Mario Diaz-Balart

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt) and ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to control that time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I want to clarify one thing, and then I will just close. I heard a few minutes ago that our budget, the House resolution does not fund the war against global terrorism. In fact, it does. There is $80 billion for 2004, plus an additional $50 million for 2005. Again, I want to thank the chairman for bringing up a budget. The problem with that budget again is that it kills job creation with huge tax increases. But if you believe in huge taxes, you should vote for their amendment and not vote against it. It has, again, huge additional spending of the hardearned money of the American taxpayers. It has huge reductions in defense spending in a time of war. And because of all those reasons, Mr. Chairman, by the way, it also assumes that there is no waste in the Federal budget whatsoever because it does not go after one penny, not one little penny of waste in the Federal budget. And for those reasons, Mr. Chairman, I would respectfully request that we vote down this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the remaining part of my time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I will, in a spirit of incredible generosity to the opposition, yield another half minute to the gentleman.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. I believe I have 2\1/2\ minutes, Mr. Chairman. Is that correct?

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. And how much time does he have left, Mr. Chairman?

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, if I may inquire of the gentleman how many speakers he has.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, if I may inquire of the gentleman from North Carolina how many speakers he has left.

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

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry).

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 30 seconds. The House budget resolution addresses CDBGs. As a matter of fact, it adds $1.1 billion aimed specifically at that. The difference between our budget, though, and this proposed amendment is our budget does not raise taxes, does not reduce defense spending in a time of war. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 1\1/2\ minutes. The gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) mentioned the fact that our budget does not increase taxes and the alternative budget that we are discussing today does increase taxes. Does the gentleman know how many jobs are created because of this Republican Congress cutting taxes in the last year? Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 30 seconds. Again, what we have not heard from the sponsors of this amendment is part of what is in their amendment. Again, their amendment has massive increases in spending. It also has massive tax increases on the American people. And it also has massive reductions in defense spending in a time of war. Those are huge differences. I just want to make sure that everybody understands what the differences are. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry).

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry).

