Robert Torricelli: “on February 24, 1996, under the directions of Fidel Castro, the Cuban Air Force encountered and destroyed a civilian…”

“on February 24, 1996, under the directions of Fidel Castro, the Cuban Air Force encountered and destroyed a civilian aircraft in the Florida straits. Murdered on that day were four innocent civilians, including Americans. At almost the same time, 100 brave Cuban citizens demonstrating in the streets of Havana were arrested for demanding democratic reforms, and they remain in jail. In response to these actions, President Clinton, with the strong bipartisan support of this country, on that day made several changes in American policy. First, we suspended the very remittances that would be expanded by the Bingaman amendment today, and canceled flights that were encouraging tourism and travel in Cuba. It was a modest response to an egregious act. We were united then; I do not know what would divide us now. Since the murders on that day, there has been no change in Cuban policy. Although the price of progress in American relations has always been clear--a single opposition newspaper, the scheduling of a free election, the allowing of any dissent, the opening of Cuba's jails to anyone; not all of these things, not even in their entirety, but any one of these things, to any extent, would have brought about a change in our policy. I know people are impatient for democratic reform in Cuba and an ending of the embargo. It has been 5 years since we strengthened American law. I know patience is not always our greatest national attribute.…”