Lincoln Diaz-Balart

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, since the time of the visits of two of our colleagues to Cuba a few weeks ago, dissidents and independent journalists there are facing increased repression. Dissident leaders Miriam Garcia, Mercedes Parada Antunes, Leonel Morejon Almagro, Pedro Brito Hernandez, and many others, have reported being the victims of increasing repression. But perhaps the most spine-chilling example of Castro's new wave of brutality is the way in which Vicky Ruiz, a member of the dissident umbrella group Concilio Cubano, is being threatened. State security has not only repeatedly threatened Vicky Ruiz's physical safety, but Castro agents have also told her that, if she does not stop her human rights advocacy, her young children, a 9-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy, will be physically assaulted, as will be her 13-year-old nephew, who also lives with her in the same house. I, Mr. Speaker, have personally heard her plea for help sent by telephone. All human rights groups, international organizations, our government, and all governments have a duty to immediately condemn these acts of cowardly brutality with all vehemence, and to intercede on behalf of Vicky Ruiz and her young family.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I take the floor today because a most distinguished colleague of ours took the floor earlier this morning and said that he had a meeting with dissidents in Havana, Cuba, last week, and he mentioned a couple of names of dissidents who were opposed to our sanctions against Castro. Mr. Speaker, it is not fair to mention those names and not mention that in that same meeting, in that same meeting, the most prestigious members of the internal opposition of Cuba came out in favor of sanctions and in favor of our Helms-Burton bill. I think that is only fair to mention. It is also fair, and I have got the names. I only have 1 minute, so I will submit them into the Record. I have the names of those people who got up and told our colleague that they supported sanctions. Also, another most prestigious member, Osvaldo Paya Sardinas, when an aids of our colleague wanted a show of hands, said, ``That's an internal intervention into our affairs and if the Congressmen of the United States want to support Cuba, they should support the internal opposition, support democracy, and start getting on the issue or putting pressure on Castro,'' like we have done on other dictatorships in the past, such as South Africa or Chile. Mr. Speaker, I just want to set this record straight.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 340 is a rule providing for the consideration of the conference reports to accompany S. 1124, the fiscal year 1996 Defense authorization bill. The rule waives points of order against the conference report and against its consideration and was reported out of the Committee on Rules by a unanimous voice vote. As Members will recall, Mr. Speaker, the previous Defense authorization bill was vetoed by the President. In his veto message the President cited a handful of objections. We believe they have been accommodated in this legislation and, thus, it is hoped that the President will, therefore, now sign this bill. It would be ultimately shortsighted and inexcusably reckless, Mr. Speaker, to underestimate the national security dangers that face the United States. Yes, the Soviet Union collapsed, but Russia remains engaged in serious internal struggles that will decide its future course of behavior in the world community. China is acquiring wealth at an extraordinary rate. Some project that it may surpass the United States in gross domestic product by early in the next century. And with wealth inevitably comes vast military power. North Korea. Though the Clinton administration is providing massive amounts of oil and technical assistance to North Korea, that regime remains an enemy of the United States. The regime in Tehran is a deadly enemy of the United States, Mr. Speaker, with enormous oil reserves. And there remain many other enemies of this great Nation throughout the world. There are many who would love to see the United States on its knees, our youth destroyed by drugs, our economy shattered by debt. Here in this hemisphere the regime in Havana, Mr. Speaker, is one such implacable enemy of the American people, though many in this city and even in this House do not see it that way. I would like to commend the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Frost] by the way, for supporting consistently strong sanctions against that regime, like we are now in this Congress trying to do against the regime in Tehran as well. The Cuban dictator has a network of terrorists and drug traffickers at his command throughout this hemisphere, in Colombia, in Peru and Bolivia, in Guatemala. In Mexico, we all know the subcommander Marcos in Chiapas in Mexico, he is subcommander so as to not offend his commander, Castro. In Venezuela the Cuban regime maintains very close ties with Colonel Chavez who attempted a coup d'etat in recent years and remains intent on doing so again. There is no doubt nevertheless that the Cuban dictator at this point is bankrupt. But if he survives, Mr. Speaker, 2 or 3 more years, the pendulum toward the neoliberal or conservative governments throughout this hemisphere that has characterized the last decade, that pendulum may very well swing the other direction toward statism. And if that happens and if the Cuban dictator is able to obtain the international credits that he is so desperately seeking and that some in this House are supporting, he would no longer be a bankrupt tyrant with a network of terrorists and drug traffickers throughout this hemisphere but, rather, a tyrant with economic means and a network of terrorists and drug traffickers throughout this hemisphere. That would constitute a major threat not only to all the governments of this hemisphere that are now curiously enough appeasing that dictator in the hope that he will be nice to them but also a major threat even to the national security of the United States. I only wish, Mr. Speaker, that this administration would be capable of seeing that reality instead of opposing sanctions against Castro and sending emissaries to meet with the dictator to work out a little secret deal with him. But irrespective of that, Mr. Speaker, we need a strong national defense. And this bill, despite the changes that we have had to make to it, I believe is a necessary ingredient in a strong posture for the United States of America. I would like to commend the gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. Spence], chairman, and the gentleman from California [Mr. Dellums], ranking member, along with the dedicated staff of the entire Committee on National Security and its membership for their efforts in bringing forth this second defense authorization. This renegotiated conference report achieves many important goals, including improving the quality of life for military personnel and reforming the Federal procurement system. Mr. Speaker, I support both this rule and the conference report. I would urge adoption of the rule. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I would urge the adoption of this rule. 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. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from California [Mr. Hunter].

