[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S1372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN OPPOSITION TO ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT

 Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, on Saturday afternoon we were all 
troubled by the announcements that two civilian aircraft belonging to 
the Brothers to the Rescue, organization had been shot down by a Cuban 
Mig-29. This event, described by the President and other world leaders 
as ``abominable'' and ``abhorrent'' is yet another signal that business 
as usual continues in Castro's tyrannical regime.
  President Clinton has referred to the attack in the press as, ``an 
appalling reminder of the nature of the Cuban regime: repressive, 
violent, scornful of international law.'' I couldn't agree with him 
more. However, this action requires more than just a rhetorical 
response. Almost a year ago Senator Jesse Helms, chairman of the Senate 
Foreign Relations Committee, had begun work on legislation designed to 
tighten the embargo and isolate the brutal regime of Fidel Castro. It 
is time for the Congress to complete action on this bill.
  The President announced a series of actions he proposed in response 
to this unwarranted attack. These included: ensuring that the families 
of the pilots are compensated; imposing restrictions on Cuban nationals 
traveling in the United States; suspending United States charter 
flights into Cuba; and passing the Helms-Burton Act. The Helms-Burton 
legislation, referred to as the Cuban Libertad Act, includes a number 
of provisions which would: strengthen international sanctions against 
the Castro government in Cuba; develop a plan to support a transition 
government leading to a democratically elected government in Cuba; and 
enact provisions addressing the unauthorized use of United States-
citizen-owned property confiscated by the Castro government.
  Mr. President, I am pleased to see that President Clinton has 
committed to take action on this situation and has decided to support 
the Cuban Libertad Act. This is a welcome shift in his policy of 
engagement with Fidel Castro, to include steps taken last year to ease 
the Cuban sanctions.
  Mr. President, the policy of engagement has failed. Therefore, it is 
time to complete action on the Helms-Burton bill, the Cuba Libertad 
Act. This is the next step in a long road leading toward releasing 
Castro's dictatorial ties that have bound the people of Cuba.

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