North Miami-Dade News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) joined her colleagues Cuban-American Representatives Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), and Carlos Giménez (R-FL) in a Press Conference to remind the Biden Administration that Cuba must remain on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List of the Department of State, in light of a recent trip by several members of Congress to Cuba.

"The conclusion is that we want for the Cubans what we have here in the United States: freedom, Human Rights, and a free-market economy," said Representative Salazar. "The Biden Administration and those of my colleagues who have just been to Cuba must open their eyes, not drink the Kool-Aid, and not negotiate with the Cuban regime."

Advocates of the Cuban regime tried to derail and interrupt the Press Conference with common Castroist talking points. Representative Salazar educated them on the harsh reality that, while they use their freedom to defend oppression, the Cubans on the Island do not have the freedom to protest for their freedom.

At the beginning of last year, Representative Salazar reintroduced H.R. 314, the Ending the Reign of Castro Oppression (FORCE Act). This bill prevents the President from removing Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List until they meet the requirements of Section 205 of the LIBERTAD Act (P.L. 104-114).

Section 205 of the LIBERTAD Act demands that Cuba fulfills the following conditions:

- Release all political prisoners and allow appropriate international Human Rights organizations to investigate Cuban prisons.

- Transition from the Castro regime to a system that guarantees the rights of the Cuban people to freely express themselves.

- Commit to holding free and fair elections.

To view Representative Salazar's full comments at the Press Conference, click here.