US congress calls for more foreign aid

Members of the United States Congress have called for increased foreign aid to Latin America and the Caribbean.



The calls were reportedly made at a hearing on foreign assistance to the Americas conducted by the foreign affairs sub committee of the House of Representatives.



The chair of the house committee, democrat Elliot Engel, said US aid to the Caribbean and Latin America was lagging.



Speakers called for creative mechanisms to get the best out of remittances, which dwarf foreign direct assistance to the Americas.



International activist Mark Schneider also called for a post-hurricane donors conference to provide support for Haiti and other Caribbean nations.