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 15 seconds. There are differences in the two budgets. The budget that we passed out of committee funds our essential services without raising taxes, without cutting defense, without hurting our economy. Unfortunately, this proposed alternative raises taxes and thoroughly cuts defense suspending in a time of war. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I commend the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt) and his colleagues for bringing forth an alternative budget. We know how difficult it is to put together a budget of this magnitude. As the gentleman said, this is a substitute budget, a true alternative budget to what was passed out of the committee. It highlights the differences between the Democrats' strategy and the Republican budgeting strategy. The Democrats seem to love spending increases and tax increases, and that is exactly what this alternative budget does. It increases spending compared to the committee budget that is on the floor. It increases spending by $32.5 billion in budget authority and also $18.9 billion increased spending in the year 2006. That is just in 1 year. It also increases spending by $173 billion in budget authority over 5 years and $149 billion in outlays in the next 5 years. It also massively increases taxes by $35.1 billion in fiscal year 2006 alone and $169 billion over the next 5 years as opposed to the budget that was passed by the Committee on the Budget. Again, these tax increases are above and beyond, on top of enormous spending increases. But that is not the only problem that we have with this budget alternative. It also decreases defense spending. Again, while the Nation is at war, this alternative budget cuts defense spending by $10.7 billion in budget authority and $7 billion in outlays just in fiscal year 2006. Again, during fiscal years 2006 through 2010, this alternative budget would reduce defense spending by $149.5 billion in budget authority and $129 billion in outlays. So we have very clear differences that have been illustrated by these two budgets. Once again, I commend the gentleman for doing the hard work and putting an alternative budget together that is being discussed right now. Again these two budgets obviously highlight the difference. This budget that they are proposing increases taxes and cuts spending on defense in a time of war. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry), a member of the Committee on the Budget who has done an incredible job and shown incredible leadership on this issue.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to s about Jorge Luis Garcia Perez, often known Antunez, a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba. My distinguished friend and colleague, Representative Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, had a great idea for Members of Congress to ``adopt'' a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba. Today, I ``adopt'' an extraordinary leader of unlimited courage, Jorge Luis Garcia Perez (Antunez). Antunez has been locked in the totalitarian gulag since 1990. In a sham trial, he was sentenced to 6 years in prison for ``oral enemy propaganda.'' In May 1993, he was tried in a second sham trial, and sentenced to an additional 15 years to be served from that moment. In total, Antunez has been sentenced to 18 years in Castro's grotesque, inhuman gulag. Despite being enslaved in the tyrant's gulag, Antunez has bravely carried out nonviolent activism in Cuban jails, writing reports on prison conditions and carrying out numerous protests and hunger strikes to demand more humane treatment for prisoners. He has never wavered in his commitment to human rights and democracy for the Cuban people. Antunez has never given in to the beatings, the punishment cells and the instruments of torture inflicted on him by the Castro regime. Antunez always rises up and calls out, demanding human rights and freedom for the people and the nation of Cuba. After 15 years in the gulag, Antunez is still feared and relentlessly attacked by the dictatorship. According to the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2004, ``on July 6, family members of political prisoner Jorge Luis Garcia Perez, reported being beaten along with Garcia during a prison visit. Authorities handcuffed and beat Garcia and later punched his sister and kicked his girlfriend's 9 year old son after the visitors protested the harsh treatment.'' No matter how intense the repression, no matter how horrifically brutal the consequences to him and his family, Antunez will not waiver in his conviction that Cuba should be and will be free. He is a symbol of dignity and heroic resistance to tyranny. Mr. Speaker, this courageous man has been in Castro's gulag since 1990, for failing to keep silent about the nightmare that is the Castro regime. My Colleagues, Antunez is the face of the real Cuba. We must demand the immediate and unconditional release of Jorge Luis Garcia Perez and every prisoner of conscience in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I have listened to the debate with great interest, and I keep hearing about cuts in the budget. They are not there. All of the specific cuts are just not there. They do not exist in this budget. What this budget does do, however, is it fulfills our Federal obligations while at the same time it reduces the deficit in half by the year 2009. We all know why we have a deficit. We have a deficit because when President Bush got elected, he inherited a recession. He inherited the burst of the Internet bubble, he inherited Wall Street scandals, and the mother of all economic and all other problems, which is 9/11. Despite that, because of the Bush policies and economic policies of this House, the economy is doing well again. If it was up to the Democrats, they would have raised taxes massively and destroyed the economy. Luckily we prevailed; the Democrats did not. And, therefore, we reduced taxes and the economy is once again doing well. But I just heard again tonight the Democrats all concerned about the deficit. Yet let me show Members what the Democrats, who tonight have been talking about how concerned they are about the size of the deficit and spending, what they proposed just a few days ago. They proposed