Lincoln Diaz-Balart

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

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 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson).

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica), chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation. (Mr. MICA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks, and include extraneous material.)

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I certainly have not seen it all, but I am learning a lot this morning, hearing the debate. Approximately 150 towers were privatized during the Clinton years. This legislation does not mandate any privatization of towers, and yet trying to reconcile with this reality and these facts, what I am hearing. Mr. Speaker, at this time, in order to elicit some information and some facts about what the legislation is doing, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the chairman of the Committee on Transportation. (Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 422 is a rule providing for consideration of the conference report accompanying H.R. 2115, the Vision 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act. Mr. Speaker, I would briefly remind this Congress of the essential authorizations provided through this bill. First and foremost, the legislation reauthorizes the FAA for 4 years and $3.4 billion in fiscal 2004, increasing by $100 million each year thereafter. The FAA is, of course, primarily responsible for the safety of the Nation's skies through activities ranging from the continued monitoring by air traffic controllers to the development of new airspace technologies. The district that I am honored to represent contains Miami International Airport, consistently one of the Nation's busiest, both for international and domestic travel. I am always impressed by the level of public-private cooperation between such organizations as the FAA and Miami International. This cooperation is evident, as well, through many provisions in this legislation, for example, $500 million for airport security improvements at airports; grants and tax credits for low emissions; compensation to general aviation for losses from security mandates; and war risk insurance to the airlines through March 30, 2008. This Congress was quick to assist airlines after the tragedy of 9-11, and rightfully so. The economic benefits from the movement of people and goods the airlines provide obviously demanded our attention. However, we must also consider those smaller aircraft which were restricted for months. Accordingly, this Congress will act through the underlying legislation to help general aviation return to financial stability by providing compensation for the hardships on their business. This bill authorizes $100 million for these general aviators that were greatly affected by increased security restrictions. I would like to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young) and the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Mica) for their extraordinary leadership on this important reauthorization, and I urge my colleagues to support this important rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 422 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about Dr. Marcelo Cano Rodriguez, a prisoner of conscience in totalitarian Cuba. Dr. Cano Rodriguez is a Medical Doctor. As a physician, he has chosen to devote his life and his abilities to healing the sick, mending the lame, and easing the suffering of his patients. However, as Dr. Cano Rodriguez quickly learned, easing the suffering of the Cuban people is not a goal of Castro's dictatorship. The longer Dr. Cano Rodriguez worked within the totalitarian healthcare system, the more he noticed medical resources being taken from the Cuban people and redirected towards tourists who could pay with hard foreign currency. Dr. Cano Rodriguez, no longer able to work within a system that abandons citizens in favor of tourists, became the National Coordinator for the Cuban Independent Medical Association. The Cuban Independent Medical Association is comprised of physicians who joined forces to set up independent clinics where equipment and drugs prescribed by doctors are distributed without charge. As Dr. Cano Rodriguez searched for ways to make his group more effective, he approached the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation for guidance. After learning of the Commission's professed goal of basic human rights, he became an important member of that group. Unfortunately for Dr. Cano Rodriguez, his being associated with two groups who profess to work to provide the Cuban people with their basic rights and their basic medicine proved to be too much for Castro and his machinery of repression. On March 25, 2003, Dr. Cano Rodriguez was arrested in Las Tunas. The ``illegal'' activities cited by Castro's puppet prosecutor in the sham trial were that he visited prisoners as part of his work with the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation and that he maintained ties to Doctors Without Borders. Dr. Cano Rodriguez was sentenced to 18 years in Castro's dungeons. Mr. Speaker, I want to repeat that, Dr. Cano Rodriguez was sentenced to 18 years in Castro's gulag for visiting prisoners and maintaining ties to Doctors Without Borders. My colleagues, every one of us should be totally appalled that a physician who attempts to aid the oppressed and heal the sick is languishing in a dungeon for his merciful actions. My colleagues, we must demand immediate freedom for Dr. Marcelo Cano Rodriguez.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

