haitian exports to the United States. It aims to support Haitian economic growth through trade preferences while strengthening labor standards.
Key Provisions
- Labor Compliance Updates: Allows interested parties to request reviews of individual Haitian producers for compliance with core labor standards and Haitian laws on minimum wages and hours of work. Changes the Technical Assistance Improvement and Compliance Needs Assessment and Remediation Program to an annual review cycle and permits suspension of preferences during remediation.
- Program Extension: Extends the HOPE duty-free treatment through 2037, lengthening the periods for meeting value-added requirements (from 16 to 28 years in some cases and 16 to 26 in others).
- Definition Changes: Adds "safe and healthy working environment" to the list of core labor standards and removes references to occupational safety and health from certain enforcement sections.
- New Technical Assistance: Requires the U.S. Trade Representative to provide assistance, in coordination with the International Trade Center, to Haitian agencies, businesses, workers, and unions. Focus areas include agricultural processing, apparel sector competitiveness, and export support services. Annual reports to Congress on outcomes and participation are mandated.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Extends the expiration of the Haiti preferential program from 2025 to 2037.
- Shifts labor reviews from biennial to annual and expands their scope to wages and hours.
- Introduces authority to limit preferences during technical assistance periods.
- Adds a new subsection (i) for export diversification support, including a participatory process involving Haitian stakeholders.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases responsibilities for the U.S. Trade Representative in providing assistance and reporting; may affect U.S. Customs and Border Protection through extended duty preferences.
- Citizens: Could benefit Haitian workers through stronger labor enforcement and Haitian exporters through extended duty-free access and diversification support.
- International Relations: Strengthens U.S.-Haiti trade ties and may encourage broader Caribbean economic cooperation under existing preference programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Haitian government agencies (e.g., Ministry of Commerce and Industry).
- Haitian employers, workers, labor unions, and trade support institutions.
- U.S. Congress (Committees on Ways and Means and Finance).
- U.S. Trade Representative and interested parties filing labor complaints.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill operates within Congress's authority over foreign commerce and trade preferences. It reinforces labor conditionality in trade programs without altering core constitutional trade powers. The participatory requirements and annual reporting add transparency mechanisms but do not introduce new enforcement authorities beyond existing presidential discretion.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
Cosponsors (20)
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-08: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 2025-09-08: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-08: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Enhancement for Haitian Prosperity Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-08 — PDF (10 pages)