Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2022

Floor Speech

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Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Speaker, for more than 2 weeks, we have seen the horrors of repression taking place on the island of Cuba by the communist regime.

Let me tell you, I am outraged that the Democratic majority refused to make in order two amendments, bipartisan amendments, which I cosponsored, that were led by two of my Democratic colleagues who, by the way, are passionate about the cause of a free Cuba and the freedom of the Cuban people.

The Murphy amendment would have provided an additional $7.5 million in democratic assistance to support the free flow of information to the island in this moment.

The Sires amendment would have provided an additional $15 million to USAGM for the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, at a time when the Cuban people had their internet cut.

They are struggling with this incredible oppression: getting murdered, getting killed, getting dragged out of their homes. The fact that we are inadequately funding radio broadcasting to the island is hard to accept and hard to believe. It is disgraceful.

Now, while the Cuban people are risking everything for freedom, the Democrat majority refused to allow these amendments to even be debated here on the floor of the House.

I want to thank the Republican leadership and our Conference for their steadfast support for years for the cause of a free Cuban.

But I want to thank those Democratic colleagues who are true defenders of freedom in the cause of the Cuban people: Representatives Murphy, Wasserman Schultz, and Sires, who fought hard to try to get these amendments here on the floor.

As I stated in full committee, it is unconscionable that in this moment when the Cubans are doing everything they can, and they have hit the streets and they are getting bludgeoned and murdered and imprisoned, that this majority would not even allow those amendments to be heard on the floor of the House.

Madam Speaker, history will remember those who stood with the cause of freedom, freedom for the Cuban people, and those who aligned themselves with the oppressive murderous regime that represses them now and for more than 62 years.

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