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

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 416 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my good friend, the distinguished 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 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, House Resolution 416 is an open rule providing for the consideration of H.R. 2443, the Coast Guard Maritime and Transportation Act of 2003. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate, evenly divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The rule also provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, the legislation before us authorizes over $7 billion for the Coast Guard and $18.74 million for the Federal Maritime Commission in fiscal year 2004. The legislation is essential in the effort to strengthen the Coast Guard in its ever-increasing role to defend the homeland. In this bill we face a turning point in the effectiveness of the Coast Guard. The Department of Homeland Security has called on it to be the defender of American coasts while, at the same time, sending needed resources, soldiers, and vessels to the battle against terrorism in the Middle East. I am pleased to highlight the Integrated Deepwater System acquisition program. The Deepwater System provides the needed capital to institute 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 that was outlined in 1998, but this bill makes up for the years of acquisition lost. H.R. 2443 authorizes $702 million for fiscal year 2004 to ensure that this acquisition remains on pace, allowing the Coast Guard to remain effective both at home and abroad. The Coast Guard is particularly important to my district and constituents in south Florida, Mr. Speaker. The Coast Guard Integrated Support Command in Miami is essential to the safety and security of the area. The Coast Guard in south Florida coordinates integrated plans aimed at hurricane safety, recreational boater safety, and, most important, protection of our coastline from terrorism and drug trafficking. H.R. 2443 was reported out of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure by a voice vote. This is very good legislation, it is essential to our continued commitment to the security and safety of all citizens and residents of the United States, and we have brought it forth, Mr. Speaker, under a fair and, in fact, open rule. I would like to thank the chairman, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), for their important work on this legislation; and 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 of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in celebrating the Marlins' win of the World Series. I think we have to recognize that Major League Baseball has perhaps provided the country and the world with the best postseason ever in this month that has just ended. It was an extraordinary series of games, series of series topped off by a wonderful and extraordinary World Series, won by a young and dynamic team that has earned the admiration of the entire world. Obviously, in south Florida we are extremely proud of our Florida Marlins. They embody in many ways south Florida, from Jack McKeon, the manager, who at age 72 became the oldest manager to lead a team to the World Series, after being called just a few months earlier when he was, in fact, out of a job and many thought that he would never again manage in the Major Leagues, was asked by the front office of the Marlins to come and turn the team around, that they needed someone at the helm with the experience and leadership qualities of Jack McKeon. And what a job he did. And I think for that job, he needs to be commended. And the front office starting with Jeffrey Loria, the chairman and CEO and managing general partner of the Marlins, and David Samson, the president of the Marlins, and Larry Beinfest, the senior vice president and general manager, what a job they did putting together this young team that faced and defeated a New York Yankees team with over three times the payroll. And, yet, because of the young talent in the Florida Marlins, the Marlins were able to prevail. What can we say? We can pick example after example that really leaves us in awe. That cleanup hitter, 20-year-old cleanup hitter who just a few months earlier was in AA baseball, in the Minors, and he was called up because he showed such extraordinary talent and Miguel Cabrera became the first 20-year-old since Ty Cobb to bat in the cleanup position in the World Series. What a future he has. As with so many others in the Florida Marlins, we can go down the roster and analyze and really celebrate the excitement that all of the players represent, from Juan Pierre, that dynamic and really exciting, extraordinarily exciting center fielder, to obviously Ivan Rodriguez, the catcher, who electrified us all with his plays and his hitting day after day, what a World Series it was. So I am glad that the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros- Lehtinen) have come forth with this resolution which I have joined. And I think we not only should commend the Marlins for their extraordinary victory and share, obviously, in the celebration that all of south Florida is engaged in, but also remember that this is an opportunity for some tasks that remain undone to be finished. First I think it is important, and I have full faith and confidence that the front office, the leadership of the Marlins, is not going to do what the ownership did after the last World Series, and that is to basically eliminate that great team, but rather it is our hope, and I am sure that we will see that the nucleus of this team will remain together so that the community can see that team again playing next year and winning, as I am sure that it will. And we also have in south Florida a great task, which my brother, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart), was heavily involved in just a few years ago when he was in the State legislature in attempting to put together all the pieces that are required for a new stadium. And south Florida needs a new baseball stadium. And I hope that this impetus now that has been gained by this marvelous victory can serve for the community to come together and perhaps dust off the plan that almost succeeded just a few years ago that was a very good and interesting plan, and that a baseball stadium can be built because this team, this dynamic, wonderful team deserves it, and the community deserves it. And so congratulations to that wonderful team, the Florida Marlins.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Ohio for yielding me the time. For me, I consider it a privilege and an honor to be able to speak on behalf of the resolution welcoming to the United States the elected President of the Republic of China of Taiwan. I have always had admiration for the Republic of China of Taiwan. I believe that first they demonstrated an extraordinary, an extraordinary and commendable and admirable will and devotion to work and to sacrifice that permitted them to achieve economic prosperity which is the envy of the world, and then they have made, as our distinguished colleagues have mentioned today, also extraordinary and admirable progress in democratization and have, in fact, established a representative democracy that is to be admired by all of the world. So I join my colleagues in welcoming President Chen Shui-bian to the United States. The entire Congress and the American people welcome him and say to him that we consider it a great privilege to be able to be an ally and a friend of Taiwan, that that will always be reality, and here in Congress I think it is important, Mr. Speaker, that we reiterate our support for Taiwan, for the Taiwan Relations Act and that we never falter, never falter in support and in reminding the world that the safety and security of Taiwan is a matter of extreme importance to this Congress, to the American Government and to the American people.

