Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and the ranking member for their wonderful leadership for many years on the issue of strengthening U.S.-Taiwan relations. I also want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), my dear friend, for authoring this important resolution of which I am proud to be a cosponsor. H. Con. Res. 88 reaffirms the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances as the cornerstones of U.S.-Taiwan relations, guidelines to which there should be no doubt about the commitment of the United States to our neighbor. In January, Taiwan once again demonstrated that it is one of the world's strongest and most vibrant democracies, a great partner, and I congratulate President-elect Tsai on her tremendous election and all of the people of Taiwan on their continued democratic success. Taiwan is truly a beacon of freedom in the Pacific, serving as an inspiration for those still suffering under repressive regimes, and is living proof of what can be achieved with liberty and self-government, principles that undergird both of our nations and form the foundation for our mutual stability, for our security, for our prosperity. As Taiwan's neighbor China continues raising tensions in the region, it is crucial that the United States provide Taiwan with the capability to defend herself against Chinese aggression, whether that aggression is political in nature, economic, or military. Both China and Taiwan must know that our commitment to Taiwan has not wavered one bit. Taiwan is an essential U.S. ally. It is our friend. It is our partner. I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), my friend, for authoring this resolution, for reaffirming our commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act, to the Six Assurances, and to the Taiwanese people here today. The United States will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Taiwan. I look forward, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chairman, and ranking member, to even greater cooperation and friendship with Taiwan in the years ahead. I thank the gentleman for the time, and I thank the ranking member for his leadership and Mr. Chabot for authoring this important resolution.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security is currently in Cuba participating in bilateral meetings on law enforcement cooperation with the Castro regime. This will serve as another propaganda coup for the Castro brothers. In the past, the Obama administration and Cuba have held technical exchanges on counternarcotics. Yet, last month, Panamanian authorities intercepted over 400 kilos of cocaine in a shipment from--guess where-- Cuba en route to Belgium. This is not the first time that the Castro brothers tried to ship illicit materials. In 2013, Mr. Speaker, approximately 240 tons of illegal weapons were intercepted by Panamanians on a ship going from Cuba to North Korea. In fact, this shipment was the largest weapons cache ever intercepted going to North Korea in violation of several U.N. Security Council resolutions. So how does this happen, Mr. Speaker? Let's not forget that Cuba's military owns and operates Cuba's port facilities. So how does cocaine, how do shipments, and how do guns get onto these ships? I doubt that our deputy secretary will inquire about the complicity of the Castro regime in these illicit shipments when he meets with his Cuban counterparts. So shame on us, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, as the sponsor of the bill that awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots, known as WASP, I applaud the passage by the House and Senate of legislation that will reinstate burial rights at Arlington National Cemetery to these women pioneers. I would like to congratulate my dear friend and colleague Congresswoman Martha McSally, sitting right in front of me, the first woman pilot in the U.S. Air Force to fly combat missions, who led this effort. I am humbled to represent a diverse south Florida community, home to some of these women trailblazers, like Ruth Shafer Fleisher, Shirley Kruse, and Bee Haydu, as well as the late Frances Rohrer Sargent and Helen Wyatt Snapp. I am so glad that we helped to bring them back their right to lay at Arlington Cemetery if they wish to do so. I am truly honored, Mr. Speaker, to have joined Congresswoman McSally, and I thank those who joined us in this valiant effort.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the long-overdue south Dade Veterans Affairs clinic adjacent to Homestead Air Reserve Base, part of my congressional district. Community-based outpatient clinic facilities in Homestead and Key Largo are extremely limited in the amount of services that they provide. This project, therefore, can no longer be ignored, Mr. Speaker. Currently, these local military personnel, retired servicemembers, and veterans are not getting the proper support that they have so rightfully earned. As the wife of a Vietnam veteran and a stepmother of two marine aviators, I am passionate about safeguarding our Nation's military members and their families and fighting for the services they need in order for them to live healthy and fulfilling lives. Our military does not quit on us, Mr. Speaker, and I certainly will continue fighting for them. It is estimated that there are more than 22,500 veterans, Active-Duty military, and recently deployed reservists eligible for VA medical services within a 20-mile radius of Homestead Air Reserve Base. Currently, those living in Homestead who require more than the limited services offered at Homestead Outpatient Clinic must travel about 70 miles roundtrip to the VA Medical Center in order to get the proper care that they desperately need. Veterans living in the