[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 15824]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                               NICARAGUA

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, days leading up to the November 30 and 
December 1 protest in Nicaragua against the Ortega regime's proposed 
interoceanic canal and a corrupt election, the National Police, 
instructed by Daniel Ortega, sent heavy machinery, created checkpoints, 
and used barricades to block farmers and indigenous communities from 
attending the protests. Nicaraguans were severely beaten. Some were 
even shot. But Ortega's repression did not stop the Nicaraguan people 
who yearn for freedom and prosperity from participating in the protest.
  Mr. Speaker, in September of this year, this legislative body passed 
the NICA Act--legislation I authored, along with my colleague, Albio 
Sires, from New Jersey, which calls for free elections, respect for the 
rule of law, and freedom of expression. The Ortega regime seems eager 
to neglect these basic important conditions and is doubling down on its 
tyrannical tactics. We must hold Ortega accountable with the NICA Act 
and tell him we will not ignore his terrible tactics.

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