Mario Diaz-Balart

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I have always opposed offshore oil drilling. This amendment extends the protection an additional 25 miles. It is a good amendment. Please support it.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, because I firmly oppose drilling for oil off the coasts of Florida, I believe that it is critical that a permanent, State-controlled ban on drilling around the entire state becomes law a soon as possible. This is why I believe the Pombo-Putnam compromise in H.R. 4761, the Domestic Energy Production Through Offshore Exploration and Equitable Treatment of State Holdings Act of 2006, is essential in order to protect Florida's beaches. The Pombo-Putnam compromise would allow Florida to prohibit drilling for 100 miles. In negotiations with the legislation's authors and in the House Rules Committee, I worked to further protect Florida's environmental treasures. As successfully amended, the compromise would also codify the ban on drilling within the ``military mission line''-- approximately 234 miles from Tampa--to provide even more protection for Florida's west coast. This plan, in many ways, is better than a bill that the Florida delegation almost unanimously cosponsored in 1997. That bipartisan legislation sought to prohibit any leasing or drilling within 100 miles of Florida's coasts, but did not include the added protection provided by the ``military mission line.'' It also lacked the factor of State control of the drilling issue. Former Governor Lawton Chiles also supported, in writing, a 100-mile ban on drilling. Presently, Florida's only protections against offshore oil drilling reside with an expiring Presidential promise (known as the ``moratoria'') and a year-to-year appropriations limitation amendment-- a technical legislative maneuver that prohibits Federal funds from being used to conduct offshore leasing. The stark reality Florida faces is not only the expiring ``moratoria,'' but also a strong push in Congress to allow drilling as close as 20 miles from our shores. On May 18 of this year, the House passed an amendment by a close 217-203 vote to prevent drilling as close as 3 miles from Florida's east coast and 9 miles from Florida's west coast. Eight cosponsors of a bill (H.R. 4318) to allow drilling just 20 miles off Florida's coasts voted for this amendment because they felt that 3 miles was just too close. Had those eight cosponsors voted against that amendment, the vote would have been lost 211-209, and drilling would have been allowed as close as 3 miles from Florida's coast. Although they voted for this particular amendment, our colleagues assured us that they would vote in favor of legislation to allow drilling at 20 miles. Instead of relying on votes from over 400 Congressmen from outside of Florida, I support placing the fate of Florida's beaches in the hands of Floridians. In 2005, congressional passage of a plan was possible that would have permanently banned drilling within 125 miles of our beaches. On June 29, 2006, we learned, by a vote of 65 to 353, that a majority in Congress no longer supports a 125-mile ban. Last year's offer of 125 miles has now been reduced to 100 miles from our coastline. The next step could very well be a horrible 20 miles. As a strong opponent of drilling, I believe that our window of opportunity in Congress for a permanent ban on offshore drilling is closing. This is why I support the Pombo-Putnam compromise.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the bipartisan Legislative Line-Item Veto Act of 2006. The line-item veto is a commonsense approach to restraining the growth in Federal spending. The Legislative Line-Item Veto establishes an additional check against excessive, redundant, and narrowly focused spending provisions and special-interest tax breaks. This legislation would simply allow the President to identify questionable and unnecessary spending items in bills passed by Congress. It preserves Congress' power of the purse by requiring a simple up or down vote on the President's proposed rescissions. The final decision on spending or tax items remains in the hands of Congress. With the passage of this important legislation, this Republican-led Congress continues to highlight its commitment to fiscal discipline and supporting policies that reform and reduce the growth of mandatory government programs. Necessary reform, such as a line-item veto, can help rein in unnecessary and wasteful government spending while protecting the hard-earned money of American taxpayers. Congress must act to bring greater transparency and accountability to the budget process. A constitutionally sound line-item veto is a useful tool to eliminate government spending that contributes to the waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars. Many governors currently have this ability, including in my own State of Florida. This important tool serves the people well and will help save their hard-earned money. The line-item veto legislation gives Congress and the President yet another opportunity to bring spending under control. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to match their rhetoric with action and support meaningful budget reform.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, our Nation is fighting bloodthirsty monsters like al Zarqawi, monsters that behead civilian hostages and that blow up innocent women and children. And if many of our Democratic colleagues across the aisle have their way, we would already have cut and run from Iraq and Zarqawi would still be alive beheading innocent people. Thankfully, our brave troops understood the kind of enemy that we are facing. This is an enemy, Mr. Speaker, that kidnaps and beheads hostages. This is an enemy that walks into a mall full of innocent people and explodes bombs. This is an enemy that declared war on the United States decades ago, Mr. Speaker, and refuses to stop until liberty has been snuffed out. But the United States cannot and will not allow that to happen. Hard work remains in Afghanistan and Iraq. The stakes are high. The Afghani people understand that. The Iraqi people understand this as well. So do the terrorists who murder on a daily basis. But we are steadily working towards success, not defeat. Because, you see, this is more than just about helping people over there. This is about protecting our country from rogue states and terrorists over here. This resolution, Mr. Speaker, makes it clear that the American people are determined to prevail in protecting our freedom from terrorist. We will not cower to these thugs. We will continue to support our honorable troops and prevail over this evil, Mr. Speaker. As long as we maintain our resolve, Mr. Speaker, and do not cut and run, we will win, we will defeat the terrorists.