Yesterday, Representative María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) delivered remarks on the floor of the chamber urging her colleagues to support the Cuban people ahead of their November 15th protests.
Her remarks came before a vote on House Resolution 760, "Expressing solidarity with Cuban citizens demonstrating peacefully for fundamental freedoms, condemning the Cuban regime’s acts of repression, and calling for the release of arbitrarily detained Cuban citizens." The Resolution passed the House by a vote of 382—40.
This bipartisan resolution's passage amplifies the United States’ firm commitment to the upcoming peaceful pro-democracy protests in Cuba scheduled for November 15th, and condemns the Cuban communist dictatorship’s human rights abuses of protesters and political prisoners following the major wave of protests on the island beginning on July 11th.
Additionally, this resolution urges the Biden Administration to provide internet access to the Cuban people. On July 11th, the Cuban people broke out in mass protests against the regime. In response, the Cuban government shut the internet off to prevent the world from witnessing their violent response to the movement. Since then, Congresswoman Salazar has been urging the Administration to act for months, even introducing Operation Starfall to help them build a framework to provide the Cuban people with internet. The Administration has since ignored those calls. However, with the passage of H. Res. 760, the Biden Administration now has a mandate from Congress to provide internet access to the Cuban people.
“We, the United States Congress, the seat of power in this shining city on a hill, must approve this resolution today to express solidarity with the Cuban people. We are demanding that peaceful protesters be allowed to assemble without fear of being brutalized. We are condemning the heinous crimes committed by this tyrannical regime,” said Rep. Salazar. “This resolution from the United States House of Representatives will send a message loud and clear, that we will always stand on the side of freedom, democracy, and human rights, that the Castro regime’s days are numbered. The world is watching, and it is time for the Cubans to be free like Americans.”
The legislation was originally introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) and cosponsored by Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), and Albio Sires (D-NJ).
You can watch a video of Rep. Salazar’s full remarks on the House floor here and find a transcript of her remarks as delivered below.
Original source can be found here.
