Lincoln Diaz-Balart: “Mr. Speaker, the reality of the matter is that, first of all, as I stated in my statement previously, there is a…”

“Mr. Speaker, the reality of the matter is that, first of all, as I stated in my statement previously, there is a difference of opinion with regard to the travel issue. By the way, the travel issue was brought to the floor here on a limitation amendment, not a substantive amendment, a limitation amendment. Yet even assuming that that was an amendment wherein or whereby the House spoke, there was not a limitation amendment, but a substantive amendment before the Senate, a different result. So it is important that it be brought out that there is a difference of opinion with regard to that issue in recent votes between the House and Senate. With regard to the examples brought out about academics and others being able to travel, that is under the current restrictions, under the current regulations permitted. So what is not permitted under this legislation is an expansion of further travel and initiative with the purpose of the most immediate, what would constitute the most immediate generator of hard currency for the regime. It is estimated that massive American tourism would produce up to $5 billion a year for the Cuban regime. Right now we are in a situation where, if my distinguished colleagues would read the wires, for example, with regard to the very little coverage that there is of the internal situation of Cuba, there is a crackdown as we speak against dissidents and other peaceful pro-democracy activists in Cuba.”