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Weldon], a wise leader on the Committee on National Security and my good friend. (Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my good friend, the distinguished gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Hoke].

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Hilleary], a distinguished and very effective new member of the Committee on National Security.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton] of the Committee on National Security.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my good friend, the distinguished gentleman from California [Mr. McKeon].

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Bartlett]. (Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished gentleman from California [Mr. Dornan].

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California [Mr. Dornan], a great American patriot who we are honored to have serve in this Chamber. (Mr. DORNAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks and include extraneous material.)

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Sam Johnson, who was wounded and imprisoned by enemies of this Nation while he fought to defend our Nation and our people.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Goss], my distinguished colleague on the Committee on Rules. (Mr. GOSS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon], my chairman and leader of the Committee on Rules. (Mr. SOLOMON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks and include extraneous material.)

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, for the purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas [Mr. Frost], 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. DIAZ-BALART asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks and to include extraneous material.)

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 340 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I move that the message of the President be referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered printed.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, last week two Members of this House, a gentleman from Massachusetts and a gentleman from New Mexico, went to Cuba to meet with Castro. One told the press he was looking for flexibility on Castro's part to help him oppose the sanctions bill that the Congress is currently pursuing against the Cuban dictatorship. The other said he was seeking the release of some fugitives from American justice now in Cuba. I will now briefly outline some of the ways in which Castro reacted to these congressional visits and treated dissidents and independent journalists in Cuba just during these last few days. january 14 Raul Rivero, Cuban poet and president of the independent Cuba Press agency, was arrested. Juan Antonio Sanchez Rodriguez, another independent reporter, arrested in Pinar del Rio. Jorge Adrian Ayala Corzo, president of the Democratic Renovation Party, was arrested. Rafael Solano and Julio Martinez of the independent Havana Press were arrested. january 15 Gladys Linares, Miguel Andres Palenque, Orlando Morejon were arrested. Bernardo Fuentes, an independent journalist in Camaguey Province, was arrested. Abel de Jesus Acosta, member of the Pro-Human Rights Party in Villa Clara Province, was arrested by State Security Lt. Boris Ruiz, his home ransacked and his motorcycle confiscated. Jesus Zuniga, of the National Conciliacion Movement, was arrested. The parents of Yndamiro Restano, were detained and interrogated for over 14 hours. Their son Yndamiro Restano, is the president of the Bureau of Independent Cuban Journalists who is out of Cuba on a visitor's permit due to a petition made to Castro by Dannielle Mitterand. They were told that if the bureau does not cease its work, they, as parents of Restano, will be faced with long-term detention and their son will be banned from returning. january 16 The gentleman from Massachusetts arrived in Cuba. That day a meeting by the opposition umbrella grouping Concilio Cubano was disrupted in Havana by state security agents. Participants including Elizardo Sanchez and Marta Beatriz Roque were threatened with arrest. Alberto Perera Martinez, vice-president of the Bloque Democratico Jose Marti was arrested. Lazaro Gonzalez, president of the Pro-Human Rights Party, was detained and threatened. January 17 The gentleman from New Mexico arrived in Cuba. Jose Miranda Acosta, a political prisoner in a dungeon known as Kilo 5\1/2\ in Pinar del Rio was tortured by having water drops fall throughout the day and night into his cell. He has been sentenced to 15 years of confinement, without family visits, due to enemy propaganda. As a result of his imprisonment, he is practically blind and suffering from extreme malnutrition. Miranda has had his food poisoned in the past as punishment for a 72-day hunger strike in 1994, which he carried out to try to draw attention to his case. January 18 Olance Nogueras, vice-president of the Bureau of Independent Cuban Reporters, was detained after asking a question at a press conference held by the gentleman from Massachusetts in Havana. Eugenio