[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 20, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6714-S6715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. By Mrs. BOXER.
  S. 1088. A bill to enhance penalties for fraud in connection with 
identification documents that facilitates an act of domestic terrorism; 
to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I am reintroducing a bill to 
increase penalties for terrorists using false identification.
  This legislation passed the Senate in the last Congress. It mandates 
prison time for anyone who produces, transfers, possesses, or uses a 
fake ID in connection with terrorism. Currently, in Federal law, there 
is no mandatory imprisonment for the production, transfer, possession, 
or use of a fake ID. This is true under any circumstances, even those 
involving terrorist acts. This, to me, seems wrong. If an individual at 
any time facilitates an act of terrorism by providing someone with a 
fake ID, making a fake ID, possessing a fake ID, or using that fake ID, 
that person should go to jail. Period. My bill make sure that principle 
is reflected in Federal law.
  Second, my bill closes the loophole that provides enhanced penalties 
for fake IDs used in connection with acts of international terrorism, 
but not domestic terrorism. My bill makes sure that fake ID offenses 
related to domestic terrorism get the same enhanced punishment as those 
relating to international terrorism.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. ENSIGN:
  S. 1089. A bill to encourage multilateral cooperation and authorize a 
program of assistance to facilitate a peaceful transition in Cuba, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. ENSIGN: Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
my bill, the ``Cuba Transition Act of 2003,'' be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1089

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Cuba Transition Act of 
     2003''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The Cuban people are seeking change in their country, 
     including through the Varela Project, Concilio Cubano, 
     independent journalist activity, and other civil society 
     initiatives.
       (2) Civil society groups and independent, self-employed 
     Cuban citizens will be essential to the consolidation of a 
     genuine and effective transition to democracy from an 
     authoritarian, communist government in Cuba, and therefore 
     merit increased international assistance.
       (3) The people of the United States support a policy of 
     proactively helping the Cuban people to establish a 
     democratic system of government, including supporting Cuban 
     citizen efforts to prepare for transition to a better and 
     more prosperous future.
       (4) Without profound political and economic changes, Cuba 
     will not meet the criteria for participation in the Summit of 
     the Americas process.
       (5) The Inter-American Democratic Charter adopted by the 
     General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) 
     provides both guidance and mechanisms for response by OAS 
     members to the governmental transition in Cuba and that 
     country's eventual reintegration into the inter-American 
     system.
       (6) United States Government support of pro-democracy 
     elements in Cuba and planning for the transition in Cuba is 
     essential for the identification of resources and mechanisms 
     that can be made available immediately in response to 
     profound political and economic changes on the island.
       (7) Consultations with democratic development institutions 
     and international development agencies regarding Cuba are a 
     critical element in the preparation of an effective 
     multilateral response to the transition in Cuba.

     SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

       The purposes of this Act are as follows:
       (1) To support multilateral efforts by the countries of the 
     Western Hemisphere in planning for a transition of the 
     government in Cuba and the return of that country to the 
     Western Hemisphere community of democracies.
       (2) To encourage the development of an international group 
     to coordinate multilateral planning to a transition of the 
     government in Cuba.
       (3) To authorize funding for programs to assist the Cuban 
     people and independent nongovernmental organizations in Cuba 
     in preparing the groundwork for a peaceful transition of 
     government in Cuba.
       (4) To provide the President with funding to implement 
     assistance programs essential to the development of a 
     democratic government in Cuba.

     SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Democratically elected government in cuba.--The term 
     ``democratically elected government in Cuba'' has the meaning 
     given the term in section 4 of the Cuban Liberty and 
     Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (22 U.S.C. 
     6023).
       (2) Transition government in cuba.--The term ``transition 
     government in Cuba'' has the meaning given the term in 
     section 4 of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity 
     (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (22 U.S.C. 6023).

     SEC. 5. DESIGNATION OF COORDINATOR FOR CUBA TRANSITION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall designate, 
     within the Department of State, a coordinator who shall be 
     responsible for--
       (1) designing an overall strategy to coordinate 
     preparations for, and a response to, a transition in Cuba;
       (2) coordinating assistance provided to the Cuban people in 
     preparation for a transition in Cuba;
       (3) coordinating strategic support for the consolidation of 
     a political and economic transition in Cuba;
       (4) ensuring program and policy coordination among agencies 
     of the United States Government in carrying out the policies 
     set forth in this Act; and
       (5) pursuing coordination with other countries and 
     international organizations, including international 
     financial institutions, with respect to assisting a 
     transition in Cuba.
       (b) Rank and Status of the Transition Coordinator.--The 
     coordinator designated in subsection (a) shall have the rank 
     and status of ambassador.