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. A couple of points of clarification. Currently, U.S. law already allows individual members of religious organizations to travel to Cuba for religious purposes. The only requirements, of course, is that they have a specific license, and that is a safeguard in U.S. law to ensure that travel is in fact for the stated purpose and not for the purpose of tourism. Again, current regulations ensure that the financial donations are not provided to the regime, that terrorist regime, that murderous, terrorist regime, under the guise of religious activity. And the current law seeks to prevent the manipulation of legitimate activities to practice or share as one may believe about the Cuban people. Why is that important? Well, I have this board here, and I hope you can see it, the American people can see it. Why is it so important that we are careful about how this goes? Because the regime in Cuba is a regime that promotes pedophilia, promotes sexual tourism, including with children. And let me read this quote. ``Cuba has a tourism industry, government operated or affiliated, and it engages in promoting child prostitution.'' Yes, child prostitution, which is not only trafficking under our law, United States law, but under U.N. protocol. And it is done very openly. This just came out recently. This came out just recently. So again, yes, the law provides that you can do it, as long as it is real. It is not just to do other things, such as what that terrorist regime promotes and sponsors, like pedophilia and child prostitution. I will note that the sponsor of this amendment said that the American people would be ashamed, or would be appalled, I guess--I don't want to quote her, but in essence--if they saw this debate. It is ironic that when, for example, myself, and now Senator, then Congressman Menendez proposed resolutions just condemning the crackdown of the dissidents in Cuba, condemning the crackdown against the freedom of press in Cuba, most of this Congress voted in favor of that resolution condemning the crackdown. Only 22 Members of this House voted against those resolutions, bipartisan resolutions, condemning the crackdown on the free press, condemning the crackdown on the peaceful opposition movement in Cuba. The distinguished Member who was here before who said that he would support a resolution condemning the regime is on record not 20 years ago, not 10 years ago, just last year against even condemning the crackdown against the free press. Against even that. It would be interesting to find out where the sponsor of this amendment was. Was she condemning the crackdown? Did she vote with us to condemn the crackdown, or did she support the Castro regime even when they were doing the crackdown? The bottom line is this, my dear friends. There is a terrorist regime just 90 miles away from the United States with close ties to Iran, to North Korea, and other nasty, horrible, murderous terrorist regimes. In itself the Cuba regime is a terrorist regime. This is not the time to be helping anti-American terrorist regimes with funding or in ways in which the terrorist regime can obtain more funding. I would respectfully ask this amendment also once again be strongly defeated. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. I do, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, this amendment wants to lift all sanctions unilaterally on the regime that, among other things, has invited the President of Iran to visit in the next few months because the Cuban regime supports Iran's nuclear program. It is on the list of states that sponsor terrorism, and yet, how do some Members, how does this amendment want to deal with that terrorist state? By unilaterally asking nothing in return, helping that regime with billions and billions of dollars from here, from the United States, so that that terrorist regime can continue to oppress and also do what it used to do when it had money. Let us not forget the American GIs that died in Grenada fighting that regime's thugs. Do we really want to fund an antiAmerican terrorist state just 90 miles away, particularly in a time of war? Absolutely not. It makes no sense. It is absolutely ludicrous. So I would ask you to once again soundly defeat this amendment. It makes no sense.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, the bottom line is again, what part of payment, ``cash in advance'' is hard to understand? Cash in advance means cash in advance. That is what the rules are right now. There is nothing changing that. That is what we need to keep. That is why we need to defeat this amendment.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall Nos. 242 and 243 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' Amendment Offered by Mr. Weiner

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to thank the chairman and staff of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee for their continued support of the Florida Everglades FY07 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. This legislation includes funding for the Army Corp of Engineers to proceed with Everglades Restoration, which will ensure natural water flows continue through Everglades National Park. The Florida Everglades is a unique and precious ecosystem that must be preserved for future generations. Everglades Restoration is an invaluable investment that will ensure the Everglades is restored and protected. I am pleased that the chairman included $164 million for Everglades Restoration, which is so critical to ensuring continuation of this vital project. Just last week, the Interior Appropriations bill included an additional $69 million for Restoration. The funding provided in the Interior bill, combined with that in the Energy and Water bill, will together provide a total of $233 million to allow restoration to move forward. I thank my colleagues from Florida for their continued support of the Florida Everglades and Restoration funding. Additionally, I would like to thank the Governor of Florida for his steadfast support of Everglades Restoration. Floridians understand the great benefit the Everglades provide not just to our ecological diversity, but also to our economy, which is so dependent upon tourism and ecotourism. On behalf of myself, and the residents of southern florida I am so proud to represent, I thank the chairman for his support of this funding.