Rodriguez Chaple, president of the Democratic Bloc Jose Marti, was run off the road and injured by state security while on his way to meet with French Embassy officials. Leonel Morejon Almagro, Concilio Cubano member, was detained and told that his family would suffer serious consequences if he continued to participate in Concilio and that the Interior Minister Colome Ibarra was giving him his last chance. January 19 Both Congressmen returned from Cuba. That day, Roxana Valdivia, an independent journalist was questioned at state security headquarters in Ciego de Avila and threatened with exile or prison for disseminating enemy propaganda. During the days of the congressional visits, the thousands of Cuban prisoners of conscience continued suffering the same savage brutality that they continue to suffer to this very moment. Col. Enrique Labrada continues to receive electroshock torture at the Mazorra institution for the mentally ill. Labrada was sent there after staging a pro- democracy protest last year. The Reverend Orson Vila remains in prison for preaching the word of Christ. A 30-year-old writer, Carmen Arias, remains in a dungeon for sending a letter to Castro asking for free elections, as do Sergio Aguiar Cruz, Francisco Chaviano, Omar del Pozo, and thousands of others. Upon his return one Congressman declared that Castro is very flexible. The other Congressman said that he had gotten Castro to reduce the amount of dollars that Castro charges some Cubans who are leaving Cuba, and that that constitutes a humanitarian gesture. Mr. Speaker, what will it take for the world to help Cuba free itself of its tyrant? Imagine if this were happening in apartheid South Africa or Pinochet's Chile.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, it is with heavy heart that I rise to mark the passing of a truly honorable American, Alec P. Courtelis, a dear friend who recently lost his battle with cancer after a brave 2 year struggle. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. The productive life of Alec Courtelis is the personification of the American dream. Alec was born in Egypt, and realizing that educational opportunities in his native land were limited, he came to the United States as a foreign student to attend the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL. War in the Middle East broke out soon after Alec's arrival in the United States, preventing his father from being able to fully support Alec's higher education. Rather than return to Egypt, after getting approval from the immigration authorities, Alec held several jobs to pay for his education, including construction worker, parking lot attendant, testing laboratory inspector, dishwasher, and short order cook. While at the University of Miami, Alec met his wife, Louise Hufstader. After earning a degree in civil engineering, Alec joined Juriet & Associates, Inc., a soils engineering and community development consulting firm, gaining valuable experience. Six years later, Alec formed his own real estate development company, the Courtelis Co. Alec followed the Courtelis philosophy ``. . . to dedicate yourself to the principles of creativity, hard work, persistence and honesty . . . success will surely follow,'' and his company has grown to become a leader in major real estate developments over the past 30 years. To show his appreciation to the country that had given him so much, Alec became a civic leader, dedicating his time and resources to the field of education, serving on the Board of Regents for Florida's State university system, the Armand Hammer United World College of the America West and the International Board of the United World Colleges. Alec was a recipient of both the Horatio Alger Award and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and was cochairman of We Will Rebuild, a prominent civic organization which assisted in the rebuilding effort in Dade County after the devastation caused by Hurricane Andrew. In addition to his many accomplishments, Alec Courtelis will perhaps be best remembered for his valiant fight against pancreatic cancer, which he refused to let weaken his will. Instead of the 3 months which doctors had diagnosed that he had to live, Alec combined chemotherapy with mind over matter to fight the disease for 2 full years, inspiring other cancer patients in the process. Alec will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, the participation of citizens in free and fair elections, and their faith in the legitimacy of the subsequent electoral results, are fundamental to all democracies. No participatory democracy is able to survive if its citizens do not have faith in the electoral process. To be able to ensure that democracy continues to take root and flourish throughout the Western Hemisphere, we must do all within our power to encourage the development of conditions that inspire faith in electoral processes throughout the Americas. To that end, as it attempted to do in Haiti, the Clinton administration should do what it can to ensure to the Guatemalan people, that the second round of elections scheduled to take place on January 7 in that Central American country is free and fair. By doing so, the Clinton administration would help ensure that the Guatemalan people not only develop trust in their own electoral system, but further appreciate the benefits of living in a democracy.