Upper Keys have to travel even further, oftentimes more than 160 miles roundtrip. This is completely unacceptable. It is a huge burden for our servicemen and -women and their families who have already sacrificed so much for us and our Nation. This new clinic would not only improve access to care for veterans in Homestead and the Upper Keys, but it would also enhance the quality of care throughout the region by reducing pressure on the Miami VA Medical Center. Mr. Speaker, the south Dade VA clinic is a project that has a great deal of support throughout my district, including the Department of Defense personnel at Homestead Air Reserve Base and the Military Affairs Committee of the south Dade Chamber of Commerce. I have also received thousands of constituent support cards, many of which I have here with me today. Here is a bunch, and here is a bunch. There are just thousands, Mr. Speaker. Once again I would like to express my strong support for the long- overdue south Dade Veterans Affairs clinic adjacent to the Homestead Air Reserve Base. These local veterans have waited too long already, and they deserve nothing less than the successful completion of a new facility as soon as possible. Congratulating Israel on its 68th Independence Day

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the democratic Jewish State of Israel as it marks its Independence Day. Though the Jewish people have historical ties to Israel that date back millennia, in just 68 years of statehood, look at all that Israel has accomplished. Israel is a world leader in education, in technology, and in innovation. It is a vibrant and open democracy with a robust economy that thrives despite the constant threats that it faces daily. The United States can have no greater friend than Israel not only because we share the same interests, but because we also share the same values and beliefs, such as democracy and the rule of law. That is why it is imperative that our two nations sign a new memorandum of understanding to ensure that Israel has the capability and the capacity to defend herself and her citizens from all threats and be a shining example of democracy for the entire region. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to continuing to work to strengthen the already-strong relationship between the U.S. and Israel. I congratulate the Jewish state and her citizens on its 68th Independence Day.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize May as Lupus Awareness Month. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, as many as 2 million Americans, including my lovely stepdaughter, Katharine Lehtinen, are living with lupus, and another 16,000 new cases are reported across our Nation each year; but new research and collaborative projects offer hope that we are getting closer to safer and more effective treatments. The Lupus Research Institute, in particular, has funded over 150 Novel Research Grants. These funds are aimed at forging scientific breakthroughs to better understand the disease and to help patients who are living with lupus. Because of the advancing science, 2016 may very well mark a new and exciting year in the long fight against this mysterious autoimmune disease. Mr. Speaker, as this poster reads, ``For a future with no lupus, we must know lupus.''

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to lend my voice in support of TSC Global Awareness Day on May 15. Tuberous sclerosis complex, or TSC, is a rare genetic disease that causes uncontrolled tumor growth across the face, body, and organs of affected individuals. Unfortunately, there is no cure for TSC. South Florida's own Max Lucca--look at that sweet young face--was diagnosed with TSC when he was only 2 weeks old. Now he is 8, and Max Lucca has thrived because of the constant love and care provided by his parents, Vanessa and Max. Max Lucca enjoys baseball--as you can see-- and hanging out with his best buddy. So please think of this sweet young boy, Max Lucca, and others living with TSC on May 15 for TSC Global Awareness Day, and let's work together to find new treatments and a cure for this tragic disease.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I recently introduced House Concurrent Resolution 129 along with my south Florida colleague and friend, Congressman Ted Deutch, urging Germany to honor its commitments and moral obligations to Holocaust survivors by providing for their unmet needs. There are an estimated half-million survivors worldwide, about a quarter of whom live here in the United States. Nearly 15,000 survivors call the great State of Florida home, and I am proud to represent so many of them in my south Florida district. But the sad reality and, really, humanity's great shame is that about half of all Holocaust survivors live at or below the poverty line. Tens of thousands of survivors, if not more, are suffering without basic, life-sustaining services and care that they need in their advanced years. Many live alone or without family support and lack the funds for home care, from medicine to hearing aids, to food, to utilities, to rent. What a tragedy, Mr. Speaker, that so many Holocaust survivors are unable to maintain even a modest and dignified standard of living. These individuals have suffered for nearly three-quarters of a century from the physical and emotional scars that they have endured and carry with them to this very day. They have lived through the torture, the experiments, the labor camps, the loss of loved ones, and even the murder of their entire families. Because of all of this, Holocaust survivors' needs are unique. They are more extensive and more complex than the needs of other elderly individuals. The time for justice, Mr. Speaker, is now. The time for action is now