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 Florida (Mr. Mica), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation.

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

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 377 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 Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), 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. Speaker, House Resolution 377 is a rule providing for the conference report accompanying H.R. 2115, the Flight 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act to be recommitted to the conference committee. In an effort to ensure support for the bill, the House committees of jurisdiction have committed to making this important legislation even better through another conference. I would like to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young) for his extraordinary leadership on this issue, as well as the other Members who have worked hard to make this a reality as we continue to address the concerns of Members on both sides of the aisle. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important rule. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson). (Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks and include extraneous material.)

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. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the debate. I think it is very important that the facts alluded to by Mr. Mica are here in writing, written down, black and white here. So the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) has the copies available for the membership if any of the Members want to review the facts.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I speak today about Nelson Alberto Aguiar Ramirez, a prisoner of conscience in totalitarian Cuba. Employed as an electrician, literally turning the lights on, he was forced by Castro's tyrannical policies to pursue a different path. After years of incessant repression, Mr. Aguiar Ramirez decided to turn the lights on Castro's ruthless machinery of repression. Mr. Aguiar Ramirez joined organizations that opposed Castro's dictatorship and supported basic human rights for the people of Cuba. Mr. Aguiar Ramirez is currently the President of the Cuban Orthodox Party, and a member of a more recent initiative, the Assembly to Promote Civil Society. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Aguiar Ramirez chose to fight Castro's government even though he was acutely aware of the consequences of doing so. In December 1999, Mr. Aguiar Ramirez was detained by Castro's ruthless repressive apparatus in order to prevent him from commemorating the December 10th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document, enshrining the essential rights of all humans, is such a danger to Castro's repressive dictatorship that Castro prevented Mr. Aguiar Ramirez from commemorating the anniversary. Mr. Speaker, it sadly came as no surprise to anyone who has watched the horrors that Castro inflicts on those who cry for freedom when Mr. Aguiar Ramirez was detained on March 20, 2003. He was subsequently sentenced to 13 years in Castro's inhumane dungeons. Mr. Aguiar Ramirez is classified as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. His wife, Dalia, is deeply concerned about his declining health and his constant malnourishment. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Aguiar Ramirez must be released from Castro's gulag at once. My colleagues, we can not allow human beings such as Mr. Aguiar Ramirez, who rise up to claim their human rights from the clutches of tyrannical despots, to languish in the gulag for their beliefs. My colleagues, we must stand united and demand the immediate release of Nelson Alberto Aguiar Ramirez.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, there are moments in history where we are aware that decisions we are making will affect the world in the future. Today we stand at such a moment, charged with the enormous task of helping to rebuild Iraq. We must be up to the challenge. Our own history offers us guidance about how to best rebuild a wartime adversary. After World War I, Germany was soundly defeated and the parties gathered in Versailles to negotiate the terms of surrender. The talks came to a question of who was responsible for the aftermath. Was Germany responsible? Should a country with a new government be burdened by the debts of a defeated regime? Should they be responsible for reconstruction and reparations? We all realize how the reparations inflicted upon Germany at that time created an atmosphere of despair. We are also aware of how this atmosphere was exploited by the evil monster Adolf Hitler. Mr. Chairman, we know how this story ended in Germany and it could end up that way in Iraq: a leader, or a sect, seeks to rebuild a fractured national pride with acts of violence committed in the name of a downtrodden people. The assistance we are voting for today will significantly contribute to preventing an ending such as that. This assistance is for the defense of our troops abroad and our citizens at home, as we make the world safer for all of our friends and allies. A free and democratic Iraq will be a beacon for hope in the Middle East. It will show to the people of the region that democracy is possible, that the United States does not impose its will, only the ability for peoples to decide their own destiny. Great challenges require courageous decision. The easy road has sometimes been taken in the past and we know its disastrous consequences. The long