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, the Cuban dictator just returned from a trip to Asia. He was disappointed. The Japanese gave him a credit of $100,000. I think he wanted a little bit more than that. He is in poor health. Things do not seem to be going right for him. But nevertheless that does not keep him from engaging in his traditional repression. Castro has initiated a new campaign of terror and aggression against all of his internal opposition and his henchmen have been attacking the members of a new group that has formed that has brought together over 130 of the opposition groups within the island. It is Concilio Cubano, Cuban Council. So Castro is paranoid, and he is cracking down on them, and in, for him traditional, but nevertheless unacceptable manner. Dissidents of all ideological tendencies have joined together in this Cuban Council. So I think Castro has reason to be worried. In the last few weeks, Jose Martinez Puig, executive secretary of the Proconstitutional Democracy Association has been detained numerous times by Castro's henchmen. Castro's henchmen have also harassed Felix Fleites Posada, president of the Proconstitutional Democracy Association. Agents of the dictatorship have invaded the home of the well-known opposition leader Elizardo Sanchez Santa Cruz, obviously seeking to intimidate him. Amado Gonzalez Paz and Lazaro Garcia Torres have both been arrested and their families' physical safety has been threatened if they remained in Cuban Council. Recently, Nerys Goristoza Campo Alegre and Marta Ramirez Jerez, both members of the Popular Democratic Alliance, were also arrested. Another member of the Popular Democratic Alliance, Maria de la Caridad Salazar Ramirez was thrown in a prison cell with 14 common criminals. Radamaes Alfaro Garcia was arrested and told that he had to convince his mother, Beatriz Garcia Alvarez, and brother, Rinaldo Alfaro Garcia, to resign from the Cuban Council. Lazaro Miguel Rivero de Quesada was arrested along with his mother, Dulce Maria de Quesada. This is within recent weeks, Mr. Speaker. Sergio Aguiara Cruz was sentenced to 4 years in prison under the charge of predelinquent dangerousness. Aguiara is the president of the Union of Cubans for Liberty. In Camaguey Province, well-known dissident Antonio Femenias Echemendia, has been continuously harassed by Castro's state security for the last 5 weeks. Also, in Camaguey, Alberto Hernandez Frometa, from the group Man's Human Rights, was arrested. The regime has consistently sought to intimidate Marcelino Soto, Jose Nieves Arrieta and Bernardo Fuentes Cambior on a regular basis for their activities on behalf of human rights. The list goes on, Mr. Speaker. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Some dissidents issued a statement in support of the conference that was held in Beijing, the World Conference on Women, and Ileana Somellan Fernandez, her home was ransacked by state security on August 25 for doing that. Also, September 1 and September 2, several members of the group called Mothers for Solidarity were arrested. Marta Maria Vega Cabrera was summoned to appear at headquarters of state security in Havana, where she was interrogated, also, for a statement she made to an international journalist. On September 2, state security agents visited Mercedes Paradas Antunez, where she was accused along with Aida Rosa Jimenez, of ``planning a protest march'' on Havana. On the same day, Raquel Naranjo Ruize and Aida Rosa Jimenez were continously followed by state security agents in Havana in a manner that they subsequently describe to the international press as insolent and incessant. Moises Rodriguez Quesada, Leonardo Calvo, and Manuel Cuesda Morua also have been victims of threats and interrogations from state security. And, of course, Carmen Arias Jose Miranda, Francisco Chavino, Omar del Pozo, and Colonel Enrique Labrada and Reverend Orson Villa, these are all political prisoners. they remain incarcerated. I want to see where the international community is, Mr. Speaker. Where is the Clinton Administration? Where is that State Department that we pay those salaries to? Where are they denouncing this? Where is the international community? Where is the United Nations denouncing this, Mr. Speaker? Where are they? Earn your salaries, bureaucrats. Earn your salaries. At least denounce this every once in a while. This is going on now in Cuba, and I want to hear one condemnation by the international press or the international organizations. Where are they Mr. Speaker? We will continue talking about this.