The Public Record
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is a former U.S. Representative who served Florida's 18th congressional district from 1989 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, she was the first Hispanic woman elected to the U.S. Congress. Throughout her tenure, Ros-Lehtinen was known for her strong advocacy on issues related to Cuba, human rights, and foreign policy. She played a significant role in promoting legislation aimed at supporting democracy and human rights in Cuba, often speaking out against the Castro regime.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to, again, thank Ms. Meng for her wonderful leadership role in this and many other pieces of legislation going through our Foreign Affairs Committee and commend Mr. Collins, as well, for this blow against…
I am proud to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.
And I will introduce our closing speaker. I never thought that I would utter these words, but it was a pleasure to work with Mr. Castro. In closing for our side, Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Florida…
At this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.
I think it is the right thing for the United States to sanction human rights violators that have killed so many in Venezuela.
I hope that in the same way you helped with Jon Hammar that you help out with Andrew's case.
I was pleased to join Mr. Vargas and Mr. Duncan Hunter in a letter to the Embassy in Mexico, asking that this hero be helped out in his sad situation.
I believe it is only prudent for the U.S. to continue to seek and push extradition of high value criminals.
So far, there have been over 40 people killed, nearly 60 reported cases of torture, more than 2,000 people unjustly detained, hundreds more injured.
And they have been marching with a clear call; they are calling for the respect for human rights and democracy to really take hold in their nation.
For 3 months now, as both of the gentlemen have explained, the Maduro regime in Venezuela has committed grave human rights violations as it seeks to muzzle the students who are peaceful.
This legislation imposes targeted sanctions on those individuals who have carried out human rights abuses or who ordered the violence against those peaceful protesters.
H.R. 4587, the Venezuela and Human Rights and Democracy Promotion Act, authored by Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen.
Secretary Kerry's faith that Abu Mazen and the PLO could sit down with Israel this time was misplaced.
To say that this task was one better suited for Sisyphus would be an understatement.
I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure that it does not get this authority.
I fully expect Secretary Kerry and the administration to enforce the letter of the law.
No U.S. Government money will go into any government that includes Hamas until Hamas accepts the quartet conditions.
The Cuban people have been suffering under the Castro dictatorship for more than 50 years; not because of U.S. policy.
So why not Cuba? Why does our foreign policy agenda discriminate against the freedom-seeking people in the western hemisphere?
The real question here is why does the press and some in our congressional family demonize these programs?
I don't see any reason why he should not be allowed out of prison, frankly, to continue peaceful work.
It is shameful that the Obama administration continues to neglect the suffering of the Venezuelan people.
I remain increasingly concerned over the lack of action by the Obama administration against the human rights abusers in Venezuela.
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