[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 138 (Tuesday, August 3, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5699-S5701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH CUBAN CITIZENS DEMONSTRATING PEACEFULLY FOR 
FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS, CONDEMNING THE CUBAN REGIME'S ACTS OF REPRESSION, 
  AND CALLING FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ARBITRARILY DETAINED CUBAN 
                                CITIZENS

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I am proud to come to the floor today to 
ask for unanimous consent on this bipartisan resolution expressing 
solidarity with the people of Cuba. This resolution passed out of the 
Foreign Relations Committee by a voice vote, with overwhelming 
bipartisan support.
  I want to thank the senior Senator from Florida for his partnership 
on this resolution, which has the support of Senators Durbin, Kaine; 
Senator Risch, the ranking member on the Foreign Relations Committee; 
as well as many others on both sides of the aisle.
  In passing this resolution today, the U.S. Senate can send a powerful 
message about the truly historic events occurring in Cuba in recent 
weeks.
  On July 11, in an unprecedented wave of demonstrations across the 
island, the Cuban people peacefully took to the streets and raised 
their voices to call for freedom and an end to tyranny. We saw the 
courage of the Cuban people. Images of Cubans chanting ``abajo la 
dictadura,'' which means ``down with the dictatorship,'' and singing 
``Patria y Vida,'' or ``Fatherland and Life,'' spread around the globe. 
Yet the Diaz-Canel regime responded with an authoritarian crackdown and 
violent repression out of fear of losing its iron grip over the Cuban 
people.
  The regime cut the internet to stop the Cuban people from accessing 
social media--a tool they were bravely using to open the eyes of the 
world. Who does that? Only a country that fears its people shuts down 
the internet. But it was too late. The truth went viral.
  The regime has arrested more than 700 people, and most remain 
incommunicado. Dozens more are already being subjected to summary 
trials, without access to legal defense or even a veneer of due 
process. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the U.N. High 
Commissioner for Human Rights have all spoken out against the Cuban 
regime's campaign of oppression.
  President Biden rightfully and repeatedly denounced the regime's 
actions and has announced two rounds of Global Magnitsky sanctions on 
human rights abusers. The President has brought together allies of 
Cuban freedom both at home and abroad. On Friday, the President 
convened a meeting of Cuban-American leaders to discuss this crisis and 
hear our suggestions on how to best support the pro-democracy efforts 
underway in Cuba.
  Last week, Secretary of State Blinken led a coalition of 20 countries 
in a joint statement to express international solidarity with the Cuban 
people and their rights to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, 
freedom to determine their own future.
  While important steps are being taken, more needs to be done. The 
Cuban people, in this unprecedented hour of uncertainty and need, 
cannot afford anything less than our full support.
  With this resolution, the Senate will add its voice to the ongoing 
efforts and reinforce U.S. solidarity with the Cuban people and their 
efforts to restore democracy and human rights in their country. It is 
the same resolution that is also being offered in the House of 
Representatives on the same bipartisan basis.
  Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of Calendar No. 111, S. Res. 310; further, that 
the committee-reported substitute amendment to the resolution be agreed 
to; the resolution, as amended, be agreed to; the preamble be agreed 
to; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon 
the table.
  Thereupon, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution (S. Res. 
310) expressing solidarity with Cuban citizens demonstrating peacefully 
for fundamental freedoms, condemning the Cuban regime's acts of 
repression, and calling for the immediate release of arbitrarily 
detained Cuban citizens, which had been reported from the Committee on 
Foreign Relations, with an amendment to strike all after the resolving 
clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows

