E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 163 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2017 No. 85 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was refused to allow her to leave the island. image to the outside world that the sit- called to order by the Speaker pro tem- We were lucky enough to have one of uation in Cuba is improving, but we pore (Mr. FITZPATRICK). the organization’s founding members, must not be fooled, Mr. Speaker. The f Blanca Reyes Castanon, with us ac- regime will do whatever it takes to re- cepting the award on the group’s be- main in power. That is its sole desire, DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO half. to remain in power. We must be clear- TEMPORE I have had the privilege of knowing eyed. The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- both Blanca and Berta for so many We must be honest about what is fore the House the following commu- years, and it has been an honor for me really going on in Cuba. We must not nication from the Speaker: to be able to raise awareness about the be placated by the regime’s lies or by WASHINGTON, DC, brave and inspiring Ladies in White, those who repeat them. We must fight May 17, 2017. whether I do it here from the House for the truth and show the Cuban peo- I hereby appoint the Honorable BRIAN K. floor or by hosting them here in our ple that they are not alone, that to- FITZPATRICK to act as Speaker pro tempore Nation’s Capital or in my district in gether we all stand in solidarity with on this day. Miami, Florida. them in the pursuit of freedom, in the PAUL D. RYAN, Each Sunday in Cuba, the Ladies in pursuit of democracy and the ability to Speaker of the House of Representatives. White fight for their relatives and all practice their religion, to live without f political prisoners in Cuba, dem- fear of arbitrary arrests, to live with- MORNING-HOUR DEBATE onstrating peacefully as they walk to out fear of torture, and finally one day church. to be able to choose their own leaders. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Yet each Sunday, Mr. Speaker, they And we can start by supporting the ant to the order of the House of Janu- are harassed. They are beaten. They faces of Cuba’s future, the dissidents, ary 3, 2017, the Chair will now recog- are arrested by the regime’s thugs. the human rights champions, the de- nize Members from lists submitted by As a Cuban refugee myself, fleeing fenders of freedom, like the brave the majority and minority leaders for the island with my parents when I was women of the Ladies in White. They morning-hour debate. only 8 years old, I have seen how the represent the true Cuba. They are The Chair will alternate recognition regime has morphed and evolved its Cuba’s future. And it was my honor to between the parties, with each party methods of repression over the years. present them with the IRI’s 2017 Free- limited to 1 hour and each Member Its treatment of the Ladies in White dom Award last night. other than the majority and minority is emblematic of how it treats all polit- Congratulations to las Damas de leaders and the minority whip limited ical dissidents, with intimidation, with Blanco, the Ladies in White. to 5 minutes, but in no event shall de- harassment, with arbitrary arrests, f bate continue beyond 11:50 a.m. with short-term detentions, with deny- CALLING FOR IMPEACHMENT OF f ing them the ability to travel, by try- ing to bully dissidents into silence. THE PRESIDENT LADIES IN WHITE 2017 FREEDOM It attempts to disguise its tactics of The SPEAKER pro tempore. The AWARD repression, trying to fly under the Chair recognizes the gentleman from The SPEAKER pro tempore. The radar so that outside eyes are fooled or Texas (Mr. AL GREEN) for 5 minutes. Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from placated or feel that they can simply Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speak- Florida (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN) for 5 min- look the other way. But we won’t, Mr. er, I rise today with a heavy heart. I utes. Speaker. We won’t look the other way. rise today with a sense of responsi- Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, Despite all of the propaganda, despite bility and duty to the people who have last night I had the honor of presenting all of the misguided policy over the elected me, a sense of duty to this the International Republican Insti- past years, the reality is that the re- country, a sense of duty to the Con- tute’s 2017 Freedom Award to great gime’s repression is only getting worse, stitution of the United States of Amer- freedom fighters in my native home- and dissidents like the Ladies in White ica. land of Cuba, the Ladies in White, las are bearing the brunt of the regime’s I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to call for Damas de Blanco, although my dear intimidation and violence. the impeachment of the President of friend Berta Soler, the leader of the The regime is terrified of anyone who the United States of America for ob- Ladies in White, was not able to be speaks for their God-given human struction of justice. I do not do this for there. Why? Because the Cuban regime rights in Cuba. It wants to project an political purposes, Mr. Speaker. I do b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H4227 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:21 May 18, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A17MY7.000 H17MYPT1 SSpencer on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H4228 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE May 17, 2017 this because I believe in the great bring charges against the President. It Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remem- ideals that this country stands for, lib- is similar to an indictment but not ber Officer Brackeen and all of the offi- erty and justice for all, the notion that quite the same thing. cers throughout our country who serve we should have government of the peo- Once a President is impeached, then us so diligently every day who lost ple, by the people, for the people. the Senate can have a trial to deter- their lives serving our communities. It I do it because, Mr. Speaker, there is mine the guilt or innocence of the is really important for us as Americans a belief in this country that no one is President; whether he is guilty or not to thank those who put themselves in above the law, and that includes the guilty, to be more specific. But the harm’s way so we may live peaceful President of the United States of House of Representatives has a duty lives for our own benefit and for the America. that it can take up, and that is of im- benefit of our communities. Mr. Speaker, our democracy is at peachment. Our men and women in blue put their risk. Mr. Speaker, this offense has oc- I stand for impeachment of the Presi- lives on the line each and every day to curred before our very eyes. It is per- dent. How can you weigh in? Well, you keep us safe. When shots are fired, they spicuous. It is easy to understand. can contact my good friends over at run toward the sound of the gun while Mr. Speaker, we are talking about a Free Speech For People. At that orga- others are running away. I thank them President who fired the FBI Director nization, they have a petition. The pe- for their dedicated service, and I pray who was investigating the President tition would allow you to weigh in and each day for their continued safety. for his connections to Russian involve- become a part of the nearly 1 million f people who have already said the Presi- ment in the President’s election. HOLDING WHITE HOUSE dent ought to be impeached. You can Mr. Speaker, this is not about the ACCOUNTABLE President firing the FBI Director be- weigh in at The SPEAKER pro tempore. The cause he was investigating someone impeachdonaldtrumpnow.org. And be- Chair recognizes the gentleman from else. It is because the FBI Director was lieve me, if a plurality of the people are saying it now, and that is the poll New York (Mr. JEFFRIES) for 5 minutes. investigating the President himself. Mr. JEFFRIES. Mr. Speaker, the And after firing the Director, he went that I really put my emphasis on, the one that says a plurality believes that House of Representatives is a separate on to let us know that he considered and coequal branch of government. We the investigation when he fired him. the President should be impeached, more than 40 percent, I think that can don’t work for Donald Trump; we work And then he tweeted language that for the people of this great Nation. The would be intimidation or a warning, an grow. I assure you, once you weigh in, American people, there will be a dif- events of the last few months have admonition, very strong, to say the been deeply troubling.