[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 117 (Thursday, August 18, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 TIME FOR GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST FLORIDA WITH CUBAN IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS

  (Mr. SHAW asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, as we sit here this morning, a tragedy is 
playing out in the straits of Florida, that body of water 90 miles wide 
separating the Florida keys from Cuba. Thousands of Cubans, thirsting 
for freedom, are risking their lives to come out to the 12-mile limit 
where they know that our ships are moored.
  These ships right now have the policy of staying there, picking these 
Cubans up, and bringing them into the State of Florida. Yet the Federal 
Government has yet to release one single dollar of Federal assistance. 
What these ships are doing is what the flotilla did during the Mariel 
boatlift. We are picking up the Cubans and bringing them to the United 
States.
  We are the magnet. We are the attraction. We are responsible for the 
death of hundreds of Cubans who are dying at sea, coming in no more 
than an inner tube, thinking they can make that 12-mile voyage.
  It is time that we get the word to Cuba: The people must stay there. 
They are endangering their lives. They must not take this dangerous 
journey, and it is time for the Federal Government to live up to its 
responsibility and answer the people of Florida, who are asking no more 
than the assistance for a mess that is being caused by the Federal 
Government.

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