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I will support this rule because it gives ample opportunity to the Congress to support the very serious question of the Bosnia intervention. In the last 2 weeks, in multiple discussions held with colleagues in this House about the imposition of the Clinton administration of the new Secretary General, Mr. Solana, of NATO, various colleagues have stated to me that that decision by the Clinton administration seriously and legitimately calls into question the foreign policy judgment of the administration. Mr. Speaker, NATO of course is the military wing of the western alliance. It was greatly responsible for maintaining the security of Europe throughout the cold war and, of course, today we are poised to intervene militarily in an armed conflict in Europe for the first time since World War II and in the Balkans under the military shield and utilizing the military structure of NATO for the first time in history. Thus even though NATO was always important, it is perhaps even more important today. So who is the man who was named last week in Brussels as the new Secretary general, the head of NATO? Javier Solana is the foreign minister of the Spanish Socialist Workers party government. Mr. Solana opposed NATO with vehemence throughout the 1970's and the 1980's. As late as 1986, when a Socialist-sponsored referendum was held in Spain to determine whether it would remain in NATO, Mr. Solana, then culture minister in the Spanish Government, was one of the most outspoken opponents of Spain remaining in NATO. He also opposed the presence of United States military bases on Spanish soil. As late as 1985, precisely on that subject of the presence of United States bases on Spanish soil, he I think somewhat contemptuously stated, and I quote, If need be, we will send a copy of the Spanish Constitution to Washington so they will know what a sovereign country is. Until September 29, 1979, Mr. Solana was formerly a Marxist. That is the date that his party, the Socialist Workers Party, erased the word Marxist from its political program so as to help and win the next Spanish general election. Despite the opposition of almost all western Europe, the Clinton administration, Mr. Speaker, insisted upon Mr. Solana to be the new NATO Secretary General. Much of the military and intelligence community of the NATO countries simply could not understand why the Clinton administration would insist on Solana as the new NATO head with other available candidates in contention such as Mr. Ruud Lubbers, former Dutch Prime Minister, who was endorsed by France and Germany and Great Britain and was always a dedicated supporter of NATO with exemplary security credentials. The Clinton administration insisted on imposing the Spanish Socialist Solana as we prepare to use NATO to intervene militarily in Europe for the first time since World War II, despite the fact that the Spanish Government is being wracked by unprecedented corruption, despite the fact that Solana, while Spanish Foreign Minister, just ended a 6-month stint as chairman of the European Union and during that time named a buddy of his, Mr. Garcia Vargas, a former defense minister in the Spanish Cabinet, who was so personally affected by corruption, including illegal wiretapping that he had to resign from the Spanish Cabinet. Mr. Solana named him European Union Special Envoy to Basnia. Most importantly, Mr. Speaker, despite the fact that Spain is not part of the military structure of NATO, that was the candidate, that Foreign Minister of that government that is not part of the military wing of NATO, was the imposition of the Clinton administration for Secretary General of NATO, and that is the administration that is now asking the American people and the Congress to trust it with respect to Bosnia. I think this debate is long overdue, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, a child is always special. Children are the hope of the world, and every child is blessed with the love of God and the goodness of heaven. In south Florida we have all, our entire community, has been deeply wounded by the tragedy suffered by one very special child--Jimmy Ryce. And by the suffering, the incalculable suffering, of his wonderful family. As our prayers go out for Jimmy's family so that God may give them the strength to endure, we also pray for Jimmy in Heaven, with full confidence that he is now at peace in the presence of the Lord. No one in south Florida will ever forget Jimmy Ryce and we join together as a community to grieve for him. Jimmy's family--his mom and dad, Claudine and Don, his sister Martha--have shown us all an example of extraordinary strength and of the will to somehow permit this tragedy to shield other children from similar future nightmares on Earth. Even before we all received the ultimately tragic news of the last few days, Don and Claudine Ryce had commenced a petition campaign to the President, a noble campaign that they, and now many in south Florida are continuing, urging him to require agencies in the executive branch to post in public places pictures of endangered children, so that the American people can help in the search for these children, while there is still time to save their lives. Don and Claudine Ryce have also urged that the media run public service announcements publicizing the photographs and the peril of endangered children. Together we will remember Jimmy Ryce as we strive to bring down the full weight of justice on monstrous beings who commit crimes against children, and as we work to protect children against such unspeakable crimes in the future.