     SEC. 6. MULTILATERAL INITIATIVES RELATED TO CUBA.

       The Secretary of State is authorized to designate up to 
     $5,000,000 of total amounts made available for contributions 
     to international organizations to be provided to the 
     Organization of American States for--

[[Page S6715]]

       (1) Inter-American Commission on Human Rights activities 
     relating to the situation of human rights in Cuba;
       (2) the funding of an OAS emergency fund for the deployment 
     of human rights observers, election support, and election 
     observation in Cuba as described in section 109(b) of the 
     Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 
     1996 (22 U.S.C. 6039(b)(1)); and
       (3) scholarships for Cuban students attending colleges, 
     universities, or other educational programs in member states 
     of the OAS.

     SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       (a) Sense of Congress Regarding Consultation With Western 
     Hemisphere.--It is the sense of Congress that the President 
     should begin consultation, as appropriate, with governments 
     of other Western Hemisphere countries regarding a transition 
     in Cuba.
       (b) Sense of Congress Regarding Other Consultations.--It is 
     the sense of Congress that the President should begin 
     consultations with appropriate international partners and 
     governments regarding a multilateral diplomatic and financial 
     support program for response to a transition in Cuba.

     SEC. 8. ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO THE CUBAN PEOPLE IN 
                   PREPARATION FOR A TRANSITION IN CUBA.

       (a) Authorization.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law other than section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
     1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394-1) and comparable notification 
     requirements contained in any Act making appropriations for 
     foreign operations, export financing, and related programs, 
     the President is authorized to furnish an amount not to 
     exceed $15,000,000 in assistance and provide other support 
     for individuals and independent nongovernmental organizations 
     to support democracy-building efforts for Cuba, including--
       (1) political prisoners and members of their families;
       (2) persons persecuted or harassed for dissident 
     activities;
       (3) independent libraries;
       (4) independent workers' rights activists;
       (5) independent agricultural cooperatives;
       (6) independent associations of self-employed Cubans;
       (7) independent journalists;
       (8) independent youth organizations;
       (9) independent environmental groups;
       (10) independent economists, medical doctors, and other 
     professionals;
       (11) in establishing and maintaining an information and 
     resources center to be in the United States interests section 
     in Havana, Cuba;
       (12) prodemocracy programs of the National Endowment for 
     Democracy that are related to Cuba;
       (13) nongovernmental programs to facilitate access to the 
     Internet, subject to section 102(g) of the Cuban Liberty and 
     Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (22 U.S.C. 
     6032(g));
       (14) nongovernmental charitable programs that provide 
     nutrition and basic medical care to persons most at risk, 
     including children and elderly persons; and
       (15) nongovernmental charitable programs to reintegrate 
     into civilian life persons who have abandoned, resigned, or 
     been expelled from the Cuban armed forces for ideological 
     reasons.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Independent nongovernmental organization.--The term 
     ``independent nongovernmental organization'' means an 
     organization that the Secretary of State determines, not less 
     than 15 days before any obligation of funds to the 
     organization, is a charitable or nonprofit nongovernmental 
     organization that is not an agency or instrumentality of the 
     Cuban Government.
       (2) Eligible cuban recipients.--The term ``eligible Cuban 
     recipients'' is limited to any Cuban national in Cuba, 
     including political prisoners and their families, who are not 
     officials of the Cuban Government or of the ruling political 
     party in Cuba, as defined in section 4(10) of the Cuban 
     Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (22 
     U.S.C. 6023(10)).

     SEC. 9. SUPPORT FOR A TRANSITION GOVERNMENT IN CUBA.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to funds 
     otherwise available for such purposes, there are authorized 
     to be appropriated $30,000,000 to the President to establish 
     a fund to provide assistance to a transition government in 
     Cuba as defined in section 205 of the Cuban Liberty and 
     Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (22 U.S.C. 
     6023).
       (b) Designation of Fund.--The fund authorized in subsection 
     (a) shall be known as the ``Fund for a Free Cuba''.
       (c) Availability of Funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant 
     to subsection (a) are authorized to remain available until 
     expended.

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