[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 137]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 137]]

                  RETURN ELIAN GONZALEZ TO HIS FATHER

  (Mr. RODRIGUEZ asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I believe Elian Gonzalez should be 
allowed to return to his father. If it would be the reverse and we 
would have our child in Cuba, we would expect no difference.
  Our responsibility is to look beyond the political issues. It is 
unfortunate that this issue has been politicized. It is unfortunate 
that it has gotten to this point.
  If we look at our own present law, we would have allowed that 
individual to go to the father and to his grandmothers. The extended 
family that is there, even within the courts, should not have any 
jurisdiction. I feel very strongly that Americans should also be 
supportive of this. It is unfortunate that it has been tainted with 
politics and that that youngster has been used in politics.
  I have heard also that, why is not the father here? Well, it is my 
understanding, I know that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano) 
has advised him not to come to the United States because they were 
concerned that, legally, he would have been detained here and a 
subpoena would also have forced him to be here. He also has another 
family.
  We need to be conscientious. If we look at family values, we need to 
return Elian Gonzalez back to Cuba.

                          ____________________