[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 26, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E915]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                      RECOGNIZING MR. FRANK CALZON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 26, 2018

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of his long standing 
contributions to the Cuban community and his strong support for freedom 
for the Cuban people, I rise today to honor Mr. Frank Calzon.
   Born in Cuba in 1947, Mr. Calzon came to the United States in 1960, 
after which he became a staunch human rights advocate. Since his early 
days at the University of Georgetown, he has dedicated his life to 
promoting human rights and essential liberties on behalf of the Cuban 
people. Soon after graduating, he became Director of `On Human Rights', 
a Washington-based organization by which he informed Members of 
Congress, officials and others on the egregious human rights abuses in 
totalitarian Cuba. He later joined Freedom House, an independent NGO 
that supports the expansion and strengthening of freedom in the world. 
There, as Director of its Cuba Program, he expressed support of 
policies and strategies to support the Cuban people, and testified 
before the UN Commission for Human Rights in Geneva.
   Since 1997, Mr. Calzon has been the Executive Director of the Center 
for a Free Cuba, where he has continued his tireless advocacy for the 
human rights of the Cuban people, assisting political prisoners, their 
families, and other democracy activists. In partnership with U.S. 
Government agencies, international NGOs, parliamentarians, and many 
other notable freedom advocates across the globe, Mr. Calzon has 
dedicated his life to freedom, human rights, and democracy for the 
Cuban people.
   Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Mr. Calzon for his selfless 
work on behalf of freedom for the Cuban people. I ask my colleagues to 
join me in commending his unwavering dedication in furtherance of this 
most noble cause.

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