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U.S. Resources Must Not Be Funneled through Castro Regime’s Military and Intelligence Services

June 3, 2015

WASHINGTON – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement after the passage of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for FY 2016.

"I strongly support the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for FY 2016 which passed by a vote of 242-183, and strongly support the provision that prohibits exports to the Cuban military. I firmly opposed the amendment which would have stripped that common sense provision that failed by a decisive vote of 153-273. I commend Chairman Culberson on crafting a solid bill that funds our priorities and furthers key American values

"On December 17, 2014, President Obama stated, ‘I believe that more resources should be able to reach the Cuban people.' The CJS provision ensures that exports to Cuba accomplish precisely that goal. President Obama even created an exception within the general prohibition on exports to Cuba entitled, ‘Support for the Cuban People (SCP).' Certainly the supporting of the Cuban people must not include channeling goods to the Cuban military and intelligence service that oppress them through arbitrary arrests, violence, intimidation, and unjust imprisonments.

"Not only is the Cuban military responsible for oppressing the Cuban people, but it engages in illegal weapons smuggling, subverts democratic institutions in Venezuela, and assists foreign terrorist organizations and other rogue regimes such as North Korea. Furthermore, several Members of the Cuban military remain under indictment for the murder of innocent U.S. citizens.

"Exports delivered to the Cuban military will do nothing to benefit the Cuban people, but can only directly fund the oppressive arm of the Castro dictatorship that remains a malevolent actor on the world stage. The narrow, commonsense provision in CJS does not prohibit exports to Cuba. Instead, the CJS provision simply ensures that U.S. exports cannot be controlled by the Cuban military and intelligence service."