Lincoln Diaz-Balart

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. (Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 334 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This is an eminently fair rule. With regard to the issue of the continuity of government, twice before legislation has been brought to the floor on that issue, and there has been an extensive debate. So we certainly feel that the House has had a sufficient and very fair opportunity to consider this issue. In addition, as I stated before, the legislation we are bringing to the floor today includes H.R. 841, the Continuity in Representation Act of 2005, that is very specific on this issue. One of the great leaders in the House on the issue of making certain that even in a time, God forbid, of great crisis again in the Nation and specifically in the Congress, the Congress can function, is the chairman of the Committee on Rules. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), chairman of the Committee on Rules.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Alfredo Manuel Pulido Lopez, a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba. Mr. Pulido Lopez is a dentist, an independent journalist and a member of the Christian Liberation Movement. He believes in writing and speaking the truth about the nightmare that is the Castro regime. As a dentist, trained in protecting and nurturing human life, he could not tolerate the tyrant's incessant abuse of Cuban people. He understood the human condition and he knew that freedom is infinitely superior to the ills of tyranny and repression. On March 18, 2003, as part of the dictator's condemnable crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy activists, Mr. Pulido Lopez was arrested because of his belief in liberty over repression. In a sham trial, he was sentenced to 14 years in the inhuman, totalitarian gulag. Mr. Pulido Lopez' wife, Rebeca Rodriguez, described the abhorrent treatment of her husband in a phone call with Reporters Without Borders. She said: My husband has 11 ailments, seven of them chronic. They include high blood pressure, liver problems, malnutrition and migraines aggravated by cervical osteoporosis. He has permanent bronchitis which affects his breathing and gastric problems that are the cause of rectal bleeding. I don't know all of the problems. The prison officials know. But my husband has not been hospitalized since August 2004. He is in a critical condition and that's the price paid by all those who have wanted to defend human rights in Cuba. Reporters Without Borders also reports that Mr. Pulido Lopez he has been placed in solitary confinement. According to the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2004, he has been ``held in `punishment cells,' which usually were located in the basement of a prison, with continuous semi dark conditions, no available water, and a hole for a toilet.'' This is in addition to the grotesque depravity of the gulag that also includes beatings, isolation, denial of medical treatment to detainees and other forms of condemnable abuse. Mr. Pulido Lopez is a brilliant example of the heroism of the Cuban people. No matter how horrifically brutal the consequences of a dignified struggle for liberty, the totalitarian dungeons are full of men and women of all backgrounds and ages who represent the best of the Cuban nation. Mr. Speaker, we must speak out and act against this abominable disregard for human rights, human dignity, and human freedom just 90 miles from our shore. My Colleagues, we must demand the immediate and unconditional release of Alfredo Manuel Pulido Lopez and every political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, the way that the Cuban people will regain their dignity is to regain their freedom. While they are oppressed by a regime that denies them all human rights and denies them their dignity, they will not be able to live as all peoples are meant to. Let us remind ourselves what we are dealing with here. As the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) stated, there are five remaining terrorist states in the world, after the fall of Saddam Hussein and the liberation of Iraq. Five remaining terrorist states. But the FBI will tell you, and I would request our colleagues seek this information and this briefing from the FBI, that the most aggressive and dangerous anti-American espionage service of those five terrorist states remaining is the one of the Cuban dictatorship. Yes, it is a bankrupt economy. Castro does not care about the suffering of the Cuban people. He does care about one thing, though: Intelligence services to fight against the interests of the leader of the free world, the United States. Nineteen Cuban agents, designated as spies, were expelled from the United States in recent years because of their work as spies. Fourteen members of Castro's spy network have been indicted and are in Federal prison today. The President of the United States, a year ago, after much study, came forth with a very serious and comprehensive policy, which is very similar to the Reagan administration's policy towards the Soviet Union. One of the ingredients of President Bush's policy with regard to the Cuban dictatorship, one of five remaining anti-American terrorist states, is the reduction of hard currency to that regime. Now, as was stated by the majority leader, Castro extorts payment even on humanitarian packages, at both ends of the process. The bottom line is that these regulations permit humanitarian aid to continue. Our constituents are the ones who send that humanitarian aid.