[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 11 (Thursday, January 24, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   U.S. WITHDRAWAL OF LETTERS TO CUBA

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, with Florida's marine 
environment and tourism economy threatened by potential drilling a mere 
45 miles off its coast, and a communist regime ruling Cuba, we find 
ourselves in a difficult situation. We must do all that we can to 
protect our Nation's natural treasures while at the same time 
emphasizing that the undemocratic Castro government has no right to 
speak for the people of Cuba.
  That is why I have asked President Bush to withdraw the letters that 
the United States exchanges with Cuba every 2 years. This exchange of 
letters is the only thing enforcing the 1977 Maritime Boundary 
Agreement between the United States and Cuba, and incidentally, one of 
the only rationales the Castro government has for drilling just 45 
miles off of our pristine coast.
  We have seen what oil spills have done in other parts of the country 
and around the world. I am not prepared to take chances with Florida's 
coral reefs and other marine life, nor with the livelihoods of millions 
of Floridians who depend on tourism for their economic well-being. The 
continued exchange of these letters leaves the door open to economic 
and environmental disaster and the enrichment of the Castro regime.
  And so, I urge the administration to join me in closing this door on 
disaster and to protect Florida by withdrawing these letters now. 
Should Cuba gain a democratically elected government as envisioned by 
the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity--or LIBERTAD--Act of 1996, 
we could consider renegotiating our boundary agreement so that it 
clearly protects the environment. Until that time, however, withdrawing 
these letters is the best and first step towards protecting the people 
and environment of Florida.

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