Bob Menendez: “I have come to the floor many times to speak out about the Castro regime's abuses of the Cuban people. Today, I come to…”

“I have come to the floor many times to speak out about the Castro regime's abuses of the Cuban people. Today, I come to the floor once again, this time in strong opposition to any attempt in this Chamber to pass any bill that in any way lifts or lessens the travel ban on Cuba. I wish to make it absolutely clear that I will oppose and filibuster, if I need to, any effort to ease regulations that stand to enrich a regime that denies its own people basic human rights. The fact is, the big corporate interests behind this misguided attempt to weaken the travel ban could not care less whether the Cuban people are free. They care only about opening a new market and increasing their bottom line. This is about the color of money, not the desire for freedom. The very fact that a travel bill has moved through the House Agriculture Committee makes one wonder why American agricultural interests would even care about tourist travel to Cuba. One can only assume it is about generating increased tourism dollars for the Castro regime to buy more agricultural products. That would only serve to enrich the regime and do absolutely nothing to bring democracy to the island.”