and fiscally difficult road has also been tried by the United States of America. An alliance scarred by battle once again sat across from debt heavy and defeated nations and the alliance did not make the same mistake of 1918. The U.S. eventually formulated a systematic recovery program that became known as the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan was not entirely made up of U.S. aid, it also called on the devastated European nations to eventually contribute to their own recovery. Yet the first installment of $4 billion in aid required great political will. At the time $4 billion represented 13 percent of the entire budget. That act of Congressional courage helped to remake Western Europe into a subcontinent of strong economies, strong democracies, and thus strong allies. Again, we all know how the success of that plan contributed to the creation of a stable, free and democratic Western Europe. We all acknowledge there are many domestic issues that we must address as a Congress. Protecting our Homeland is perhaps the greatest mission before us. It is my belief that working for stability in Iraq and the Middle East is essential in order to protect our citizens at home. We do not set the correct example if we only support freedom and safety at home. That is why I applaud President Bush for setting the course of reconstruction in Iraq. Encouraging progress is already happening, schools are opening, electricity is turning on, new currency is being distributed today, but we have the ability to do so much more. As Iraqi people see continued progress in rebuilding, we help keep Americans safe at home. Mr. Chairman, the great American poet Robert Frost once wrote, ``Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.'' We know that one road today leads to debt and internal strife. We know the harder road leads to reconstruction and reconciliation. In a section of the world that has already imperiled too many lives, in a country whose previous, savage regime caused too much suffering and too many deaths, we in Congress are obligated by the lessons of our history to support an emerging Iraqi democracy with our wisdom, our experience and our resources. The vote we are about to cast will have enormous repercussions. If this assistance has the same effect that the Marshall Plan funding had in Western Europe, it will help create a stable, democratic Iraqi government and a lifelong ally of the United States. My colleagues, today we must act with the same vision as our forebearers in this House. We must support our troops in the field and the reconstruction of Iraq.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. speaker, I rise today to belatedly mark the occasion of Taiwan's National Day, October 10, 2003. It nonetheless gives me great pleasure to report that Taiwan is a thriving democracy that guarantees and protects essential human rights of all its citizens. Taiwan stands as a remarkable testament to what humankind is capable of when freedom and democracy combine to fuel the economic engine. Even with only 23 million citizens, Taiwan remains one of Asia's strongest economic ``tigers''. With the world's 17th largest economy and the world's 15th largest trade volume, Taiwan has made significant contributions to the global economy. Mr. Speaker, Taiwan remains a critical U.S. ally, and it is my hope that Taiwan will continue to serve as a beacon for freedom and democracy throughout East Asia. Today I would like to extend my solidarity to the 23 million freedom loving citizens of Taiwan and their democratically elected leader, President Chen Shui-bian in commemoration of Taiwan's recent National Day of celebration.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak of a Cuban prisoner of conscience. I rise today in honor of Bernardo Arevalo Padron. Mr. Arevalo Padron founded the Cuban independent news agency Linea Sur Press in October 1996 to condemn the atrocious human rights violations committed by Castro's tyrannical regime. Mr. Arevalo Padron's insistence on reporting about the deteriorating plight of the Cuban people under Castro's machinery of repression led directly to his arrest. Bernardo Arevalo Padron was jailed for six years in November 1997 for ``insulting'' Fidel Castro and calling him a ``liar'' for not keeping his promises about democracy and so many other matters. Mr. Arevalo Padron was sentenced to six years behind bars because he dared to print the truth about a government that ruthlessly represses any kind of dissent. After five years of sadistic cruelty in Castro's gulag, Mr. Arevalo Padron has been diagnosed with leptospirosis, which is spread by rats. According to a report issued by Reporters Without Borders, Mr. Arevalo Padron should have been freed on parole in October 2000, but the government refuses to release him because he has not cooperated in the so called re-education program. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Arevalo Padron has been slowly festering in Castro's inhumane dungeons since 1997 because he called Fidel Castro ``a liar''. Has ever a man been through so much for a single word of truth? One of the key reasons why I bring the plight of Mr. Arevalo Padron to the attention of Congress is because there is no independent press in Cuba. None, Mr. Speaker. Here in the United States we often say, ``the truth will set you free''; in Castro's deplorable dictatorship the truth will set you in the gulag for six years. I implore my colleagues to stand for truth, democracy and decency and call with one voice for the instant release of Bernardo Arevalo Padron.