in committee amendments that would have again increased spending by $67.1 billion, and yet they give us lip service tonight and continuously state they are concerned about the deficit. To borrow a phrase from a very well-known Democratic leader, Democrats are concerned about the deficit, they support reducing the deficit before they are against reducing the deficit. They cannot have it both ways. We have a deficit that is caused by too much spending. We have to reduce the deficit, so lip service and lip balm is fine; but when push comes to shove, they cannot complain about the deficit and then try to increase spending. What the budget that the chairman is proposing does, it does address our responsibilities while reducing the deficit and while responsibly spending the taxpayers' money. I also heard, Mr. President, put your money where your mouth is. It is not our money, it is the taxpayers' money. That is the big difference. We remember it is not our money. That is why we are not willing to throw it away. It is the taxpayers' money. This budget spends it responsibly. I thank the chairman for this very responsible budget and urge adoption of the budget.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, first, I would like to thank Chairman Young for visiting Miami recently and spending time understanding the important transit issues that we are facing in Miami- Dade County. The most important issue at this point, as the gentleman from Alaska knows, Mr. Chairman, is allowing $100 million committed by the Florida Department of Transportation for the Miami Intermodal Center, Earlington Heights connector to be used as part of the non- Federal match towards other transit corridors in Miami-Dade County. I also want to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for his interest, and I understand that he is also interested in even maybe going to Miami to look at that specific issue. This provision, which would guarantee the release of the $100 million from the Florida Department of Transportation, requires legislative language that I have been working on with the gentleman from Wisconsin, also with Chairman Young and their talented staffs, I understand that negotiations are continuing on this issue and will continue to be worked on in conference after the gentleman from Wisconsin has had an opportunity to visit Miami in early April. As the gentleman knows, the $100 million from Florida DOT will only be released if such language is included. This provision has strong bipartisan support among South Florida Members. Again, while this provision is not in the bill today, it is my understanding, Mr. Chairman, that we are continuing to work on it as the process continues.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. I thank the gentleman.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and congratulate the Immokalee High School Indians on their Class 2A football championship. With only three minutes and ten seconds remaining in the championship game, the Immokalee Indians kicked a 42 yard field goal to take a 17-15 lead, which they held on to for the remainder of the game. This game was especially important to the Indians, as it marked the first state football championship in school history. As their recent state title would clearly indicate, talented athletes fill the Indian's roster. In fact, nine players were named to the Florida Sports Writers Association Class 2A All-State team. Five of those players were named to the first team, two players were named to the second team and two players received honorable mentions. Under the leadership of head coach John Weber and his staff, the Indians football team has brought great pride and accomplishment to Immokalee and all of Southwest Florida. Of course, the players and coaches were not the only ones responsible for this impressive victory. The fans, trainers, faculty, staff and the entire Immokalee community helped lead the Indians to the state championship. I would also like to congratulate Principal Manny Touron and Athletic Director Linda Ayer for their commitment to this football team and to Immokalee High School. It is my great honor to congratulate the Immokalee High School Indians on this incredible accomplishment and look forward to continued success next season. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Immokalee High School--the 2004 state football champions.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, 2004 marked the 40th anniversary of the founding of Padron Cigars and I rise to honor and congratulate them on this wonderful achievement. Padron Cigars was founded on September 8, 1964 by the Padron brothers--Jose Orlando and Rodolfo. Throughout the last 40 years, the Padron family has worked to grow their business and continue providing new products to their loyal customers throughout the world. Of course, the success of Padron Cigars did not come without significant challenges over the years. In fact, their factory in Nicaragua was destroyed as a result of civil war. Through endless commitment and leadership, Padron Cigars was able to survive and grow, despite the serious challenges they faced. Today, Padron Cigars continues their commitment to quality through their consistent approach to the lengthy process of manufacturing cigars. In fact, they claim: ``Our primary mission is the exceptional quality of our product, not the quantity produced.'' Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Padron Cigars is clearly an industry leader that has epitomized the success of small family businesses throughout America. The success story of Padron Cigars is nothing short of the American Dream and I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Padron family on this anniversary.