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, it is important to defeat this amendment. I thought I heard it all on this floor, but to hear a thugocracy called a fledgling democracy is something I never thought I would hear here. It is a regime of gangsters by gangsters and for gangsters, against which President Bush has a very important and solid policy that will succeed. Cuba will soon be free. Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues today is to continue to stand with the Cuban people against the thugocracy and to defeat this amendment.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Horacio Julio Pina Borrego, a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba. Mr. Pina Borrego is a pro-democracy activist in totalitarian Cuba. He is a member of the Party for Human Rights in Cuba. Because of his belief in freedom, democracy, and human rights, Mr. Pina Borrego has been a target of the nightmare called the Castro regime. According to Amnesty International, in 2001 Mr. Pina Borrego was detained by the tyrant's security thugs. However, despite constant harassment, and the ever present threat of being thrown in the gulag for his beliefs, Mr. Pina Borrego bravely persisted in advocating for human rights and freedom. On March 19, 2003, as part of the dictator's condemnable crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy activists, Mr. Pina Borrego was arrested because of his belief in freedom and human rights. In asham trial, he was sentenced to 20 years in the inhuman, totalitarian gulag. Mr. Pina Borrego is currently languishing in an abhorrent, inhuman cell in the totalitarian gulag. These depraved conditions are truly appalling. The State Department describes the conditions in the gulag as, ``harsh and life threatening.'' The State Department also reports that police and prison officials beat, neglect, isolate, and deny medical treatment to detainees and prisoners, including those convicted of political crimes. It is a crime of the highest order that people who work for freedom are imprisoned in these nightmarish conditions. Because of courageous Cuban men and women, like Mr. Pina Borrego, freedom and democracy are on the march in Cuba. These pro-democracy activists languish in abhorrent dungeons, they defy the dictator's machinery of repression and, despite every threat and obstacle, these opposition leaders continue to demand liberty for the people of Cuba. Through their bravery and because of their unwavering commitment and the hard work and commitment of countless other patriots, Cuba will be free again. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Pina Borrego is suffering in a grotesque gulag because he believes in human rights. My colleagues, we cannot allow peaceful pro-democracy activists to languish in the depraved prisons of tyrants. We must demand immediate and unconditional freedom for Horacio Julio Pina Borrego and every prisoner of conscience in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about Omar Pernet Hernandez a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba. Mr. Pernet Hernandez is the leader of the National Movement for Human Rights. As a peaceful advocate for freedom, democracy and human rights, he has been a constant target of the totalitarian tyranny. In March 2003, as part of Castro's condemnable crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy activists, Mr. Pernet Hernandez was arrested. In a sham trial, he was sentenced 25 years in the totalitarian gulag. Despite being confined in the abhorrent, subhuman conditions of the gulag, Mr. Pernet Hernandez continues to advocate for human rights for all Cubans, including participating in a hunger strike to demand the humane treatment of political prisoners. According to Amnesty International, he is suffering from lung problems, a chronic gastric ulcer, and high blood pressure. Let us be very clear, Mr. Pernet Hernandez is languishing in the gulag because of his belief in human rights. According to the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2004: Prison conditions continued to be harsh and life threatening, and conditions in detention facilities also were harsh . . . Police and prison officials beat, neglected, isolated, and denied medical treatment to detainees and prisoners, including those convicted of political crimes or those who persisted in expressing their views. Political prisoners in particular often were held at facilities hundreds of miles from their families, placing an undue hardship on many families' time and financial resources. Mr. Pernet Hernandez is representative of the Cuban people's desire for liberty; despite constant harassment, despite incarceration in a grotesque gulag, he continues to fight for the inalienable human rights of the Cuban people. It is a crime against humanity that Castro's