[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 154 (Friday, October 14, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H6960]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

  (Mr. RIVERA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RIVERA. Mr. Speaker, this week, in commemoration of Hispanic 
Heritage Month, over 100 distinguished Hispanic American civic, 
business, and community leaders from south Florida traveled to 
Washington, D.C., to receive Congressional Distinguished Service Awards 
from myself, Senator Marco Rubio, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, 
and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart.
  These hardworking and patriotic Americans of Hispanic descent 
represent the positive contributions the Hispanic community has made to 
this great Nation. Whether serving in the military, creating jobs with 
small businesses, or simply pursuing the American Dream, Hispanic 
Americans like my constituents are deserving of recognition for their 
accomplishments.
  Two of those honorees who came to the Capitol this week, Ms. Nelis 
Morales and Mr. Gustavo Garagorry, prepared statements for the 
occasion. I would like to submit their statements for publication in 
the Congressional Record.

                        Presidio Politico Cubano

       I am grateful for this recognition that us an honor and 
     fills me with pride.
       As a Cuban political prisoner, I represent the 
     International Coordinator of Cuban political prisoners, 
     through the years I have had the opportunity to help both 
     prisoners and ex-prisoners as well as their families, both 
     inside and outside of Cuba, and also to plead for liberty and 
     democracy for the Cuban people.
       The Cuban political prisoner organizations, without 
     exception, support the project to readjust the Cuban 
     Adjustment Act that has been presented to the U.S. Congress 
     by our congressmen for the state of Florida, David Rivera, 
     Mario Diaz-Balart, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
       As a Cuban ex-political prisoner and as a woman, I beg, in 
     front of you who represent the most powerful country in the 
     world in terms of human rights, freedom, and democracy, your 
     help for the poor Cuban nation for whom I will never tire 
     using my voice to support.
       No more economic help to the Castro-Communist tyranny. No 
     to the cultural interchange.
       No more aggressions against the Cuban heroines such as Sara 
     Martha Fonseca who represents the Cuban prisoners house in 
     Havana, and Laura Pollan from the heroic ``Damas de Blanco'' 
     or ``Ladies in White''.
       No to the aggressions against the internal opposition.
       I beg your help in order to put an end to the slavery of 
     the Cuban people, because after 53 years. . . . for Cuba . . 
     . the time has come!
     Nelis Rojas Morales.
                                  ____

       Thanks USA, I am very proud to be here with all of you, of 
     living in this wonderful country where the people main reason 
     is to live in democracy and freedom. Specially thanks to our 
     Florida senators and congressmen for granting me this great 
     honor and all the friends that this land has given me. God 
     bless America. Viva la Libertad.
     Gustavo Garagorry.

                          ____________________