[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 17635-17636]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            FAREWELL REMARKS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart) is recognized for 5 
minutes.

[[Page 17636]]


  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I will leave 
Congress at the end of this session with a sense of duty fulfilled, 
having given my all to the people of the 21st District of Florida, who 
have honored me by electing me and reelecting me to nine terms in 
Congress.
  I feel deep satisfaction not only in the achievements of my term of 
service, such as the codification into law of the U.S. embargo on the 
Cuban tyranny, requiring the liberation of all political prisoners 
without exceptions, and the scheduling of free and fair multiparty 
elections in Cuba before the President of the United States can lift 
U.S. sanctions; or the Nicaraguan adjustment and Central American 
Relief Act, which granted legal residency in the United States to 
hundreds of thousands of our Central American brothers and sisters who 
were previously facing deportation. My most profound satisfaction comes 
from having given my all, each and every day, to my constituents.

                              {time}  1810

  I, as a private citizen, will work to help the freedom fighters 
inside Cuba who are resisting the brutality of the Castro tyranny with 
ultimate courage and patriotism. They are my heroes. As Cuban political 
prisoner Angel Moya wrote from his dungeon in the Castro-Cuban gulag a 
few days ago: ``My spirit is the same; it is full of joy because I am 
in prison for fighting for the dignity and rights of the Cuban people. 
I am ready to continue resisting--physically, morally, and 
spiritually.'' Mr. Speaker, I will continue to do all in my power to 
help in the struggle for the freedom of Cuba.
  This country, the United States of America, is a miracle--a miracle 
of generosity of spirit, a miracle of freedom, of human dignity, and 
opportunity. May God forever preserve and protect this great land and 
people. For the rest of my days I will feel deeply honored to have been 
a Member of the Congress of the United States of America.
  To all of my colleagues, those who have helped me and those who have 
opposed me, thank you. Thank you for the honor of having been able to 
serve along with you.

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