But what I do not get a sense from your presentations, and I would like to pursue with you, is the question of democracy and human rights.

This threatens to become a full-blown institutional crisis with regional implications.

I cannot allow a hearing go by in which we are largely in applause and have no concerns.

I think many of our Latin American neighbors use the issue of Cuba to excuse the lack of democracy and human rights in many of their countries.

It sounds a lot like Venezuela.

It seems to me that that is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the OAS Democratic Charter.

may I just take a moment to congratulate you, Mr. Cardin, for your leadership in organizing the letter signed by 157 legislatures across the hemisphere.

Without U.S. leadership, the international community tends not to coalesce around active support for democracy in the hemisphere.

the way that you make lives better is by trying to change that which is negative.

The region will not, in my opinion, develop as it should without strengthening the rule of law and institutions because it will not be able to attract investment in order to build a more secure future.

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The question is on agreeing to the motion to concur. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk called the…

first, I thank the distinguished senior Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over the territories, including Puerto Rico, for her advocacy, for her strength of passion in this effort, and for her…