totalitarian dungeons are full of men and women, like Mr. Pernet Hernandez, who represent the best of the Cuban nation. Mr. Speaker, it is totally unacceptable that brave men and women are locked in dungeons because they believe in freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. My Colleagues, we must demand the immediate and unconditional release of Omar Pernet Hernandez and every political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This is an important appropriations bill, and it is one that we are pleased, obviously, to bring forward under the great tradition of open rules. So I very strongly support not only the underlying legislation but also the rule, and I would ask for an affirmative vote by all of our colleagues on the previous question as well.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purposes of debate only. (Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. With regard to an amendment that was allegedly not made in order, I want to reiterate, Mr. Speaker, that we brought forth this legislation under an open rule. Obviously, an amendment has to be germane and not violate the rules of the House. We very much attempted to bring forth this appropriations bill under an open rule, and we are pleased that we were able to do so, and obviously that permits the amendment process to be wide open and obviously fair. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), my distinguished friend and a great leader in this House.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 291 is an open rule that provides for the consideration of H.R. 2419, the Fiscal Year 2006 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule also provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. I would like to take a moment, Mr. Speaker, to reiterate that we bring forth this resolution under a fair and open rule. Historically, appropriations bills have come to the floor of the House governed by open rules. We continue to do so in order to allow each and every Member of this House the opportunity to submit amendments for consideration, obviously as long as they are germane under the rules of the House. This legislation before us today, Mr. Speaker, appropriates almost $30 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Departments of the Interior and Energy, and several independent agencies. This bill is truly fiscally sound, representing a reduction of $131.7 million from the fiscal year 2005 legislation and the same spending level as was requested by the President in his budget request. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, this legislation provides the resources necessary to address the energy and water needs of the United States. H.R. 2419 provides $4.7 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps is the world's premier public engineering organization, responding to the needs of the Nation in peace and in war. For over 200 years the Corps has been involved in such important missions as flood control, shoreline prevention, navigation and safety on the waterways of this great Nation. The vital work of the Corps will continue under this act, which includes a vigorous civil works program. The bill also includes a number of significant changes to improve project execution and financial management, including more responsible use of reprogramming, continuing contracts and implementation of long- term financial planning. I would like to highlight a Corps project of particular interest to my community, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program. The restoration of the Everglades, that wonder of nature, is the largest and most significant environmental initiative that this country has ever undertaken. The legislation continues our commitment to the restoration of this environmental treasure with an appropriation of $137 million. I am pleased to report that Everglades restoration is moving forward expeditiously and effectively. Congress, and the Committee on Appropriations especially, should be proud of this environmentally sound action. The National Nuclear Security Administration, which includes the nuclear weapons program, defense nuclear nonproliferation, naval reactors and the Office of the Administrator, is funded at $8.8 billion, an increase of $24 million over fiscal year 2005. I am glad to see that the appropriators increased this program. Nonproliferation is essential to the defense of the homeland. Our work across the globe, especially in Russia, makes it ever more difficult for rogue states and terrorists to obtain the weapons necessary to attack the United States or our Armed Forces abroad or our allies. I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Chairman Lewis) and the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Hobson) for truly extraordinary work on this important legislation. I urge my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, to support both the rule and the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 291.