                              S. Res. 310

       Whereas, on July 11, 2021, thousands of Cuban citizens took 
     to the streets to peacefully protest and to call for respect 
     for basic human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the end 
     of the dictatorship in Cuba;
       Whereas the demonstrations were the largest protests 
     witnessed on the island in 25 years, with courageous Cuban 
     men, women, and youth taking to the streets in at least 50 
     different cities and towns across every province to affirm a 
     deep aspiration for democratic change and to denounce the 
     regime's corruption;
       Whereas the nationwide protests represent the full 
     diversity of Cuban society, with demonstrators proudly 
     proclaiming ``Patria y Vida!'' (Homeland and Life!) and 
     calling for ``libertad'' (liberty);
       Whereas the demonstrations in Cuba follow months of severe 
     shortages of food and basic medicine, frequent power outages, 
     record high rates of transmission of COVID-19, and the Cuban 
     regime's ineffective response, in addition to the Cuban 
     regime's continued repression and arbitrary imprisonment of 
     citizens, peaceful activists, and artists;
       Whereas, despite the authoritarian regime's blocking of 
     internet service to prevent the spread of information about 
     the demonstrations, Cubans witnessed examples of their 
     compatriots demanding change in their country and 
     courageously joined the growing protests;
       Whereas, despite the peaceful nature of the demonstrations, 
     Miguel Diaz-Canel incited violence among Cubans and 
     encouraged his supporters to attack peaceful protestors, 
     declaring in a televised address, ``the order to fight has 
     been given--into the streets'' and pledged his supporters' 
     lives: ``Over our dead bodies. We are prepared to do 
     anything'';
       Whereas Diaz-Canel has sought to delegitimize peaceful 
     protesters, crudely stating they constitute a small group of 
     ``vulgar criminals'' that are ``paid'' to be disruptive;
       Whereas Diaz-Canel sought to blame the endemic problems 
     causing so much human suffering by the Cuban people on 
     outside forces instead of on the Cuban regime's long-standing 
     corruption, mismanagement, and theft of public resources;
       Whereas the Cuban regime's domestic security apparatus, 
     including military and police, were recorded on video 
     violently repressing peaceful Cuban citizens, including by 
     using live ammunition and attacking journalists;
       Whereas numerous reports indicate deaths of and injuries to 
     Cuban protestors at the hands of the regime's security 
     forces, including instances of police firing live ammunition 
     into crowds and at least one documented police beating that 
     led to a civilian death;
       Whereas independent Cuban civil society groups have 
     reported that hundreds of individuals have been arrested, 
     detained, or are missing;
       Whereas defying regime repression, continued internet 
     shutdowns, and illegal searches of the homes of activists and 
     protestors, Cuban men, women, and youth continued to 
     peacefully protest throughout the island on

[[Page S5700]]

     Monday, July 12, using social media to organize themselves 
     and document acts of regime repression;
       Whereas international human rights groups, including Human 
     Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the United Nations 
     Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the 
     Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, have long 
     condemned the Cuban regime for violating human rights and 
     fundamental freedoms; and
       Whereas for years the Cuban regime has exported its 
     authoritarian methods to Venezuela, sending intelligence 
     personnel to assist Venezuelan security forces as they 
     repressed similar peaceful protests calling for democratic 
     change: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, [That the Senate--
       [(1) expresses its strong solidarity with the people of 
     Cuba in their desire to live in a free and democratic country 
     with uncensored access to information, justice, and economic 
     prosperity;
       [(2) condemns the violence ordered by Miguel Diaz-Canel 
     against peaceful protesters as violations of internationally 
     recognized human rights that does nothing to address Cuba's 
     challenges;
       [(3) calls on Cuban forces--
       [(A) to respect the Cuban people's exercise of freedom of 
     assembly, freedom of expression, and other universal human 
     rights;
       [(B) to refrain from restricting internet access and 
     connectivity in the country; and
       [(C) to permit Cuban citizens to freely communicate on 
     digital platforms, as is their fundamental right;
       [(4) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of 
     all arbitrarily detained Cuban citizens and all Cuban 
     political prisoners;
       [(5) calls on members of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed 
     Forces, the Cuban Ministry of the Interior, and Cuba's 
     National Revolutionary Police Force to refrain from violently 
     repressing peaceful protesters and committing other human 
     rights violations; and
       [(6) urges democratic governments and legislatures in 
     Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean--
       [(A) to pledge their support for freedom and democracy in 
     Cuba; and
       [(B) to speak out against the repression of demonstrators 
     in Cuba.]

