Administration of George W. Bush, 2004 / Feb. 26 297

Senator Mitch McConnell of , husband mation 6867 of March 1, 1996, based on the of Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao; Robert disturbance or threatened disturbance of the Wood ‘‘Woody’’ Northup, husband of Representa- international relations of the tive Anne M. Northup; Gov. and caused by actions taken by the Cuban gov- Lt. Gov. Steve Pence of Kentucky; Kentucky Sec- ernment, and in light of steps taken over the retary of State Trey Grayson; David Williams, president, and Richard L. Roeding, president pro past year by the Cuban government to wors- tem, Kentucky State Senate; and Mercer Rey- en the threat to United States international nolds, national finance chairman, Bush-Cheney relations, and, ’04, Inc. Whereas the United States has deter- mined that Cuba is a state-sponsor of ter- rorism and it is subject to the restrictions of Statement on House Passage of the section 6(j)(1)(A) of the Export Administra- ‘‘Unborn Victims of Violence Act of tion Act of 1979, section 620A of the Foreign 2004’’ Assistance Act of 1961, and section 40 of the February 26, 2004 Arms Export Control Act; Whereas the Cuban government has demonstrated a ready and reckless willing- I applaud the House for passing the ‘‘Un- ness to use excessive force, including deadly born Victims of Violence Act’’ today by a force, against U.S. citizens, in the ostensible strong bipartisan vote. We must continue to enforcement of its sovereignty, including the build a culture of life in our country, a com- February 1996 shoot-down of two unarmed passionate society in which every child is U.S.-registered civilian aircraft in inter- born into a loving family and protected by national airspace, resulting in the deaths of law. three American citizens and one other indi- Pregnant women who have been harmed vidual; by violence, and their families, know that Whereas the Cuban government has there are two victims—the mother and the demonstrated a ready and reckless willing- unborn child—and both victims should be ness to use excessive force, including deadly protected by Federal law. force, against U.S. citizens and its own citi- I urge the Senate to pass this bill so that zens, including on July 13, 1995, when per- I can sign it into law. sons in U.S.-registered vessels that entered into Cuban territorial waters suffered injury NOTE: The statement referred to H.R. 1997. as a result of the reckless use of force against them by the Cuban military, and including Proclamation 7757—Expanding the the July 1994 sinking of an unarmed Cuban- registered vessel, resulting in the deaths of Scope of the National Emergency 41 Cuban citizens; and Invocation of Emergency Whereas the Cuban government has im- Authority Relating to the Regulation pounded U.S.-registered vessels in Cuban of the Anchorage and Movement of ports and forced the owners, as a condition Vessels Into Cuban Territorial of release, to violate U.S. law by requiring Waters payments to be made to the Cuban govern- February 26, 2004 ment; Whereas the entry of any U.S.-registered vessels into Cuban territorial waters could re- By the President of the United States sult in injury to, or loss of life of, persons of America engaged in that conduct, due to the potential A Proclamation use of excessive force, including deadly force, against them by the Cuban military, and By the authority vested in me by the Con- could threaten a disturbance of international stitution and the laws of the United States relations; of America, in order to expand the scope of Whereas the unauthorized entry of ves- the national emergency declared in Procla- sels subject to the jurisdiction of the United

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