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 291 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Regis Iglesias Ramirez, a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba. Mr. Iglesias Ramirez is a member of the Christian Liberation Movement. Because of his belief in freedom of religion, democracy and human rights, Mr. Iglesias Ramirez is an opponent of the nightmare that is the Castro regime. Despite the constant threat of retribution by the dictatorship, he has continually demanded his inalienable human rights. Unfortunately, in March 2003, as part of the regime's heinous crackdown on peaceful, pro-democracy activists, Mr. Iglesias Ramirez was arrested. In a sham trial, he was sentenced to 18 years in the totalitarian gulag. Mr. Iglesias Ramirez is languishing in an inhuman, grotesque gulag simply because of his religious convictions and his desire to live in liberty. According to Amnesty International, he has been threatened and harassed because he persists in studying his Bible while incarcerated by the regime. It is reprehensible that, at the dawn of the 21st Century, men and women like Mr. Iglesias Ramirez are still locked in dank dungeons because of the tenets of their faith. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is May 20, and on that day, 103 years ago, the Cuban people obtained their independence; the Republic of Cuba was born. Today the Cuban people, led by heroic activists such as Mr. Iglesias Ramirez, continue to fight for freedom. It is my fervent hope that next year, on May 20, the Cuban people will be able to celebrate the anniversary of Cuba's independence and also celebrate the return of freedom to that long suffering island. Mr. Speaker, it is unconscionable that peaceful Cubans of all genders, creeds and colors are locked in Castro's barbarous gulag because they believe in a free Cuba. While the entire world sits by and ignores the suffering of the Cuban people, brave men and women like Mr. Iglesias Ramirez represent the best of mankind. My Colleagues, we must demand freedom and human rights for all people, especially those who live under the darkness of totalitarian regimes. We must demand immediate and unconditional freedom for Regis Iglesias Ramirez and every prisoner of conscience in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Ivan Hernandez Carrillo, a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba. Mr. Hernandez Carrillo is a member of the Pedro Luis Boitel Democracy Party and an independent journalist. He is peacefully striving to create an open society that recognizes human rights, freedom, and democracy. Unfortunately, the dictatorship forcefully represses those who bravely support freedom and rise in resistance to the despotic regime. According to Amnesty International, Mr. Hernandez Carrillo has been constantly harassed by the nightmare that is the Castro regime. He was arrested by the tyrant in 1997, 1999, and 2002 for his pro-democracy activities. Unfortunately, on March 18, 2003, as part of Castro's heinous crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy activists, Mr. Hernandez Carrillo was once again arrested by the dictatorship. In a sham trial, Mr. Hernandez Carrillo was sentenced to an abominable 25 years in the totalitarian gulag. According to Amnesty International, in 2003, while incarcerated in the inhuman gulag, Mr. Hernandez Carrillo was placed in a punishment cell. These punishment cells are the very depths of depravity. According to the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2004: `` `punishment cells,' were located in the basement of a prison, with continuous semi dark conditions, no available water, and a hole for a toilet. Reading materials, including Bibles, were not allowed. . . . Prisoners in punishment cells had no access to lawyers.'' In 2004, according to Amnesty International, Mr. Hernandez Carrillo supported his fellow pro-democracy fighter Mario Enrique Mayo in a hunger strike that lasted from August 15th until August 25th. Their demands were medical assistance and food. Mr. Hernandez Carrillo is a brilliant example of the heroism of the Cuban people. Despite incessant repression, harassment, incarceration and abuse, he does not waiver in his conviction that freedom and democracy are the inalienable right of the Cuban people. It is a crime against humanity that Castro's totalitarian gulags are full of men and women, like Mr. Hernandez Carrillo, who represent the best of the Cuban nation. Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear, Mr. Hernandez Carrillo is languishing in the grotesque squalor of the gulag because he desires freedom for all Cubans. My Colleagues, we must demand the immediate and unconditional release of Ivan Hernandez Carrillo and every political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from south Florida (Mr. Wexler) for the time. This resolution is very important because it continues the very important, historic tradition begun here in this Congress, by this Congress in April of 1898 when, after a century of fighting by the people of Cuba for the independence of Cuba, the United States, because of the Congress of the United States, came out in support of Cuban independence. In April of 1898, this Congress passed what is very well- known in Cuban history, the joint resolution that recognized that Cuba is and of right ought to be free and independent. So this Congress began a tradition in