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. I would like to rise in order to honor Teena M. Borek--the 2004 Woman of the Year in Agriculture. She is a pioneer in the agriculture industry and an incredible example to young women throughout America. When her husband tragically died in 1980, Teena decided to run their farm and became the only female vegetable farmer in Miami-Dade County. Impressively, she was able to successfully run the farm while raising two young toddlers, who are now both involved in agriculture. In the late 1980s, Teena Borek played a large role in bringing needed computer technology to farms and worked with the Community Bank of Florida to ensure that appropriate financing mechanisms were in place to increase access to this important technology. Not surprisingly, Borek Farms was the first Homestead vegetable farm to use a computer. Using her knowledge from when she first handled the books at Borek Farms, Teena also helped implement an accounting program for farms that is still in use today. Her achievements in advancing agricultural crops is also unparalleled. Teena became the first Miami-Dade County farmer to use the linear irrigation system and Borek Farms had the first commercially grown Florida 7862 tomato. One of her greatest achievements, however, is the impact she has had on young women. As a female pioneer in Florida agriculture, she has paved a path for young women in an industry that has largely been dominated by men. Currently, she is serving as the second female President of the Dade County Farm Bureau and has mentored many young women, including the current executive director of the Farm Bureau. I have had the honor of visiting with Teena and learning about the many achievements she has made for Florida's agriculture industry. After getting to know her and better understand the work of Steven Borek Farms, it seems clear that Teena's contribution to Florida agriculture will be understood well beyond our lifetime. She may be most recognized for her work in Miami-Dade County, but her achievements have impacted the entire state of Florida. While advancing the entire industry through technological expansion, she paved the path for generations of women hoping to enter the industry. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and congratulating Teena M. Borek on being named the 2004 Woman of the Year in Agriculture by the Florida Farm Bureau.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Indiana. I am so pleased today to be able to introduce three brilliant Members to the United States Congress, three brilliant additions to our conference. The first one is a person I have had the privilege to know for a number of years. He comes from a very strong background. His name is Connie Mack. That is a name that is very familiar in the State of Florida. We all know that his father served with such great distinction here in the United States Congress. This Connie Mack, his son, was born and raised in Southwest Florida. He is, again, the son of the former Senator Connie Mack. He will represent the Fourteenth District of Florida, which borders the district that I am honored to represent, and also the district that has been so ably represented until now by our now CIA Director Porter Goss, who was for many years the chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Connie, though, I got to know during his tenure, our joint tenure, in the Florida State Legislature. He was a great leader in the Florida legislature, an active member of that legislature. He helped create and chaired the Freedom Caucus in the State House of Representatives, the Florida State House of Representatives, which fought hard and successfully, I may add, through the leadership of Connie Mack, to keep taxes low, to cut taxes, to cut regulation, to shrink the size of government. Connie comes with a wealth of experience. He will help promote President Bush's fiscally conservative agenda and tax relief and make sure that America's families are not overburdened by excessive taxation. Again, Connie Mack, now Congressman-elect Connie Mack, has a wealth of experience coming from the Florida legislature, particularly on issues of fiscal responsibility. He has shown great leadership, and I am anxious to have him as my partner because, again, we have adjoining districts. We are going to be working very closely together, as we have in the past, and I am excited to have him as part of the team. Another person who joins us now from the State California with just a huge wealth of experience is Congressman-elect Dan Lungren. He had served, by the way, here in the House between 1979 to 1989. He now returns to the House after serving as the Attorney General of California, which, by the way, he did so for 8 years until 1998. He, along with Newt Gingrich, formed the Conservative Opportunity Society here and really laid the foundation for the Contract with America. He is a man who, again, has been tested, really tested, and has always shown great leadership qualities, the ability to lead, the ability to fight for the issues that he believes are important. It is wonderful to have his wealth of experience back now on the majority team. The third person that I am just excited, Madam Speaker, to be able to introduce is Congressman-elect Luis Fortuno, La Isla Del Encanto, representing Puerto Rico. Luis is a brilliant lawyer who has had significant experience in the business community, including being, by the way, for example, appointed as Puerto Rico's first Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, an area he cares so deeply about. I am just so excited to have him in the majority party, to work on issues that are dear to his heart, including economic development and many, many other issues. Luis is going to be the first Republican Resident Commissioner in the history of Puerto Rico. Think what that means, Madam Speaker. Luis Fortuno now will be in the majority party, will be speaking from the side of the majority when he speaks for the people that he represents. What a difference that is going to make for the people of Puerto Rico. Luis is also going to be a member of the Congressional Hispanic Conference, a growing group here of members of the majority who are concerned about, obviously, everybody in the country, but particularly concerned about the issues that particularly affect those of Hispanic descent and Portuguese descent. So we are excited to have Luis Fortuno. It is a huge deal for the Island of Puerto Rico and for the people there, and it is a huge deal for us to have now as a member of the majority party a person who will now represent the Island of Puerto Rico. It is a distinct honor. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Indiana for this opportunity to introduce three extremely capable, extremely talented members now of the growing majority conference.