     That the Senate--
       (1) expresses its strong solidarity with the people of Cuba 
     in their desire to live in a free and democratic country with 
     uncensored access to information, justice, and economic 
     prosperity;
       (2) condemns the violence ordered by Miguel Diaz-Canel 
     against peaceful protesters as violations of internationally 
     recognized human rights that does nothing to address Cuba's 
     challenges;
       (3) calls on Cuban forces--
       (A) to respect the Cuban people's exercise of freedom of 
     assembly, freedom of expression, and other universal human 
     rights;
       (B) to refrain from restricting internet access and 
     connectivity in the country; and
       (C) to permit Cuban citizens to freely communicate on 
     digital platforms, as is their fundamental right;
       (4) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of 
     all arbitrarily detained Cuban citizens and all Cuban 
     political prisoners;
       (5) calls on members of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed 
     Forces, the Cuban Ministry of the Interior, and Cuba's 
     National Revolutionary Police Force to refrain from violently 
     repressing peaceful protesters and committing other human 
     rights violations;
       (6) urges foreign governments, including authoritarian 
     regimes, to halt the provision of technology, equipment, and 
     other forms of assistance that are increasing the capability 
     of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, the Cuban Ministry 
     of the Interior, and Cuba's National Revolutionary Police 
     Force to violently repress peaceful protestors, curtail 
     freedom of expression through censorship of the internet, and 
     commit other human rights abuses; and
       (7) urges democratic governments and legislatures in 
     Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean--
       (A) to pledge their support for freedom and democracy in 
     Cuba; and
       (B) to speak out against the repression of demonstrators in 
     Cuba.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there an objection?
  The Senator from Florida.
  Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today in solidarity with 
the brave Cuban people fighting for freedom. For decades, the Cuban 
people suffered atrocities, oppression, and misery at the hands of the 
illegitimate communist Castro regime.
  I have repeatedly told the story of Sirley Avila Leon, a Cuban woman 
who was attacked by communist Cuban security forces in 2015. They cut 
off her hand and stuck her arm in the mud to make sure it got infected. 
Her crime? She complained that the regime was going to shut down a 
school in her neighborhood.
  I have spoken to brave leaders like Jose Daniel Ferrer and the 
courageous members of his Patriotic Union of Cuba, who are fighting 
every day to defend human rights, freedom, and the democratic movement 
in Cuba. Jose Daniel Ferrer is currently being detained by the 
communist regime, and his family doesn't know where he is. Activists 
like Jose Daniel Ferrer and the artists of the San Isidro Movement are 
the future of Cuba, not the ruthless communist regime.
  This is the same communist regime that for decades has been the root 
of the instability we see across Latin America. The communist Cuban 
regime props up other dangerous dictators, like Maduro in Venezuela and 
Ortega in Nicaragua, threatening the region and the national security 
of the United States.
  What we are seeing now in Cuba should send a clear message to the 
world: Communism is a failed ideology that does nothing but lead to 
suffering and oppression. Communism doesn't work. Socialism doesn't 
work.
  The people of Cuba are crying out for freedom. They are denouncing 
the oppressive communist rule that has brought ruin to their nation for 
more than 60 years. This disgusting assault on the people of Cuba 
cannot go unchecked.
  I very much appreciate my colleague's efforts to condemn the 
atrocities of the regime, but this resolution is missing one thing: 
These atrocities are undeniably linked to communism.
  I stand today to offer a friendly amendment that simply condemns 
communism in this resolution, labeling the Cuban dictators Diaz-Canel 
and Raul Castro what they are: a ruthless, communist Cuban regime.
  In America, we understand the value and importance of freedom in our 
everyday lives, and it is our duty to support and stand up for those 
who are oppressed by dictators and denied the right to live freely. It 
is our duty to speak the truth about communism.
  I stand proudly with the heroic freedom fighters across Cuba who have 
taken to the streets, determined to regain their freedom and put an end 
to the communist Castro dictatorship.
  To the people of Cuba: You are not alone. Together, we will defeat 
communism.
  The freedom of Cuba is closer than ever, and we are not going to stop 
until we see a new day of freedom, democracy, and ``Patria y Vida'' in 
Cuba.
  I urge my colleagues to support my important amendment today. 
Therefore, I ask that the Senator modify his request to include my 
amendment, which is at the desk; that the resolution, as amended, be 
agreed to; that the preamble, as amended, be agreed to; and that the 
motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator so modify his request?
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I totally 
agree that the Castro regime and its prodigy is a communist-socialist 
dictatorship in tyranny. Before the Senator was ever in this 
institution or involved with the issue, for 30 years, I have been 
saying exactly that.
  The Senator, however, knows that in order to accept an amendment to a 
resolution that has been hotlined in both caucuses, this process could 
not move forward. I cannot simply accept the amendment. I would have to 
go through the whole process. And the fact of the matter is, I think 
there is a fierce urgency of now. This resolution already has the 
approval of 99 Senators, and if the Senator were to insist on his 
amendment, the junior Senator from Florida would be the only one 
standing in its way.
  This bipartisan resolution is cosponsored by 19 Senators. The 
initiative is co-led by Senator Rubio, the senior Senator from Florida, 
the ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere 
affairs. It is sponsored by Senator Risch, the ranking member of the 
full Foreign Relations Committee. It is supported by Senators Cruz and 
Romney and Hagerty, all of them leading Republican voices on the 
Foreign Relations Committee. With this strong Republican backing, the 
Foreign Relations Committee passed this resolution last Wednesday on a 
voice vote, with overwhelming bipartisan support.
  Now, intervening, we have had this infrastructure bill, and so we are 
here trying to get this finally done. We have an opportunity to act 
today and send a powerful, bipartisan message in support of the Cuban 
people and condemn the regime's brutal repression.
  Now, I personally agree with the sentiment of the junior Senator from 
Florida, but that reality is the reality that