April of 1898 that continues to this day, a tradition in support of the right of the Cuban people to be free. For the last 46 years, the Cuban people unfortunately have been under the boot of a totalitarian dictatorship that, while it has perhaps been the most inept, certainly one of the most inept of the Communist dictatorships in having achieved the systematic, utter destruction of what was one of the most prosperous economies in this hemisphere; in that sense, it has been absolutely inept. In terms of totalitarian control, it has been quite effective, and it maintains an absolute, intense oppression over the Cuban people to this day. My colleagues have mentioned the onslaught of 2 years ago that was condemned by a resolution offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) a few weeks ago, and it was condemned by this House, the absolute campaign, if you will, of the march of 2003 that arrested dozens and dozen and dozens, almost 100 pro-democracy leaders and threw them in prison, but the campaign continues. The campaign of oppression and intimidation, beginning in January of this year, the totalitarian Communist regime in Cuba has begun a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing. Hundreds of young people, mostly young men, 95 percent of whom are black, have been rounded up and thrown in prisons beginning in January of this year in what the dictator calls Operation Containment, containment of the young people. Now, this assembly was organized, as has been mentioned by my distinguished colleagues, by Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello and Felix Bonne Carcasses and Rene Gomez Manzano, is an important, historic development. There are some people who now say that we must reject the subterfuge seeking to attack this assembly, that they have not invited all pro-democracy groups. All pro-democracy groups, the organizers of this assembly have invited all individuals and organizations within Cuba who support democracy. Some say then they have not been invited. In fact, they have been invited, but that is not the problem of the organizer. That is the problem of somebody else, very important. This is an important, extremely valiant effort that over 360 civil society groups, pro-democracy groups within the island have called for, and they seek to meet on May 20. So what this Congress today is saying is: We support you. We know what you are doing. We know the courage that it entails to say, within a totalitarian state, that a meeting will be held in support of freedom and democracy and free elections and the legalization of political parties and freedom of religion and freedom of the press and freedom of expression. Within the totalitarian state, to say that there will be a meeting engaged in such discussion is really a heroic act, and so today, what we are saying is that we recognize that, and we support you. Simply to end, Mr. Speaker, as I commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart) for having brought forth this resolution today in such an important and timely manner, I simply want to read the names of some of the thousands of political prisoners who cannot have their voices heard. Obviously, they all deserve to be heard, but I would like to read some of their names. It is my privilege and honor to serve in this Congress with my brother Mario, where there are two brothers who are serving in prison in Cuba simply because they came out publicly in support of freedom and democracy. One brother, Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, was sentenced to 25 years in the gulag for his support of democracy. The other one, Luis Enrique Ferrer Garcia, was sentenced to 28 years in the gulag because he supports democracy. Someone who I admire very much, I have followed his long and distinguished fight for freedom for many years, has been languishing since 1990, mostly in solitary. His name is Jorge Luis Garcia Perez, also known Antunez. He was sentenced to 18 years because, ever since he was in high school, he said he favors democracy and rejects totalitarianism, and so he has suffered the consequences since then. Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta, 20 years in the gulag. Diosdado Gonzalez Marrero, 20 years in the gulag. Felix Navarro Rodriguez, 25 years. Prosperso Gainza Aguero, 25 years. Hector Maseda Gutierrez, 20 years. Claro Sanchez Altarriba, 15 years. Victor Rolando Arroyo, 26 years. And perhaps the best known, certainly someone who is a symbol of resistance, character, dignity, as all these men and women are, Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, 25 years. There are thousands, Mr. Speaker, of men and women like this, many, by the way, charged with what they call in the totalitarian system common crimes, like seeking to leave, seeking to flee to freedom. That is a common crime. So the regime does not even recognize them as political prisoners. There are thousands of political prisoners in Cuba such as these men whose names I have read. We owe them our solidarity. Today, we are expressing our solidarity, and specifically through this resolution, our solidarity with the meeting convened for May 20, which will seek to develop ways to hasten what is inevitable, and that is an end to the totalitarian nightmare and the commencement of the dawn of freedom.