President Trump Uses Díaz-Balart’s Pro-Democracy Provisions Passed in the Fiscal Year 2024 State and Foreign Operations Bill to Sanction the Cuban Dictatorship

MIAMI, FL - Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Chairman of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee, issued the following statement following the decision of President Trump and Secretary Rubio to sanction the anti-American Cuban dictatorship:

“Once again, President Trump demonstrates real American leadership by standing with the Cuban people and sanctioning the villainous regime operatives, including Díaz-Canel, who continue to brutally terrorize those who only demand freedom. Unlike the previous administration, which put our national security last and even appeased the regime, President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio used language I included in the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations bill to sanction these anti-American thugs who work closely with America’s adversaries. It has been four years since the July 11 demonstrations, and these sanctions are long overdue. Thank you again, President Trump and Secretary Rubio, for using these tools to impose some accountability on the Cuban people’s oppressors."

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Background

Díaz-Balart’s State and Foreign Operations bill for Fiscal Year 2024, which is now called National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, was signed into law on March 23, 2024, and continued into the Fiscal Year 2025 Continuing Resolution.