because there may not be a next year or even a next month for many of these Holocaust survivors. That is why the German Government must honor Chancellor Adenauer's pledge from 1951, that Germany would take care of all of the needs of every survivor. That is why this resolution is so important, because time is of the essence. But it is not as though our friends in Germany have done nothing to fulfill this pledge. The German Government has over the years provided some support through income assistance programs and has sought ways to improve and address the needs of the survivors. Germany has even doubled its funding for home care services in the past 5 years, but that, unfortunately, does not match the reality of what is required. The German Ministry of Finance itself has admitted that the level of care financed by its government has been vastly insufficient to date, especially for those who are in dire need of intensive, long-term care. The real issue of concern, one that is exacerbating the severe lack of funding and one where I think we can press the German Government and work with it to find a fair solution, is the inconsistent manner in which existing funding and care is being disbursed. The current system places an undue burden on the Holocaust survivors and their families, forcing them to jump through bureaucratic red tape, causing harmful delays and waste. This resolution is a simple one. It is straightforward. It is noncontroversial. I urge my colleagues to support it. Congress is in a unique position to work for and fight on behalf of Holocaust survivors, many of whom are our constituents. We have a long history of working on behalf of Holocaust survivors and seeking out their long-overdue justice. Next Wednesday, May 4, is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. As we remember and honor the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, we are all compelled to do everything in our power to help those who have lived through those unconscionable atrocities. These survivors, Mr. Speaker, have seen the worst that humanity has to offer. Let us show them now the best of humanity by ensuring that they can, indeed, live out their days in dignity.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, April is Autism Awareness Month. According to the CDC, 1 in 68 children in the United States have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, and about 3.5 million Americans are living with some form of autism. As a member of the Congressional Coalition for Autism Research and Education, I am working with my colleagues to ensure that children with autism have the same opportunities as anyone else to lead productive and meaningful lives in adulthood. It is simply unacceptable that 35 percent of young adults with autism are unable to get a job or study in college after high school. We must continue, Mr. Speaker, to make progress toward an effective treatment and cure so that all individuals are able to achieve their full potential and leave their own beautiful mark on the world.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Bob Epling, one of south Florida's most distinguished business and civic leaders. Bob currently serves as the president and CEO of the Community Bank of Florida and sits on numerous boards, including the National Football Foundation and the College Football Hall of Fame. Bob earned this installment in part because of his arduous work as president of the Orange Bowl Committee. He also serves as chairman of Tomorrow's South Dade, a project of vision that addresses business development, infrastructure, agriculture, and other issues that impact the residents of south Dade. Another testament to Bob's commitment to our community was as chairman of the board of the International Hurricane Research Center where he spent countless hours helping to rebuild homestead following the devastating impact of Hurricane Andrew. Bob has also been the recipient of numerous accolades, including the Florida Bankers Association Legends Award, as well as the University Distinguished Service Award and FIU Medallion, both from my alma mater, Florida International University. I encourage our community to join me in honoring Bob Epling and his contributions to the agricultural sector at this Saturday's Dade County Farm Bureau's Annual Barbecue and ``Fun'' Raiser. Congratulations, Bob, on a job well done.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, along with Congressman Ted Deutch, I introduced H. Con. Res. 129, a resolution urging Germany to honor its commitments and fulfill its moral obligations to Holocaust survivors. Germany, even by the current government's own admission, has fallen short of Chancellor Adenauer's promise to take care of all of the needs of all Holocaust survivors. Due to the horrific physical and mental pain that they have endured, Holocaust survivor needs are more complex than other elderly individuals. There can be no more delay, Mr. Speaker. All Holocaust survivors must be provided all of the medical, mental, and home care needs that they require. Mr. Speaker, there are nearly 15,000 Holocaust survivors in my home State of Florida alone. There are many in my district, like my good friends, Jack Rubin, David Mermelstein, David Schaecter, Herbie Karliner, Joe Sachs, and Alex Gross. I made a vow that I would continue to fight on behalf of them and all Holocaust survivors, and I urge my colleagues to join me in urging Germany to honor its commitments to all Holocaust survivors and to please cosponsor this resolution.