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Leonel Grave de Peralta Almenares, a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba. Mr. Grave de Peralta is a member of the Christian Liberation Movement and an independent librarian. According to Human Rights First, as director of the Bartolome Maso Library, Mr. Grave de Peralta had a circulation record of over 700 book loans. His life is dedicated to the proposition that the men and women of Cuba must be free: free to learn, free to worship, free to enjoy their inalienable human rights. Unfortunately, Mr. Grave de Peralta has been targeted by the totalitarian regime because of his belief in freedom and democracy. According to Amnesty International, he was harassed in 2002 when his home was besieged by the tyrant's thugs. Despite the constant threat of oppression, harassment, and torture, Mr. Grave de Peralta continued his peaceful, pro-democracy activities. In March 2003, as part of Castro's heinous crackdown on peaceful pro- democracy activists, Mr. Grave de Peralta was arrested. Subsequently, in a sham trial, he was sentenced to 20 years in the totalitarian gulag. Mr. Grave de Peralta is representative of the fighting spirit of the Cuban people: of their rejection of the brutality, discrimination, depravity, and oppression of the totalitarian tyranny. Thousands languish in the gulag because, like Mr. Grave de Peralta, they refuse to accept the tyrannical dictatorship in Cuba today. Mr. Speaker, it is as inconceivable as it is unacceptable that, while the world stands by in silence and acquiescence, Mr. Grave de Peralta languishes in the horror of the totalitarian gulag because of his belief in freedom, democracy, and human rights. My Colleagues, we must demand the immediate and unconditional release of Leonel Grave de Perlata Almenares and every political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Prospero Gainza Aguero, a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba. Mr. Gainza Aguero is a member of the Pedro Luis Boitel National Civic Resistance Movement. He has committed himself to peacefully bringing democracy to the men and women of Cuba and ending the nightmare that is the Castro regime. Because of his steadfast belief in freedom, democracy and the Rule of Law, Mr. Gainza Aguero has been targeted by the dictatorship. According to Amnesty International, Mr. Gainza Aguero was detained by the regime for participating in a protest to demand the release of a pro-democracy activist charged with ``public disorder.'' Despite continued harassment, Mr. Gainza Aguero remained bravely committed to opposing the dictatorship and advocating for freedom. On March 18, 2003, as part of Castro's heinous crackdown on peaceful, pro-democracy activists, he was arrested by the dictatorship. In a sham trial, Mr. Gainza Aguero was sentenced to 25 years in the totalitarian gulag. According to Amnesty International, while locked up in the inhuman gulag for his belief in freedom, Mr. Gainza Aguero participated in a hunger strike to call attention to the abhorrent condition in the gulag, the lack of food, and the grossly inadequate medical care. Despite being imprisoned for his belief in human rights, despite the horrors of the totalitarian gulag, Mr. Gainza Aguero has not stopped working to bring change to a nation enslaved by Castro's despotic machinery of repression. Prospero Gainza Aguero is representative of the fighting spirit of the Cuban people: of their rejection of the brutality, discrimination, depravity, and oppression of the totalitarian tyranny. Let me be very clear, Mr. Gainza Aguero is imprisoned because he refuses to accept the dictatorship in Cuba today. Mr. Speaker, we must speak out and act against the abominable disregard for human rights, human dignity, and human freedom just 90 miles from our shore. My Colleagues, we must demand the immediate and unconditional release of Prospero Gainza Aguero and every political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Luis Enrique Ferrer Garcia, a prisoner of conscience in totalitarian Cuba. Mr. Ferrer Garcia is a peaceful pro-democracy activist who desires to bring freedom, democracy, and human rights to Cuba. He is also a member of the Christian Liberation Movement. Because he believes that freedom is the birthright of every person, he has been repeatedly harassed and detained by the nightmare that is the Castro regime. According to Amnesty International, in December 1999 he was sentenced to 6 months ``restricted freedom.'' In March 2003, as part of Castro's heinous island wide crackdown on peaceful prodemocracy activists, Mr. Ferrer Garcia was arrested by the dictatorship. In a sham trial he was sentenced to 28 years in the totalitarian gulag. According to reports, Mr. Ferrer Garcia was transferred to a ``punishment cell'' for having refused a military salute to a prison official. These punishment cells are the very depths of depravity. According to the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2004: `` `punishment cells,' were located in the basement of a prison, with continuous semi dark conditions, no