[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14569]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 URGING THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO MOVE SLOWLY AND CAUTIOUSLY IN 
                        ITS RELATIONS WITH CUBA

  (Mr. SIRES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak for those oppressed in 
Cuba that cannot speak for themselves. As the administration is moving 
forward with immigration talks, as the Organization of American States 
is welcoming Cuba, I rise to remind my colleagues in Washington and my 
friends abroad that when you deal with Cuba, you are not dealing with a 
benign regime. You are dealing with a dangerous regime. The regime's 
most recent crackdown has surfaced in the oppression of religion.
  In May 2008, Pastor Omar Gude Perez was arrested and charged with 
human trafficking. When no evidence was found to support the charges, 
the Cuban regime simply changed the charges. He is now on trial for 
``counter-revolutionary conduct.'' A man who has been dedicated to his 
religion now faces years in prison.
  Last week, 30 evangelical, nonpolitical pastors were arrested by 
Cuban authorities. This is a clear attack on religion by the Castro 
regime.
  On top of these atrocities, we hear that two Castro spies may have 
been working among us in our government for decades. It is crucial that 
the United States Government move slowly and cautiously in our 
relationship with Cuba. In light of this, the administration must not 
make any further decisions regarding Cuba until a comprehensive damage 
assessment is completed and Congress is fully briefed.

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