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in remembrance of Rabbi Herbert Baumgard, who passed away this past Friday, at the age of 95. Rabbi Baumgard founded Temple Beth Am, which is an important institution in my congressional district that has brought the South Florida Jewish community together for over 60 years. A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Rabbi Baumgard served as an assistant to a Chaplain in World War II. He credited that experience with his motivation for becoming a Rabbi. One of Rabbi Baumgard's strongest ideals was the continuing friendship and alliance with the State of Israel. The Rabbi was committed to not only strengthening our ties with our great ally, but to seeing that the United States continues to support and defend the Jewish State, which is an idea that I shared with him. I am so honored and privileged to have had the opportunity to represent Temple Beth Am and to experience all that Rabbi Baumgard has done to improve South Florida. May his memory be a blessing.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight south Florida's wild and wonderful national parks--Biscayne, Dry Tortugas, and Everglades--during National Park Week and the National Park Service Centennial. American Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and historian Wallace Stegner is quoted as having said that our national parks were ``the best idea we have ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.'' Indeed, south Florida is supremely fortunate to have Superintendent Pedro Ramos in charge of Dry Tortugas and Everglades National Parks. Superintendent Ramos understands and appreciates the importance of public access, the importance of the public's experiences, and the importance of continuing to reconnect the people of south Florida with the natural lands and waters that surround and support our community. Ultimately, enhancing public access and recreational opportunities in our national parks are vital to conserving America's natural and cultural heritage. That is why I am so troubled, Mr. Speaker, by the fishing access restrictions included in the 2015 general management plan of another iconic south Florida park, Biscayne National Park. The plan's marine reserve zone imposes a permanent moratorium on fishing across 10,500 acres of State waters, including 30 percent of the reef tract, denying fishing access to families and professional fishermen alike, without adequate scientific evidence to back it up. My Preserving Public Access to Public Waters Act, which passed the House in February as part of the SHARE Act, and its newly introduced Senate counterpart, from Senators Bill Cassidy and Marco Rubio, would help ensure that Federal bureaucrats and special interest groups do not overrule local community needs and concerns in this way anymore. If our national parks are to remain absolutely American and absolutely democratic, then it is long since time for the National Park Service to consistently represent the Federal Government at its best rather than at its worst once again. The Park Service's stated mission is to preserve ``unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations by cooperating with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resources conservation and outdoor recreation throughout the country and the world.'' Everglades National Park Superintendent Ramos has demonstrated that he is a true ambassador for this lofty and worthy mission. He represents the National Park Service and the Federal Government at its best: open and inclusive, seeking balanced solutions, and guided by a profound sense of service to the American people. Meanwhile, Biscayne's general management plan represents some of the worst aspects of the National Park Service and the Federal Government. It is focused so much on a narrow definition of preservation that it continually and completely fails the National Park Service's mission and disregards a whole community of park users. What is worse, with the varied threats facing south Florida's coral reefs, from changing ocean conditions to water quality issues, today fishing is a relatively minor contributor to coral reef decline in Biscayne. The real effect of Biscayne's marine reserve zone plan will be to continue losing coral at a drastic pace while also undercutting the public support needed to develop and implement real solutions to what ails our reefs. The National Park Service can, should, and must do better, and they should look to Superintendent Ramos and his leadership over similar issues at Everglades National Park for inspiration. Everglades National Park's own recently finalized general management plan, lauded by both fishermen and environmentalists, clearly represents what is possible when guided by a true sense of the Park's mission.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding south Floridian and her initiative, the Pamela Silva Conde Scholarship. Having graduated from my alma mater, Florida International University, with a degree in broadcast journalism and a master's degree in business, Pamela understands the importance of higher education. While Pamela calls Miami home, her work as a six-time Emmy Award- winning journalist has taken her all over the world. With her success, Pamela has made it a point to be civic-minded and engaged in our community, primarily on children and college education issues. Always wanting to do more, Pamela founded the Pamela Silva Conde Scholarship, which focuses on assisting first-generation, low-income business or journalism majors and help them attend college. Today I ask my Congressional colleagues to join me in honoring Pamela Silva Conde, and thank her for all that she has done and will continue to do for students in our south Florida community.