available water, and a hole for a toilet. Reading materials, including Bibles, were not allowed . . . Prisoners in punishment cells had no access to lawyers.'' Mr. Ferrer Garcia was eventually released from this ``punishment cell'' because of a hunger strike carried out on his behalf. However, he is in constant danger of being returned to this version of hell within a gulag. Mr. Luis Ferrer Garcia is not the only member of his family sentenced to the totalitarian gulag. His brother, Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia been sentenced to 25 years in the gulag for his belief in freedom, democracy and basic human rights. These two brothers are brilliant examples of the heroism of the Cuban people. No matter how intense the repression, no matter how horrifically brutal the consequences of a dignified struggle for liberty, the totalitarian gulags are full of men and women of all backgrounds and ages who represent the best of the Cuban nation. Mr. Speaker, it is as inconceivable as it is unacceptable that, while the world stands by in silence and acquiescence, these two brothers are systematically tortured because of their belief in freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. My Colleagues, we must demand the immediate and unconditional release of Luis Enrique Ferrer Garcia, Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia and every political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Alfredo Felipe Fuentes, a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba. Mr. Fuentes is a member of the United Cuban Workers Council and an independent journalist. According to various reports, he has been an active opponent of the dictatorship since 1992. His peaceful, pro- democracy activities and truthful articles have helped the world to learn the facts about the nightmare that is the Castro regime. Unfortunately, those who believe in truth are targeted by the tyrant's machinery of repression. On March 19, 2003, Mr. Fuentes was arrested as part of the dictatorship's heinous crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy activists. In a sham trial, he was accused of sending reports to Radio Marti about opposition demonstrations. For these ``crimes,'' Mr. Fuentes was sentenced to 26 years in the totalitarian gulag. Let me be very clear, Alfredo Felipe Fuentes is languishing in an inhuman gulag because of his belief in truth, freedom and democracy. According to reports, he is held in isolation, he is suffering from malnutrition and the abhorrent state of his cell. Mr. Fuentes is bravely suffering because he believes in freedom for all the men and women of Cuba. Mr. Speaker, it is morally repugnant that, in the 21st Century, men and women are still locked in the dungeons of dictators because of their beliefs in freedom and human rights. It is as inconceivable as it is unacceptable that, while the world stands by in silence and acquiescence, brave men and women are systematically tortured because of their belief in democracy and the Rule of Law. My Colleagues, we must demand the immediate and unconditional release of Alfredo Felipe Fuentes and every political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, those of us who have lived in the era of Pope John Paul II have had the great privilege during the past twenty-six years of witnessing the important work of this great leader. John Paul II was an extraordinary theologian, a brilliant statesman who worked ceaselessly for peace and freedom, and a brave Polish patriot. He embodied the Christian, Marian doctrine of love and mercy; millions throughout the world have been forever changed for the better by the life of Pope John Paul II. Perhaps his most important accomplishment was lifting the ban on the devotion to the message of divine mercy as explained by our Savior directly to Sister Faustina, and the Pope's institution of Divine Mercy Sunday by the Church, as well as the canonization of Saint Faustina. Our prayers of gratitude for those great works of Pope John Paul II accompany our prayers for his eternal rest.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Greeks Independence Day. March 25, 2005 marked the 184th anniversary of the revolution that freed the people of Greece from the Ottoman Empire. Today, I extend my solidarity in commemoration of this celebration of independence and democracy. As the cradle of western civilization, we are deeply indebted to the nation of Greece and the Greek people for their wisdom and commitment to the ideals of freedom and democracy. Our own democracy was created from the blue prints of ancient Greece. The contribution of Greeks to the arts, sciences, and political fields are felt profoundly to this day. It is through Greek experiences and insight that the ideals of self-governance were shaped. In modern times, the Greek people have reaffirmed their commitment to the goals of their proud past. As a member of the European Union, Greece has constantly championed democratic principles and been an important advocate for freedom fighters throughout the world. I congratulate the people of Greece for their vital contributions to our world, in both ancient and modern times, as we celebrate Greek Independence Day.