Lincoln Diaz-Balart

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations and the ranking member for bringing forth this legislation so quickly to make certain that there is no interruption in the assistance that FEMA and the Small Business Administration are providing to the victims of the two hurricanes that have caused so much damage in Florida in recent weeks. I have been very proud of, just like today, the response that we see from the Congress. Obviously the Speaker and the leadership have demonstrated tremendous solidarity with the people of Florida today. I have also been very pleased to see the promptness and the seriousness and the leadership of the President and the Governor, who, even before the first hurricane, Charley, hit Florida, there had been a major disaster area declared by the President pursuant to the request of the Governor. So everything that can be done is being done. It is important for the people to know that we will continue to do everything that we can to alleviate their need in this very difficult moment. I thank again the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) for bringing this forward with such promptness.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), 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 738 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules. (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 738 is a standard, closed resolution for consideration of the underlying trade legislation that provides for fair and extensive debate on H.R. 4842, the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. The rule provides 2 hours of general debate evenly divided and controlled by the chairman and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. Mr. Speaker, the relationship between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America has existed throughout the history of the United States. In December of 1777, when war raged between the American colonies and Britain, Sultan Sidi Mohammed boldly recognized our young, and not yet free, Republic. That magnanimous act of recognition was cemented in a Treaty of Peace and Friendship between our countries, ratified in July of 1878. That enduring document remains the oldest unbroken treaty in the history of the foreign relations of the United States. Quite simply, the Kingdom of Morocco is our most permanent and enduring friend. The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English), the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Tanner), the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. John), and I came together to form the Morocco Caucus in Congress to highlight and to further deepen the truly magnificent and critically important relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Morocco. The United States has no better friend and ally in the Maghreb, in North Africa and in the Arab world than Morocco. We are cognizant of, and grateful for, the help Morocco provided during the reign of the great statesman King Hassan II in the dangerous and prolonged struggle known as the Cold War and in the initial and ultimately delicate stages of the peace process between Israel and her neighbors. We are cognizant of, and grateful for, the unequivocal and decisive help Morocco has provided during the reign of another great statesman, King Mohammed VI, in our common war against the forces of international terrorism. Both our peoples have been victims of the scourge of cowardly attacks upon unarmed civilians, and both nations have answered the challenge of this difficult time with strong leadership and decisive action. The United States must be cognizant and supportive of the wisdom and experience of Morocco, that great influence for stability in North Africa, in the Middle East, regarding issues related to international terrorism. We must understand that Morocco's insistence upon its territorial integrity and its refusal to accept a terrorist state in the Western Sahara is critically important, not only for the national security of Morocco, but also for the security of the United States and of our European allies. Today, Mr. Speaker, we celebrate another milestone in the wonderful relationship between the United States and Morocco as we prepare to consider H.R. 4842, legislation to implement the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement. This agreement will benefit both our peoples as it facilitates and encourages ever-growing commerce between our countries and the creation of many new jobs in Morocco and in the United States. This agreement will help turn an already solid relationship into an even greater friendship. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank a few distinguished leaders for making this important free trade agreement a reality. Understanding the importance of this agreement and with the August recess quickly approaching, the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) made great efforts to expedite the consideration of this agreement in the House. The gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert) has been especially solid in his leadership on this critical issue, as has been the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the majority leader, and the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), chairman of the Committee on Rules. Ambassador Bob Zoellick has been and continues to be a stalwart, strong advocate on behalf of the economic interests of the United States and especially job creation in America, and President Bush's leadership has truly been the linchpin for great accomplishments such as this. While we fight terror across the globe, the United States, under this President, has deepened economic and security-based relationships with our friends for the benefit of our protection and our freedom. