David Weldon: “since the early 1960s, U.S. policy towards Cuba has consisted largely of isolating the island nation through…”

“since the early 1960s, U.S. policy towards Cuba has consisted largely of isolating the island nation through comprehensive economic sanctions. In addition, these sanctions were made stronger with the 1992 congressional approval of the Cuban Democracy Act (CDA). I feel strongly that it has never been in our nation's best interest to recognize countries in our hemisphere that rebel against the ideas and freedoms we hold so dear. Some people feel that it is time to lift these sanctions. I believe it is important to uphold the principles of democracy and freedom, human rights and liberty for which our Founding Fathers fought so hard. All peoples--including Cubans--have the right to enjoy these basic, inalienable rights as well. It is my understanding that once again, recently, the Cuban dictatorship took aggressive action to stifle the efforts of freedom-loving Cubans. Today is not the day to reward this repressive behavior. I urge my colleagues to reject the Flake-Delahunt-Davis Amendment. Today's proposed amendments, which would open the floodgates of American dollars to the Castro dictatorship, would only prolong and strengthen the dictator's grip on the people of Cuba. To allow the American travel industry to engage Castro would send the worst of all messages to the freedom-seeking Cuban dissidents who rely on the United States not to give into this regime.”