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I rise today in recognition of WQBA-AM, a landmark radio station in Miami, FL, for its upcoming 40th anniversary. Since its inception on May 31, 1966, WQBA has been a pillar of Miami's airwaves for politics and local issues. It provides members of the community the opportunity to hear from newsmakers and public officials. WQBA is also the official Spanish station of the Florida Marlins and the Miami Heat. It has been known as Radio Continental, Radio Cuba, La Cubanisima and La Voz de Miami. WQBA has always strived to provide accurate information while also reflecting the diversity of its audience and South Florida. It is home to numerous prestigious journalists, including the only Spanish- language sports commentator belonging to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Considered one of Miami's historic stations, WQBA has witnessed and broadcasted significant historical moments during its 40 years. In 1992 when Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida, WQBA was an essential source for news as it was the only Spanish radio station that withstood the storm. Loyal to Hispanic traditions, WQBA began the annual Reyes Magos Parade 36 years ago and it is now co-sponsored by three sister stations and considered one of the five most important Hispanic cultural events in the country. WQBA is one of the true voices of Miami and has always been active in its commitment to promoting education and the arts throughout the years. The station's trademark jingle ``Yo soy de Cuba la voz,'' (``I am Cuba's voice'') is played daily at the Celia Cruz exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum. Mr. Speaker, as we recognize WQBA's long legacy and the excellent service it has provided Miami during the past four decades, I ask that you join me in expressing our appreciation for its first 40 years and best wishes for its next.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Florida once again led the Nation in job growth during the past year with 261,000 new jobs. To continue this growth, Mr. Speaker, in Florida and the rest of the country, this Republican Congress passed a tax relief bill which ensures millions of American families, small businesses and seniors will continue to enjoy relief from budget-busting, economy-killing tax increases. Yet despite our sustained economic success and the shrinking deficits, Democrat leadership continues to endorse policies that would slam the brakes on our economic success and our remarkable job growth. Just last week, Mr. Speaker, House Democrats, like the minority leader and the ranking Democrat member of the Ways and Means Committee, voted for a massive tax hike on hard-working Americans, more than half a trillion dollars in increased taxes over the next 5 years, or enough to pay for all the expenditures of all the governments of the Western Hemisphere combined for an entire year. The American people, Mr. Speaker, want and deserve a fiscally responsive government, not the burdensome tax burden one that the Democrats continue to vote for.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to thank the Chairman and the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee for their continued support of the Florida Everglades in the Interior Appropriations bill. This legislation includes funding for implementation of the Modified Waters Deliveries Project. This project is critical to Everglades Restoration, and will ensure natural water flows continue through Everglades National Park. The Florida Everglades is a unique and precious ecosystem that must be preserved for future generations. Everglades Restoration is a long- term investment that will ensure the Everglades is restored and protected. I am pleased that the Chairman included $69 million for Everglades Restoration, which is so critical to ensuring continuation of this vital project. The Interior share of funding combined with the appropriations made to the Army Corp of Engineers in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill will allow restoration to move forward. I thank my colleagues from Florida for their continued support of the Florida Everglades and Restoration funding. Additionally, I would like to thank the Governor of Florida for his steadfast support of Everglades Restoration. Floridians understand the great benefit the Everglades provide not just to our ecological diversity, but also to our economy, which is so dependent upon tourism. On behalf of myself, and the residents of Southern Florida I am so proud to represent, I thank the Chairman and his hardworking staff for their support of this funding.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, first I want to thank the chairman for the incredible job that he has done on this bill. It is one of the toughest pieces of legislation that comes before us every year, and he has done an incredible job. His staff is always willing to listen to all of us and put up with all of us, I thank them as well, and they know who I am referring to. But I do need to say, Mr. Chairman, that there was an amendment put on during this process that I think would have, could have a devastating effect on the State of Florida, and that it would potentially allow for the drilling of natural gas, potentially up to just 3 miles off the coast of Florida. And I do not need to remind everybody how important tourism is for the economy of Florida, $57 billion to the economy. We depend on that environment being pristine. There is a consensus in Florida, among the people in Florida and just about all of the elected officials of Florida, that this could be devastating for the State of Florida. There will be an amendment by Mr. Putnam and others to try to remedy that. I will support that. I want to thank the chairman and staff again for always listening to us, and we hope that this great bill could be improved by taking out that part that can be very devastating to Florida.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, let me see if I can work that out.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 30 seconds. Mr. Chairman, this is very simple. If you think that we should eliminate the child tax credit and raise those taxes on child credit, support this amendment. If you believe that we should eliminate the 10 percent bracket, support this amendment. If you believe that the marriage penalty should be increased, that the tax on marriage should be increased, vote for this amendment. If you do not believe in the education tax relief, vote for this amendment. If you do not want the pension reforms that we have that have taken place, vote for this amendment. If you support not relieving the AMT, support this amendment. And if you believe that people should pay taxes even after they are dead, support this amendment. If you believe also that we should cut defense, support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 15 seconds. For the record, our budget has no cuts in SCHIP or Medicaid whatsoever. Get the record straight. It is not there. We also have no cuts in defense. Their amendment does cut defense radically. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, we reserve the balance of our time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, this side has this right to close? I want to make sure that that is correct.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, we reserve the balance of our time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlemen for his answer. I will always try to accommodate him as much as possible to close.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of our time.