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Congressional Record—House H1467 March 21, 2016 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1467 that this cannot be tolerated; that, ul- fully in Cuba to their church—and you Castro’s thugs, even this low bar. Gee, timately, this body must stand and do see one being dragged away in the if I just meet with dissidents—check what it is obligated to do, which is, in lower corner. This is what happens to off the list—then my trip will have fact, to demand freedom for Americans them every week in Castro’s Cuba. been a success. held involuntarily and illegally around They are harassed. They are beaten. Many civil society members have the world, and particularly in Iran. This is not what an improved human stated that they are now under house PRESIDENT OBAMA’S SUPREME COURT rights situation looks like at all, Mr. arrest, as I speak, and that Castro’s se- NOMINATION President. curity agents are preventing them Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I will close Hours before the President arrived in from leaving their own homes until by commenting on the Democratic Cuba, hundreds of pro-democracy advo- President Obama leaves Cuba. Whip’s statements. He is demanding cates were arrested. Listen to that, la- In Cuba’s communist newspaper, that the Senate do its job. dies and gentlemen. Hundreds of pro- called Granma, the regime noted that At a time in which the political sea- democracy advocates were arrested President Obama’s trip to Havana dis- son is well underway and politicians just hours before the President’s Air pels the myth that human rights are are campaigning around America for Force One touched down. Many of them being violated on the island. They are President, at a time in which two sides were members of the Ladies in White, no fools. They understand the image is have two different visions of the Con- Las Damas de Blanco. worth a thousand words. The image of President Obama in Cuba says no stitution—one is that the original in- The Ladies in White are mothers, human rights are being violated. And tent of the Constitution be adhered to wives, daughters, sisters of current or the regime knows that all of the con- and changed only by the will of the former political prisoners. These brave cessions that President Obama has people, as it has been 27 times; or, that women continue to speak out for jus- tice and freedom against the regime given come with no strings attached. it be simply cast aside the way the cur- I will end with this, Mr. Speaker: rent nominee for the Supreme Court that oppresses them daily and arrests them every Sunday when they walk No reforms are needed. No changes would do with the Second Amendment need to be made. In fact, the Castro re- and others—I respect the minority peacefully to church. Two weeks ago, the Ladies in White gime has already stated that it will not leader’s right to an opinion; but, of leader, Berta Soler—and we saw her in change one bit after all of these conces- course, we all, on this floor, have a one of the posters—asked President sions. right to be wrong from time to time. Obama very pointedly—and there they The Cuban people deserve better. Mr. Speaker, he clearly was when he The American people deserve better. are getting arrested, harassed, as they went on for more than 10 minutes, tell- do all the time. She said: Please visit f ing us that we have to confirm a Su- Gandhi Park, where we meet. Meet RECESS preme Court Justice in the middle of a with the victims of Castro’s repression. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- political season. Well, President Obama responded by I wish he had joined me in saying ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair stating: ‘‘No one should face harass- declares the House in recess until 2 that this President should not make ment, arrest, or physical assault sim- agreements that circumvent the Con- p.m. today. ply because they are exercising a uni- Accordingly (at 12 o’clock and 25 stitution, that circumvent this body versal right to have their voices and leave Americans stranded abroad. minutes p.m.), the House stood in re- heard.’’ cess. f That is absolutely true. f LADIES IN WHITE AND PRESIDENT And then he added that he would OBAMA’S TRIP TO CUBA raise these issues directly with their b 1400 oppressor, Raul Castro. AFTER RECESS The SPEAKER pro tempore. The But once you have already embraced Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the oppressor of the Ladies in White The recess having expired, the House Florida (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN) for 5 min- and legitimized his regime on the world was called to order by the Speaker pro utes. stage, what does this empty rhetoric tempore (Mr. SENSENBRENNER) at 2 p.m. Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, and phrases matter to any of them? f when President Obama announced his In February 2015, Berta Soler testi- PRAYER efforts to normalize relations with fied before our House Committee on Cuba in December 2014, many of us be- Foreign Affairs, and she stated: ‘‘Our The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick lieved that his decision would only em- demands are quite concrete: freedom J. Conroy, offered the following prayer: God of mercy, thank You for giving bolden the regime and end up hurting for political prisoners, recognition of the Cuban people. Well, almost a year us another day. civil society, the elimination of all The Psalmist could not find enough and a half later, we can say, unfortu- criminal dispositions that penalize nately, as expected, that our suspicions words to express trust in You. Personal freedom of expression and association, experience of Your presence, care, and have been warranted. This is indeed and the right of the Cuban people to what has happened. abiding guidance gave rise to his song: choose their future through free, plural ‘‘O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my President Obama is only worried elections.’’ deliverer. My God, my rock of refuge, about legacy shopping and is willing to Elections in Cuba? Fidel Castro fa- my shield, the fullness of my salvation, ignore the plight of the Cuban people mously said, elections for what? They my stronghold.’’ Psalm 18:2. who continue to suffer under Castro, don’t have any political system at all. Stir in our hearts today Your Spirit. and this normalization effort has been There is only one party that is allowed Touch the soul of this Nation that we an abject failure for freedom and de- to operate; that is the Communist may see Your saving work in our work mocracy on the island. Party. They have selections, not elec- and the work of this House. Your The lives of the Cuban people have tions. strength behind our weakness, Your not improved. A record number of them The Cuban people deserve more than purpose in our efforts at laws of jus- are fleeing the island to escape Castro’s just lip service and platitudes from the tice, Your peace drawing all of us and tyranny; and freedom and liberty, un- White House. They are demanding ac- the entire world to lasting freedom. fortunately, no longer seem to be the tions and reforms in Cuba to unclench You are ever faithful, O Lord, worthy goals of this administration for the the fist of the Castro control. of all of our trust, now and forever. people of Cuba. But solely a meeting with Cuban May everything we do this day be for In December 2015, President Obama civil society is a very low bar, Mr. Your greater honor and glory. said in an interview that he would go Speaker. It is not enough to help the Amen. to Cuba only when the human rights Cuban people, especially after shaking f situation on the island had improved. the hand of a murderous tyrant like Well, Mr. Speaker, this is what human Raul Castro. THE JOURNAL rights looks like on the island, the val- However, even this meeting with The SPEAKER pro tempore. The iant Ladies in White, who walk peace- civil society is being undermined by Chair has examined the Journal of the VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:17 Mar 22, 2016 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K21MR7.004 H21MRPT1 smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE.
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