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in remembrance of Rabbi Herbert Baumguard, who passed away this past Friday, at the age of 95. Rabbi Baumguard founded Temple Beth Am, which is an important institution in my congressional district that has brought the south Florida Jewish community together for over 60 years. A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Rabbi Baumguard served as an assistant to a chaplain in World War II. He credited that experience with his motivation for becoming a rabbi. One of Rabbi Baumguard's strongest ideals was the continuing friendship and alliance with the State of Israel. The Rabbi was committed to not only strengthening our ties with our great ally, but to seeing that the United States continues to support and defend the Jewish state, which is an idea that I shared with him. I am so honored and privileged to have had the opportunity to represent Temple Beth Am and to experience all that Rabbi Baumguard has done to improve south Florida. May his memory be a blessing.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable individual and one of my oldest and dearest friends, Mr. Stanley Tate. A Miami-Dade County native, Stanley Tate has successfully served many roles in his long life, including businessman, civic leader, and public servant. From a young age, Stanley was ambitious and understood the importance of a solid education. He enrolled in the University of Florida, where he earned a bachelor's degree, followed by a graduate degree from Columbia University. Stanley quickly proved himself to be an intelligent, capable, and resourceful individual who was willing to work hard to accomplish his goals. Not long after school, Stanley founded a general contracting firm, building private homes and apartment buildings. As a young and driven newcomer to the industry, Stanley quickly became well known and respected for his quality work. Never one to limit himself, Stanley continuously expanded upon his continued success, starting several other individual firms and entities that focused on consulting and investments, as well as commercial development, including office buildings, shopping centers, and restaurants. While Stanley was focused on managing his companies, he also made it a point to be very involved in public service, both locally and on a national level. He served with the city council of Bay Harbor Islands in several capacities, including mayor and assistant mayor for 20 years. He was also on the board of directors of the Florida League of Cities and is a former chairman of the Housing Resource Team for Metro- Dade County. Due to his vast knowledge and expertise, Stanley has served as a witness and testified before committees in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the United States Senate regarding housing and banking issues. In addition, he was appointed by President George Herbert Walker Bush to be the chairman of the National Advisory Board of the Resolution Trust Corporation, and was then nominated by President Clinton to be the president of the RTC. One of Stanley's strongest positions is one I share. It is the belief that every family should be provided a way to save for their child's higher education. His vision became a reality with the Florida Prepaid College Plan. His tenure as the program's chairman for the first 18 years was marked by his absolute dedication and selfless devotion to maintaining the program's viability. In recognition of Stanley's efforts, then-Governor Jeb Bush signed House Bill 263 into law on June 26, 2006, renaming the program the Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program. For all of these efforts and many more, Stanley Tate has been the recipient of numerous civic awards related to his work. This includes the Youth Law Center's Unsung Hero Award, the College Savings Plan USA Network's Distinguished Service Award, the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust's Arete Award, and was selected as one of the Twelve Good Men of 2004 by the Ronald McDonald House. As a man of strong Jewish faith, Stanley has always been quite active in the Miami Jewish community and a strong and early supporter of the Democratic Jewish State of Israel. Mr. Tate served as chairman of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, and he has been heavily involved in the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, since its early beginnings. Mr. Speaker, throughout his life, Stanley Tate has always made it a point to give back to others by sharing his time, his knowledge, and his passions. So today I ask my congressional colleagues to join me in honoring Stanley Tate and thank him for all he has done for our south Florida community, for our State, and for our Nation as a whole. God bless you, Stanley Tate. May you have many good years to come.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to support Great Strides Miami 2016 and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Cystic fibrosis is a tragic, genetic disease that can cause a buildup of thick mucous in the lungs and other organs, leading to frequent infections and organ failure. This coming Sunday, April 17, at 9 a.m., I urge my fellow south Floridians to participate in the 5K walk at historic Virginia Key Beach, located in my congressional district, to raise awareness for the need for a cure to this terrible disease. Delaney Jade Binker, right here, what a beautiful child. Delaney Jade Binker, seen here with her loving grandmother, Bonnee, is just one of some 30,000 Americans who desperately deserve more effective treatments and a cure. Please consider taking a few hours of your weekend to walk at Great Strides Miami to help Delaney and so many others add more tomorrows to their precious young lives.