[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 121 (Monday, July 12, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S4813]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                  Cuba

  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam President, this weekend, the people of Cuba 
rose up in opposition to their repressive socialist government.
  I think it is important to be clear on that point because much of the 
mainstream media that is reporting on these protests makes it sound as 
if everything is pandemic related, but what is happening in Cuba is not 
an economic fluke, and every single person serving in this body, 
working in the media, and analyzing the policy implications knows 
better than to say otherwise.
  This isn't the pop socialism touted by the American left. It is not 
fashionable. There is no empowerment or equality in the socialist 
regime; there is just starvation, shortages, violence, and failure. For 
62 years, the ruling Communists have bled the Cuban people dry, and now 
armed thugs have taken to the streets to repress the opposition at any 
cost.
  Make no mistake, this is a test for President Biden. He must draw a 
line in the sand.
  I call on my colleagues in the majority and on President Biden and 
the members of his Cabinet to join me in supporting all who would risk 
their lives to expose the ravages of socialism in Cuba.
  We must lead in discussions with the U.N. and the EU and coordinate 
opposition to this violence being carried out against the people of 
Cuba.
  We must demand that the Cuban Government allow for a free and open 
internet and initiate investigations into if and how Havana used 
technology supported by the Chinese Communist Party to cut off access 
to the internet just as the protests started gaining mainstream 
attention.
  We cannot stand by while Communist thugs gun down their own people. 
We cannot let this become another Venezuela.
  Just as we stand with the freedom fighters suffering in Hong Kong, on 
mainland China, and in other socialist regimes around the world, we 
must stand with the people of Cuba.