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support both the rule and the underlying legislation that we bring before the House today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I think the gentleman from Virginia brought up some very important points, and I think they are important to emphasize and not only take note of. This agreement, in addition to the many, many important aspects that it contains for the economy, obviously, of Morocco, and the United States, is a very important agreement politically; and it encourages the extraordinary progress that Morocco has made in the area of labor rights, in the area of a free press, and in the area of democratization. Morocco has multiple political parties, espousing all conceivable viewpoints. It has an elected parliament and an elected prime minister. It has made commendable progress. It is a great friend and ally of the United States. For so many reasons, Mr. Speaker, it is important and appropriate for this Congress to be moving forward today passing this implementing legislation for the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Luis Milan Fernandez, a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba. Mr. Milan Fernandez is a medical doctor by profession. Because of his training 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. Because of his belief in liberty, he joined the Cuban Medical Association and other groups dedicated to peacefully advocating for freedom for every citizen of Cuba. In June 2001, Mr. Milan Fernandez signed a document called ``Manifesto 2001'', a document that called for recognition of fundamental freedoms in Cuba. According to Amnesty International, he, along with other medical professionals, staged a 1-day hunger strike to call attention to the medical situation of detainees. On March 18, 2003, as part of the dictator's condemnable crackdown on peaceful prodemocracy activists, Mr. Milan Fernandez was arrested because of his belief in liberty over repression. In a sham trial, he was ``sentenced'' to 13 years in the inhuman, totalitarian gulag. Mr. Milan Fernandez is languishing in the infernal gulag because he believes in human rights and liberty. He is suffering in abhorrent conditions because he refuses to accept the reality inflicted on the Cuban people by the tyrant. Let us be very clear, the politics of repression and tyranny practiced by the regime in Havana are incompatible with the democratic values of the western hemisphere. Mr. Speaker, it is a crime against humanity that prodemocracy activists such as Mr. Milan Fernandez are locked in totalitarian dungeons because they advocate for freedom and human rights. My colleagues, we must demand the immediate release of Luis Milan Fernandez and every prisoner of conscience imprisoned by the nightmare called the Castro regime.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recall a tragic and infamous event, the 30th anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey. On July 20, 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus. As part of a two stage offensive, Turkish troops forcefully seized approximately one-third of the island nation of Cyprus. This abominable act of violence against the people of Cyprus has never been undone. To this day, Turkish troops occupy Cyprus, splitting the nation into two areas. Since 1974, the nation has been divided, but progress is being made toward the reunification of Cyprus. In late April, the people of Cyprus went to the polls to vote on a plan of reunification. Unfortunately, this reunification proposal was rushed to coincide with the ascension of Cyprus into the European Union. Citing many issues of concern, including security, approximately 75 percent of Greek Cypriots opposed the plan. In the end, it was too much to ask that concerns that have been unresolved for 30 years be effectively settled in a process that lasted less than 3 months. However, one failure must not be the end of attempts to reunify the island. A lasting and equitable solution for the people of Cyprus, and the goal of a united Cyprus, is too important to abandon, now or ever. The goal of the process must be to attain a just and lasting solution, not a rushed solution. I remain committed to achieving a solution to this problem so that we never have to gather again to commemorate an anniversary of this hostile and unjustifiable invasion. The people of Cyprus have suffered from the division of their nation for 30 years. Mr. Speaker, I pray that this will be the last year of a divided Cyprus. I sincerely hope that 30 years after the nation of Cyprus was torn asunder, all Cypriots can be reunited, living in peace and freedom forever.