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the many generations of women who have shaped our Nation and thank them for their invaluable contributions. As the first Hispanic woman elected to Congress, I am grateful and inspired by their legacy. These women have influenced public policies, built institutions, and contributed to a stronger economy. Without their contributions, our society would be less lively, our culture more impoverished, and peace would be less stable. We need to respect their great achievements by continuing the job. I share the hopes and aspirations of all women across America who wish to make the lives of our daughters, sisters, aunts, and mothers more equitable. I have always been committed and dedicated to advancing the role of women in our society, and I work toward policies that would assist them and their families. That is why I have joined the bipartisan Congressional Women's Caucus and have supported extensive legislation and programs fighting domestic violence and women's access to a quality education. Today I would like to pay tribute to some of the more energetic champions of women's rights from my area of south Florida: Roxcy O'Neal Bolton, Helen Aguirre Ferre, Julia Tuttle, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and Judge Bertila Soto. Roxcy Bolton has had an impressive career by advocating for equal rights in the workplace and also by creating the first rape treatment center in the country, located in my hometown of Miami. She also founded Women in Distress, the first women's rescue center in Florida. Roxcy has received numerous accolades and is an iconic and loved figure in our community. Congratulations, Roxcy. Helen Aguirre Ferre is another pioneer. She is an award-winning journalist and communications consultant who was recently inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame. As the chair of the Board of Trustees of Miami Dade College--my alma mater--Helen is committed to promoting education and establishing policies that would help students across our community. Congratulations, Helen. Julia Tuttle, known as the mother of Miami, made history as the only female founder of a major U.S. city when she helped establish the city of Miami many years ago. Julia's vision and perseverance have long been traits that south Floridians have worked to carry on since the founding of our great city of Miami. Tuttle's mantel of leadership is heavy, but it has been carried on by so many others. Marjory Stoneman Douglas made another kind of south Florida history when she worked tirelessly to save her beloved Everglades. Her iconic book, ``The Everglades: River of Grass,'' helped awaken so many to the need of preserving this one-of-a-kind ecological wonder and led the fight to establish the Everglades National Park. Judge Bertila Soto is a modern-day heroine. She is a fellow graduate of my alma maters, Florida International University and the University of Miami. She was named chief judge of Florida's 11th Judicial Circuit. Bertila is both the first Cuban American and the first woman to helm the largest judicial circuit in the State. Her energy and understanding of complex legal issues have driven her to success. Every day that Judge Soto is hard at work, she is not only living, but making south Florida history. Congratulations to Bertila. I also want to honor our female pilots of World War II, the Women Airforce Service Pilots, also known as the WASPS. They were responsible for removing the barriers for women in the military today. And I know this because my daughter-in-law, Lindsay, was afforded the opportunity to join the Marine Corps and fly combat missions both in Iraq and Afghanistan thanks to these women pioneers. South Florida has been home to some of these remarkable heroines like Ruth Shafer Fleisher, Shirley Kruse, and Bee Haydu, as well as Frances Rohrer Sargent and Helen Wyatt Snapp, who have passed away. Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to recognize all of these outstanding women, past and present. May these role models continue to remind girls and young women that nothing can hold them back from realizing their dreams.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of a dear friend, John Collins. John was a man of unwavering courage and dedication to our community and our country. At a very young age, John answered the patriotic call to join our proud Marine Corps, where he served for 23 years. During that time, John fought in the Korean war and was promoted on the battlefield from sergeant to lieutenant. In 1971, after retiring from the military as a major, John moved to Florida, where he began another successful career with the Miami-Dade Police Department, where he served 26 years. John was dedicated to his wife, Mary, a good friend with whom he celebrated 50 years of marriage this past September, and he loved their three sons and seven grandsons, three of whom continue John's legacy of service in our military. John Collins stayed engaged in good causes in our community, joining the Veterans Committee in his hometown of Miami Lakes. May God bless and keep John Collins in his bosom and may his memory live forever in the hearts of those he knew. Semper fi, mi amigo.