[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 7, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H1118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HOSTING CUBA'S BORDER GUARD AND MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IS 
                              UNACCEPTABLE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I found out on Friday of this past week that 
Cuba's Border Guard and Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been hosted in 
the North Carolina congressional district that I am honored to 
represent. The Wilmington Port facilities visit was planned and 
authorized by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of 
State.
  As one of our Nation's oldest adversaries and a state sponsor of 
terrorism, Cuba's Communist Government is no friend of the United 
States or anyone else who believes in freedom. Cuba has a history of 
being a strategic Western asset to our greatest adversaries, including 
China, Russia, and Iran, and they regularly cooperate with narcotics 
traffickers, bringing cocaine, fentanyl, and other deadly drugs to our 
country.
  Now I am told this trip, as well as others in the past, have been 
arranged as part of a reciprocal relationship to turn back Cubans 
fleeing to the United States. We apparently have this arrangement where 
we view their ports and security protocols, and they view ours.
  There is no reason any nation with a state sponsor of terrorism 
designation should be hosted by the United States, let alone be allowed 
to analyze sensitive coastal and maritime security protocols. 
Ironically, the decision to designate Cuba as a state sponsor of 
terrorism and the decision to authorize this trip were made by the same 
agencies. This action flies in the face of the purpose of both the 
Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State and makes a 
mockery of American strength against our adversaries.
  The shores of North Carolina's Seventh Congressional District are 
used and enjoyed by its residents and countless tourists from across 
the country. It is our responsibility to ensure the security of our 
maritime borders, and our Coast Guard often serves as the first line of 
defense against these threats.
  Mr. Speaker, this visit was a clear national security risk. I don't 
know how one could view it otherwise. The bottom line is, this visit 
should never have happened, and the American people deserve to know 
what steps were taken to protect our national security interests.

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