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 this resolution that is very important and urge my colleagues to vote favorably on the underlying legislation as well. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 730 is a rule that provides for the consideration of the conference report for H.R. 2443, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004. This is a standard rule for a conference report providing for 1 hour of general debate, evenly divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and the Infrastructure. The legislation before us authorizes over $8 billion for the Coast Guard, including a commitment to 45,500 active duty personnel in fiscal years 2004 and 2005. This is extremely important legislation to strengthen the Coast Guard in its ever-increasing role of defense of our homeland. This bill makes a new commitment to the long-term effectiveness of the Coast Guard. The Department of Homeland Security has called on the Coast Guard to be the defender of American ports while at the same time sending needed resources, soldiers and vessels to the battles against terrorism far away. I am pleased to highlight the Integrated Deepwater Acquisition Program. This program provides the needed capital to carry out effective acquisition of the cutters, computer equipment and other resources that the Coast Guard so desperately needs. The Deepwater System has not received the funding outlined in 1998, but this bill makes up for the delay. The conference report authorizes over $1 billion for the program, accelerating the Deepwater System 5 years ahead of the original 20-year completion time line. The Coast Guard is particularly important to the community and constituents that I am honored to represent in south Florida. The Coast Guard Integrated Support Command in Miami is essential to the safety and security of residents. The Coast Guard in south Florida coordinates integrated plans aimed at hurricane safety, recreational boater safety and, obviously, protection of our coastline. The conference report before us was signed by every member of the conference. It is a good bill, essential really to our continued commitment to the security and safety of all citizens and residents of the United States. I would like to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo), as well as the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) for their important work. I urge my colleagues to support both the rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), 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 asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 730 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Julio Cesar Galvez Rodriguez, a prisoner of conscience in totalitarian Cuba. Mr. Galvez Rodriguez is an independent journalist in a country oppressed by a regime that mandates official propaganda. According to Reporters Without Borders, Mr. Galvez Rodriguez was fired from his job in the ``official media'' because of his ties with the United Cuba Workers Council, an organization that advocates for workers rights in totalitarian Cuba. Because of his first hand experience with the tyrant's propaganda, he has worked to reveal the truth about the nightmare that is the Castro regime. Mr. Galvez Rodriguez has contributed to numerous publications including, El Nuevo Herald, Carta de Cuba and Cuba Nuestra. Unfortunately, being an independent journalist in a totalitarian society is a hazardous profession. Because the stark, poverty stricken, reality of Cuba does not agree with the dictator's propaganda, independent journalists are regularly harassed, threatened, and imprisoned. On March 19, 2003, as part of the tyrant's condemnable crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy activists, Mr. Galvez Rodriguez was arrested by the dictator's thugs. In a sham trial, Mr. Galvez Rodriguez was accused of ``subversive'' articles intended to ``undermine and internally destroy the Revolution.'' He was subsequently ``sentenced'' to 15 years in the inhuman gulag for his ``crime'' of truth. It is repugnant to the values of the civilized world that truth tellers are locked in heinous gulags on the whim of totalitarian tyrants. Amnesty International reports that Mr. Galvez Rodriguez is suffering from high blood pressure, renal and intestinal colic and cervical arthritis. Let us be very clear, he is deteriorating under abhorrent conditions because he believes in freedom for the Cuban people. Mr. Speaker, it is repulsive to the ideal of freedom that independent journalists are locked in totalitarian gulags 90 miles from our shore. My Colleagues, we must demand the immediate and unconditional freedom of Julio Cesar Galvez Rodriguez and every prisoner of conscience in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, before yielding to the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee, I yield myself such time as I may consume to say that with regard to the issue of the displaced people in Colombia, it is an extraordinary human tragedy, and the reason that there are displaced people in Colombia is because of the terrorists. What this bill is trying to do, and it does in a very important way, is to help the democratically elected government of Colombia fight the terrorists. Also, there is aid for refugees in this legislation. I know the people of Colombia are very grateful for it. I had the privilege of visiting them some months back. But obviously, it is not only in the interest of Colombia, but of the United States, to defeat the terrorists, the cause of the displacement of hundreds of thousands of innocent people in Colombia; and we do not lose sight of that. Neither does, obviously, the government of Colombia, because the people there are suffering at the hands of those brutal murderers that are being fought day in and day out by the Colombian people; and, obviously, the American people, through this Congress, are helping the Colombian people fight those terrorists. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe), the chairman of the subcommittee.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 715 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), the ranking member of the Committee on Rules, 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 asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 715 is an open rule that provides for the consideration of H.R. 4818, the Fiscal Year 2005 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations bill. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate, evenly 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 to reiterate that we bring this rule forward in totally open fashion. Historically, appropriations legislation has come to the House governed by an open rule, and 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 appropriates over $19 billion for operations across the globe. This bill is fiscally sound, while at the same time compassionate and responsive to needs of millions of people plagued by disease, famine and disaster. H.R. 4818 bolsters the President's Millennium Challenge Corporation to $1.25 billion, nearly a quarter of a billion dollars more than in fiscal year 2004. This expansion of foreign assistance is meant to help bring economic security, basic tenets of democracy and the rule of law to some of the world's poorest. In May of this year, the Corporation began the first round of funding assistance by extending aid to 16 developing countries chosen from a total of 63 eligible nations. Each country that will receive this new funding is obligated to meet benchmarks for political, economic and social development, especially in transparency and anti-corruption efforts. Never before has the United States concentrated aid grants to countries that have the capability for reform in this fashion. This program is really, I think, the future of U.S. foreign assistance and a most effective means to responsibly disseminate U.S. taxpayer money in the foreign area. The underlying legislation provides $2.2 billion to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Combined with anticipated funding in the Labor-HHS bill, Congress will commit to fulfill President Bush's commitment to 14 countries on the African continent and the Caribbean by appropriating $2.8 billion. This continues the important mission to provide the training and technical assistance to private and voluntary organizations that work to eradicate that nightmarish disease. The United States already has a proven record on HIV/AIDS assistance, but this year's funding will go far beyond previous obligations. In a speech given yesterday, U.S. AIDS Coordinator Randall Tobias remarked on the $2.4 billion that this Congress provided in fiscal year 2004. He said, ``This year, America is spending nearly twice as much to fight global AIDS as the rest of the world's donor governments combined.'' Our resolve to help all those across the globe who fight this disease is strong and serious. In addition to funding, the Federal Government enlists the expertise of various agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, which assures that the medicines we send to Africa and the Caribbean are safe and effective to help those with HIV/AIDS. Mr. Speaker, the underlying legislation also provides $2.2 billion for military and economic assistance to Israel. I think we have to continue to ensure that our friends and allies remain secure. A strong Israel is necessary, not only for the region, but obviously we are committed to do everything we can to see that Israel is safe and secure within its boundaries. I would like to thank the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young) and the gentleman from Arizona (Chairman Kolbe) for their leadership on this important issue. I urge all of my colleagues to support both this rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the chairman of the Committee on Rules. (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we reserve the balance of our time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank all of our colleagues who have come to the floor to debate this important rule. This measure before us that we bring to the floor is extraordinarily important and should be supported by the overwhelming majority of our colleagues today. I particularly am proud of the leadership that the President has provided and really the congressional leadership has also joined in to create an unprecedented assistance program to fight HIV/AIDS in the world. I think we all have to be very proud of that, and it is a very significant part of the legislation that we bring forward with this rule today. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Migdalia Hernandez Enamorado, a prisoner of conscience in totalitarian Cuba. Mrs. Hernandez Enamorado is a wife, a mother of three and a peaceful pro-democracy activist. Because she believes that a free and democratic Cuba is the best hope for her young children and every citizen trapped in totalitarian Cuba, she has worked to liberate Cuba from the tyrannical regime. As a result of the tyrant's brutal March 2003 crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy activists, Mrs. Hernandez Enamorado, along with her husband Rafael Benitez Chui, went to a police unit in Guantanamo, Cuba, and protested the arrests of Manuel Ubals and Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta. Unfortunately, the tyrant's thugs arrested the married couple while they peacefully protested the abhorrent crackdown on their fellow advocates for freedom and human rights in totalitarian Cuba. On September 18, 2003, after being held in the inhuman gulag for 7 months, Mrs. Hernandez Enamorado was ``sentenced'' to 2 years in the despotic gulag for the supposed crime of ``contempt.'' In the same sham trial, her husband was sentenced to 4 years. Let me be very clear, Mrs. Hernandez Enamorado's three children are living without their parents because these noble pro-democracy activists believe in freedom. According to a report from Guantanamo by Ada Kaly Marquez Abascal, Mrs. Hernandez Enamorado is being abused by prison guards, suffering from high blood pressure, and ailing from a myriad of physical maladies caused by the deplorable conditions in the totalitarian gulag. It is also reported that she is only allowed to see her children for 5 minutes a week and some weeks she is not even allowed that brief visit. Mr. Speaker, it is unconscionable that Mrs. Hernandez Enamorado is languishing in the totalitarian gulag because of her belief in freedom. It is categorically unacceptable that her three daughters are growing up without their parents, and unable to even visit their mother for more than 5 minutes, simply because Mrs. Hernandez Enamorado wants them to be raised in liberty instead of repression. My Colleagues, we must demand the immediate release of Migdalia Hernandez Enamorado, her husband Rafael Benitez Chui, and every prisoner of conscience suffering under the terrorist regime in Havana.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Science. (Mr. BOEHLERT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)