Lincoln Diaz-Balart: “Let me first start by thanking the leadership, the steadfast, never confused leadership of Congressman Albio Sires. He…”

“Let me first start by thanking the leadership, the steadfast, never confused leadership of Congressman Albio Sires. He is a man who I have had the privilege of traveling with to Eastern Europe, where he is known there, as he is in the United States, for one who is always fighting for those who are repressed, oppressed around the world; which is why the people of Venezuela know that they can count on Congressman Albio Sires for his leadership. Thank you, sir, for never giving up, never fighting, never forgetting those who are struggling under repression. You mentioned Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. She is a giant, a giant in the Halls of Congress, a giant for not only things that obviously affect us here domestically, because she is fighting for those, particularly those who are the least fortunate in our society. But if there is somebody who is known internationally as a fighter for those who, again, are struggling for freedom, it is Ileana Ros- Lehtinen. I thank you also, Mr. Sires, for mentioning the chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee. We just heard from him, a person who, again, is on the same track of always making sure that the--he makes the United States look good by never forgetting human rights as a fundamental pillar of our foreign policy. The people of Venezuela are demonstrating that they are, in fact, the heirs of Simon Bolivar.…”