[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 428 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 428

Expressing the sense of Congress in support of United States diplomatic 
 personnel stationed at the United States Interests Section in Havana, 
                                 Cuba.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 13, 2006

Mr. McCotter (for himself, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of 
 Florida, Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. 
  Engel, Mr. Mack, Mr. Flake, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Ms. Wasserman 
   Schultz, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Royce, Mr. Wexler, Mr. 
    Ackerman, Mr. Pence, Mr. Gallegly, and Mr. Foley) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress in support of United States diplomatic 
 personnel stationed at the United States Interests Section in Havana, 
                                 Cuba.

Whereas the Cuban regime has continued to repress attempts by the Cuban people 
        to bring democratic change to the island and denies universally 
        recognized liberties, including freedom of speech, association, 
        movement, and the press;
Whereas, on May 20, 2005, in celebration of the 103d anniversary of Cuba's 
        independence, President George W. Bush sent his greetings to the Cuban 
        people in which he stated that ``we look forward to the day when Cuba is 
        free and my Administration supports efforts to hasten that day's coming. 
        The tide of freedom is spreading across the globe, and it will reach 
        Cuban shores. No tyrant can stand forever against the power of liberty 
        because the hope of freedom is found in every heart.'';
Whereas one of the central goals and objectives of the United States Interests 
        Section in Havana, Cuba, ``is to promote a peaceful transition to a 
        democratic system based on respect for rule of law, individual human 
        rights, and open economic and communication systems.'';
Whereas, in December 2005, the United States Interests Section proudly displayed 
        a Christmas ornament listing the names of some of the opposition 
        activists jailed by the Cuban regime;
Whereas, beginning on January 16, 2006, the United States Interests Section 
        activated a five foot tall ``streaming electronic billboard'' to 
        communicate messages of hope and information to the Cuban people;
Whereas the billboard displayed messages containing quotes from Abraham Lincoln, 
        Martin Luther King, Jr., Lech Walesa, and Mahatma Gandhi;
Whereas as a result of such efforts in support of the Cuban people's desire for 
        information, democracy, and respect for human rights, United States 
        diplomats and their families at the United States Interests Section have 
        been targeted for reprisal and harassment by the Cuban regime;
Whereas according to a declassified internal Department of State document, 
        United States diplomats and their families in Cuba ``are denied rest or 
        relaxation by house alarms triggered in the middle of the night ... 
        phones that ring at all hours, and by cellphones that ring every half 
        hour for no apparent reason.'';
Whereas according to this document, regime agents search and wiretap the Havana 
        residences of United States diplomats and their families in Cuba, 
        including tapping into their home computers, leaving open doors and 
        windows behind, and ``leaving not-so-subtle `messages' ... including 
        unwelcome calling cards like urine and feces'';
Whereas the Department of State report also pointed out that ``In one example 
        that demonstrates how regime officials actually listen to the daily 
        activities of the [United States diplomatic] staff, presumably through 
        electronic bugs, shortly after one family discussed the susceptibility 
        of their daughter to mosquito bites, they returned home to find all of 
        their windows open and the house full of mosquitoes.'';
Whereas, from February 22 to March 26, 2006, the municipal supply of water to 
        the main building of the United States Interests Section was turned off 
        and water supply to an annex building has literally been at a trickle 
        for most of this year;
Whereas, on June 5, 2006, at approximately 3 a.m., electricity to the main 
        building of the United States Interests Section was cut off by the Cuban 
        regime;
Whereas, on June 12, 2006, the United States Interests Section issued a 
        statement that outlined the Cuban regime's increasing resort to bullying 
        tactics in dealing with United States diplomatic personnel, including 
        the refusal to allow United States diplomats to import vehicles, 
        intrusions into diplomats' homes, and failure to grant the majority of 
        official United States Government visa requests for personnel being 
        assigned to work at the United States Interests Section;
Whereas despite the lack of water and electricity, work at the United States 
        Interests Section continues uninterrupted, including the interviewing of 
        visa and political asylum candidates, and direct outreach to the Cuban 
        people;
Whereas the diplomatic staff of the United States Interests Section, led by 
        Chief of Mission Michael Parmly, has acted in a manner deserving of the 
        admiration and praise of the American people; and
Whereas the United States Interests Section is at the forefront of expressing 
        support for democracy and freedom for the people of Cuba: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That Congress--
            (1) praises the United States diplomatic staff of the 
        United States Interests Section in Havana, Cuba, for their 
        actions in support of freedom for the Cuban people;
            (2) condemns the systematic harassment and attempts at 
        intimidation committed by the Cuban regime against United 
        States diplomatic personnel stationed at the United States 
        Interests Section;
            (3) condemns the Cuban regime's 47 years of brutality and 
        oppression against the Cuban people; and
            (4) supports the right of the Cuban people to exercise 
        fundamental political and civil liberties, including freedom of 
        expression, assembly, association, movement, the press, and the 
        right to multiparty elections.
                                 <all>