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. During his time in Cuba, President Obama failed to announce any substantive changes on policies, such as the fugitive policy. Is there any news on returning New Jersey cop killer Joanne Chesimard or any of the other fugitives of U.S. justice, such as Charles Hill, William Guillermo Morales, or Victor Manuel Gerena? No news. On confiscated property, there was no positive announcement about the Castro regime paying back Americans who had their properties confiscated. There was no announcement by Castro about improving human rights on the island. Castro denied that human rights violations occur in Cuba. Again, look at this poster. As predicted, Castro also demanded the return of the naval station at Guantanamo Bay. This Congress has been very clear that it strongly opposes relinquishing GTMO or transferring detainees to the United States. Now, President Obama incorrectly keeps calling the Communist strongman Castro ``President Castro''--wrong. He is not President of Cuba. There have never been elections. There are no political parties, except the Communist Party, in Cuba. There are no free and fair elections. He is not President. Stop calling a dictator President. The President, our President Obama, proclaimed that this trip to Cuba would be fun. That is his word. It has not been fun for all of the Cubans who have been beaten leading up to the President's visit. It hasn't been fun for all the Cubans who have been prevented from leaving their homes until the President departs Cuba because they are human rights activists. Now let me show you this other poster, Mr. Speaker. This is a poster of President Reagan with Gorbachev in 1987. And what happened there? President Reagan said: ``Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.'' In Havana, 2016, President Obama says: Thank you, President Castro, for your spirit of openness. Spirit of openness? And again, President what? He is not a President. What openness, when press is prohibited in Cuba? What openness, when the Cuban people are jailed for dissenting views? What openness, when the economy is controlled by one entity, the communist regime? America, under the Obama administration, has forsaken those who suffer under Castro's oppression. That is a sad fact. And this will be President Obama's legacy, Mr. Speaker, the President who abdicated America's role as a defender of international human rights, all for a narcissistic play at building a legacy as the President who restored America's relations with dictators and tyrants who will do anything to undermine our country and harm our interests and our citizens. And that is all there is about Cuba.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, in 2014, President Obama said he wanted to go to Cuba if, and I quote, ``I, with confidence, can say that we are seeing some progress in liberty and freedom. If we are going backwards,'' President Obama said, ``then there is not much reason for me to be there. I am not interested in just validating the status quo.'' Well, look at this poster, Mr. Speaker. These are human rights dissidents who were rounded up and beaten. If Obama's Cuba policy is not going backwards, I don't know what is, because the oppressive Cuban apparatus of repression only seems to be emboldened. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in Havana, Raul Castro was asked by a reporter if he would release political prisoners in Cuba. Castro looked uncomfortable. Why? Because in Cuba, there is no free press. Reporters are not allowed to ask real questions to regime leaders. Castro said, well, there are no political prisoners in Cuba at all, and if there were, he would free them by nightfall. That's a good one. Well, there are 11 million people imprisoned by Castro's communist regime--the entire island. But here is a list, Mr. Speaker, of over 50 political prisoners, and this is a list comprised by the Cuban Democratic Directorate. Some of these individuals have been in jail for over 20 years. Others are constantly detained, released, and rearrested. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to enter this list into the Record.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, a picture is worth a thousand words. This poster shows President Obama with the Che Guevara image behind him, coming soon to a T-shirt near you. Che was a sadistic murderer and killer who executed Cubans during his reign of terror. Che, along with Fidel and Raul Castro, is responsible for the suffering, misery, and oppression of the people of Cuba. But it seems that some people just don't care. Yesterday President Obama said in an interview that he would be happy to meet with Fidel Castro, and President Obama believes that Raul Castro ``truly wants change in Cuba.'' Really? What is stopping Castro from holding free and fair elections? Let's start with that little change. This continued effort to legitimize this regime and its atrocities is appalling. It is appalling for those people who love freedom. It is appalling for those who have been political prisoners in Castro's gulags. It is appalling for those families who have lost their loved ones because of this communist regime. Today is a sad day, indeed, and this poster says it all. Smile in front of Che Guevara. Get the T-shirt now.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, when President Obama announced his efforts to normalize relations with Cuba in December 2014, many of us believed that his decision would only embolden the regime and end up hurting the Cuban people. Well, almost a year and a half later, we can say, unfortunately, as expected, that our suspicions have been warranted. This is indeed what has happened. President Obama is only worried about legacy shopping and is willing to ignore the plight of the Cuban people who continue to suffer under Castro, and this normalization effort has been an abject failure for freedom and democracy on the island. The lives of the Cuban people have not improved. A record number of them are fleeing the island to escape Castro's tyranny; and freedom and liberty, unfortunately, no longer seem to be the goals of this administration for the people of Cuba. In December 2015, President Obama said in an interview that he would go to Cuba only when the human rights situation on the island had improved. Well, Mr. Speaker, this is what human rights looks like on the island, the valiant Ladies in White, who walk peacefully in Cuba to their church--and