Obama asks Congress for $2.8 billion in emergency funds for earthquake-damaged Haiti

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Obama seeks $2.8 billion for Haiti

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is asking Congress for $2.8 billion in emergency funding for the reconstruction effort in Haiti following January’s devastating earthquake.

The president’s request comes one week before a U.N. donors conference March 31 in New York. Haitian officials plan to ask for $11.5 billion in reconstruction assistance.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry says the Senate is close to introducing legislation to meet Obama’s request.

The Jan. 12 earthquake that ravaged the capital of Port-au-Prince killed an estimated 230,000 people and left more than 1 million homeless.

The White House released a copy of letter Obama sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday.