DAVID RIVERA

Even more troubling, our national debt is dangerously high at over $14.9 trillion, threatening our nation's ability to recover.

It seems that perhaps with this administration, it has been more important to worry about our debt obligations to the butchers of Beijing than speak out against continued widespread human rights abuses.

I would refer to them... as really the butchers of Beijing.

I would encourage the Members to read this report because what it encourages us to do is that for the economic and political transition of Cuba what we argued here was that we needed not a weak Cuba where a power vacuum would be left but a…

The fact that any report that would argue to make the Castro dictatorship stronger is flawed on its face.

this report is outrageous, that we would be negotiating with a terrorist regime to release an American hostage

My understanding has always been that it is the policy of this Nation not to negotiate with terrorists.

we know that they have murdered Americans over international airspace, so they certainly have earned their label as a terrorist state.

it does seem a little contradictory that we are trying to fight the financing of terrorist activities but we are facilitating that financing of terrorist activities by allowing more and more resources, capital resources, to go to a…

But the fact is Communist China is an enemy of democracy.

We should always do everything possible to avert sending any type of mixed message or disturbing message that perhaps we are turning our backs on our allies in an effort to appease our enemies.

We need to move forward with these free trade agreements. Colombia and Panama are two of the United States largest trading partners.

I don't think I am prepared to send one red cent more to the Palestinian Authority unless they prove to me that they are serious about peace with Israel.

Cuba is an enemy of the United States.

Does the name Janet Chesimard mean anything to you? Would you consider her a terrorist?

While we are languishing in our commitment and dedication to free trade with these countries, the European Union and Canada have been promoting it quite vigorously.

I think it is unfortunate that in the upcoming trip that President Obama is taking to Latin America he is not including stops in Colombia and Panama.

Passing the Colombia free trade agreement, for example, is of utmost importance to moving our economy forward, creating jobs.

In light of the situation with Alan Gross, U.S. citizen, which I believe is being held hostage by the Castro dictatorship...

I think it is outrageous that we would basically wash our hands over our own people in the service of this country for USAID's development programs and democracy building programs.

I am deeply concerned with our current administration's policy and attitude toward Latin America over the past few years.

Can you cite any concession for democratic reform that has ever been made by the Castro dictatorship?