[[Page S5701]]

has existed. We are talking about the reality today of trying to send a 
bipartisan, bicameral message.
  This resolution already condemns its present Cuban dictator, Miguel 
Diaz-Canel, by name for his direct role in ordering a violent crackdown 
against the Cuban people. It also documents the massive wave of arrests 
in Cuba. It denounces in plain language the regime's brutal violence 
and its use of summary trials to arbitrarily sentence protesters who 
have no access to a lawyer.
  So let me be clear. I have led U.S. and international efforts to 
oppose Cuba's communist dictatorship for 30 years in the Congress, 
including my role in helping create the Cuban Democracy Act and 
drafting the LIBERTAD Act. No one in Congress has a longer or more 
unwavering track record than I do when it comes to condemning the Cuban 
regime. But this resolution is a strong rebuke of the regime's recent 
actions, and it also achieves the bipartisan opportunity we need for 
Senate approval.
  There comes a time when we have to put actions over words. Today, the 
Senate has a chance to act. We should not delay another hour in passing 
this resolution, and because that is exactly what would happen, I have 
to object to the Senator's amendment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard to the modification.
  Is there an objection to the original request?
  The Senator from Florida.
  Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, 
let me just read this. All I am saying is, the resolution would add 
``condemns the murderous Communist party of Cuba for decades of 
oppression against the Cuban people, the destruction of the Cuban 
economy, and the destructive spread of communism in the Western 
Hemisphere.''
  I wish my colleague from New Jersey would accept my simple but 
important, friendly amendment, but I will consent to allowing this 
resolution to move forward.
  I will always stand proudly with the brave people in Cuba, fighting 
for their freedom, and against the brutal communist regime which 
continues to oppress them.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was 
agreed to.
  The resolution (S. Res. 310), as amended, was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I appreciate that the Senator from 
Florida, while I share his sentiments, did not press forward on 
insisting on the amendment, which would have delayed this, and most 
importantly, I think the Cuban people are the ones who are going to 
thank him as well.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________