Political Quotes

“I thank my good friend, the chairman of the committee, for yielding. I am just astounded, but I am very pleased to hear my good friends from the other side speak so eloquently about support for human rights and support for labor leaders and workers' rights. Yet some of these folks are the very same ones who want to lift those sanctions against Communist, totalitarian Cuba, where labor unions are outlawed, where workers have no rights, and where human rights are not respected at all. I don't think the Castro brothers can even spell ``human rights'' in either language. But on to the point of human rights and free trade and dignity for workers in Colombia, I am so pleased that, finally, we are going to pass this agreement. In south Florida, Colombia is already south Florida's second largest trading partner. Our two largest economic engines are the Port of Miami and the Miami International Airport, both of which will benefit tremendously from the increase in trade with a free, democratic Colombia. So I welcome this, and I hope that this newfound love for human rights and trade and labor unions will extend to my native homeland of Cuba one day. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. After having waited for years since this agreement was first signed the time has finally come for Congress to vote to approve it. This agreement is, good for Colombia but is even better for the United States.…”