This week, Representative María Elvira Salazar ( R-FL ) questioned the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Brian Nichols, during a hearing of the Chamber's Foreign Affairs Committee. Representative Salazar reprimanded Nichols and the State Department for their inability to hold dictators and communist regimes accountable across the hemisphere.
During her speech, Representative Salazar also condemned the Administration for not making Latin America a priority and pressured the State Department about its policy towards four countries in particular: Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela and Colombia.
You can see the full clip of Representative Salazar's statements here or read the full transcript below:
OPENING:
"I think Latin America is not a priority for this administration.
Unfortunately, empirical evidence shows that, as a result, we are losing our influence in this hemisphere.
China and Russia are looting Latin America while we sleep.
Let me tell you about three different countries that interest me.
ABOUT CUBA:
Cuba. For four months, I've been asking the Biden Administration and the State Department for one thing:
Internet connection on the island.
His deputy promised to personally inform me of the progress the State Department has made in bringing connectivity to Cuba.
And that meeting has not occurred.
So my question to you, sir...
Have you done your due diligence with the companies that can provide the technology to Cuba? There are two companies that we can talk to.
Have you done your due diligence?
There is no will to bring connectivity to the island of Cuba. Are you aware of that, sir?
ABOUT MEXICO:
On Thursday, President AMLO is going to be received in Washington.
And I am sure you remember that López-Obrador received Díaz-Canel as king.
Not even Castro was received like this on Mexican soil.
There is a report from its State Department that says that Mexico benefits from human trafficking and the forced labor of Cuban doctors on Mexican soil.
That violates the USMCA, the free trade agreement between Mexico and the United States.
Are you going to ask the Biden Administration to ask AMLO about these two atrocities?
ABOUT COLOMBIA:
President Biden's chief adviser, Juan González, said that Mr. Biden 'has no idea who Gustavo Petro is'.
You have no idea who Gustavo Petro is.
I'm going to tell you who it is.
He is a thief, he is a socialist, he is a Marxist, he is a terrorist, and he leads the polls in Colombia.
Do you share my opinion on Petro? What does the Petro State Department think?
If you want the best for the Colombian people, you don't want a Marxist in power, do you? Someone who is undermining Colombian democracy?
ABOUT VENEZUELA:
The Biden Administration has removed the role of the special envoy.
He has not appointed any politician for Venezuela and has not met with Juan Guaidó.
Does the Biden Administration or the State Department plan to throw the legitimate president of Venezuela under the bus?
Are you planning to recognize the Maduro regime?"
Original source can be found here.