you see one being dragged away in the lower corner. This is what happens to them every week in Castro's Cuba. They are harassed. They are beaten. This is not what an improved human rights situation looks like at all, Mr. President. Hours before the President arrived in Cuba, hundreds of pro-democracy advocates were arrested. Listen to that, ladies and gentlemen. Hundreds of pro-democracy advocates were arrested just hours before the President's Air Force One touched down. Many of them were members of the Ladies in White, Las Damas de Blanco. The Ladies in White are mothers, wives, daughters, sisters of current or former political prisoners. These brave women continue to speak out for justice and freedom against the regime that oppresses them daily and arrests them every Sunday when they walk peacefully to church. Two weeks ago, the Ladies in White leader, Berta Soler--and we saw her in one of the posters--asked President Obama very pointedly--and there they are getting arrested, harassed, as they do all the time. She said: Please visit Gandhi Park, where we meet. Meet with the victims of Castro's repression. Well, President Obama responded by stating: ``No one should face harassment, arrest, or physical assault simply because they are exercising a universal right to have their voices heard.'' That is absolutely true. And then he added that he would raise these issues directly with their oppressor, Raul Castro. But once you have already embraced the oppressor of the Ladies in White and legitimized his regime on the world stage, what does this empty rhetoric and phrases matter to any of them? In February 2015, Berta Soler testified before our House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and she stated: ``Our demands are quite concrete: freedom for political prisoners, recognition of civil society, the elimination of all criminal dispositions that penalize freedom of expression and association, and the right of the Cuban people to choose their future through free, plural elections.'' Elections in Cuba? Fidel Castro famously said, elections for what? They don't have any political system at all. There is only one party that is allowed to operate; that is the Communist Party. They have selections, not elections. The Cuban people deserve more than just lip service and platitudes from the White House. They are demanding actions and reforms in Cuba to unclench the fist of the Castro control. But solely a meeting with Cuban civil society is a very low bar, Mr. Speaker. It is not enough to help the Cuban people, especially after shaking the hand of a murderous tyrant like Raul Castro. However, even this meeting with civil society is being undermined by Castro's thugs, even this low bar. Gee, if I just meet with dissidents--check off the list--then my trip will have been a success. Many civil society members have stated that they are now under house arrest, as I speak, and that Castro's security agents are preventing them from leaving their own homes until President Obama leaves Cuba. In Cuba's communist newspaper, called Granma, the regime noted that President Obama's trip to Havana dispels the myth that human rights are being violated on the island. They are no fools. They understand the image is worth a thousand words. The image of President Obama in Cuba says no human rights are being violated. And the regime knows that all of the concessions that President Obama has given come with no strings attached. I will end with this, Mr. Speaker: No reforms are needed. No changes need to be made. In fact, the Castro regime has already stated that it will not change one bit after all of these concessions. The Cuban people deserve better. The American people deserve better.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, Raul Castro's thugs arrested or detained many Cuban pro-democracy leaders in anticipation of the President's time in Cuba. Berta Soler, the leader of the Ladies in White, was detained; Antonio Rodiles, detained; and some of these activists were invited to participate in the meeting with President Obama. Antunez and his wife, Yris, arrested; musician Gorki Aguila, arrested; former political prisoner Angel Moya, arrested. Pastor Mario Felix Lleonart Barroso was arrested yesterday. The Castro brothers have shifted their strategy to a catch-and- release program to intimidate activists who have been placed under house arrest by the repressive apparatus of the regime. President Obama says that human rights are important to him, but empty words with no actions to back them up send the message to the Castro regime to continue with his repression, and Castro continues to do so. No surprise there. Shame on us, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, the Gulf Cooperation Council pledged to designate Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, as a terrorist organization. This positive move was followed up with a similar designation by the Arab League. This is in stark contrast to President Obama's strategy, where he continues to appease the Iranian regime at the expense of our traditional alliances in the region. Do problems still exist within some of the Arab League nations as it relates to support for terror and terror financing? Of course they do. I will continue to press all of those nations to do more to curb these problems and to tackle all extremist groups, not just Hezbollah. But designating Hezbollah as a terrorist group is a step in the right direction. We must work with these nations and encourage greater cooperation to root out all extremist groups. Mr. Speaker, instead of allowing Iran's continued provocations to pass without repercussion, the Obama administration should be holding Iran accountable for its actions. It is long past overdue.