Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the Republican tax plan. As I have said many times before, this plan gives tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations, over the needs of American families, while adding a predicted $2.1 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.

Particularly devastating for New Jersey is the partial elimination of the State and local tax deduction. More than 25 percent of New Jerseyans would face a tax hike over the next decade due to this change.

Per person, New Jersey taxpayers paid $3,478 more in Federal taxes in 2015 than they received from the government, more than any other State. Not only would the bill aggravate this disparity in New Jersey, it would also eliminate vital deductions that give relief to those burdened with high medical costs, student debt, and unexpected losses due to natural disasters.

Mr. Speaker, I will not support a one-sided plan that harms New Jersey and those who are most in need of tax relief.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our chairman on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce, and our ranking member, Eliot Engel, as well as the authors of this bill, Mr. Chabot of Ohio and Ms. Kelly of Illinois. Both of these Members have worked hard on the bill to expand access to education around the world. I agree with them that this is an important priority for our foreign policy.

When children are able to get basic education, it pays massive dividends down the road. Those girls and boys grow up with great opportunity, and they play a bigger role in their economies and their communities.

We have seen research that, when children can learn about certain issues like nonviolent civic engagement, support for violence drops. That adds up to stronger and more stable countries and better partners for the United States.

Children belong in a classroom, Mr. Speaker, no matter where they happen to be born, but in too many places, that access just doesn't exist. What happens then?

We know in places like the Middle East, in north Africa, violent extremists are happy to fill in the void, to recruit and indoctrinate the next generation with their hateful and violent ideology. This problem is especially acute among refugees of displaced populations.

Mr. Speaker, 3.7 million schoolchildren under the U.N. refugee agency's mandate have no school to go to. Some countries are trying to tackle this challenge, like Lebanon, where the government has taken steps to enroll Syrian refugees in schools, but the need is just too great. Out of 500,000 school-age refugees, nearly half are out of school.

This bill aims to help address those really desperate situations. It calls for the USAID to ramp up access to these children, and particularly young girls. It will help us gather more data to assist government and NGOs that are also grappling with this problem, and it authorizes the Secretary of State and the USAID Administrator to prioritize this issue, to work with multilateral organizations, and to seek out partners in the private sector and civil society that will bring innovative new approaches to expanding access to education. This bill will put more young girls in the classroom in places around the world where this help is badly needed. I am glad to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Frankel), my colleague on the Foreign Affairs Committee and a real champion for women and girls.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am also a former certified teacher, and expanding access to education is critical in combating terrorism. When we increase opportunities through education, we help more girls and boys by giving them the tools to think critically and resist those who mean to harm us. We are helping to give these children an alternative with the possibility of positioning them to make further positive impact on their communities and their countries.

Time and time again we have seen the results of what happens when children are not provided a better path: extremism, radicalism, and terrorism.

This is one of our best opportunities to provide a more safe and secure world not only for them, but also for us, too.

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Congressman Chabot and Congresswoman Kelly for their hard work. I support this bill, and I urge all Members to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 1918, the Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act, also known as the NICA Act.

I want to start by thanking Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, and my chairman on the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, Jeff Duncan, for their efforts to bring this bill to the floor.

I also would like to thank my good friend from Florida, Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, who has worked tirelessly for decades and never backs down when it comes to standing up against authoritarian regimes and human rights violators.

We are here today to stand up against Daniel Ortega and his constant pursuit of gaining absolute political control over the Nicaraguan people. Daniel Ortega and his family continue to amass wealth while the Nicaraguans remain the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Ortega has spent years winning sham elections, eliminating political opposition, and now has his wife take the role of Vice President. If you need any more convincing of his intentions, Ortega continues to strongly defend Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan dictator whose regime shoots unarmed protestors in the streets, jails the opposition, dissolved Congress, and has brought what should be one of the richest countries in Latin America to the brink of collapse.

Being a corrupt democracy in name only cannot go without consequences. This bipartisan legislation makes it clear that the U.S. will not stand by and watch Ortega trample the people's human rights defenders and stomp all over democracy, while getting rich at the expense of the Nicaraguan people.

H.R. 1918 calls on the U.S. Government to oppose loans at international financial institutions for Nicaragua unless the Nicaraguan Government takes some effective steps to hold free, fair, and transparent elections and commits to upholding democratic principles.

Congress and the administration need to work together and find ways to empower the Nicaraguan people and defend against Ortega's hostile behavior towards innocent civilians. It is my hope that this bipartisan legislation will pass the Senate and quickly be signed into law.

I thank the chairman and ranking member once again and their staff for all their help in bringing the NICA Act to the floor. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this bill to hold the Ortega regime accountable for its actions.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez), a member of the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I again want to thank Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, and mi hermana from Florida, my sister, Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, for their work on this bipartisan measure and for their commitment to democracy in the Western Hemisphere. They have skillfully crafted the NICA Act to hold President Ortega accountable, while ensuring that the Nicaraguan people do not suffer. I am glad that we are advancing this measure, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the cruel and indefensible termination of the DACA program.

Since its launch in 2012, DACA has helped hundreds of thousands of young people come out of the shadows without the fear of being separated from

their loved ones and sent away from the only country they call home. Many of these children came as infants, growing up in the same playgrounds, schools, and neighborhoods as our own kids.

The President's decision targets millions of young people who contribute to our society, economy, and national identity every day. In New Jersey alone, there are over 22,000 DACA recipients who pay $66 million in State and local taxes every year.

The emotional and economic impact of their deportation will be devastating, and New Jersey could lose $1.58 billion annually in GDP.

America was built on the hard work of immigrants and our diversity is part of the foundation of our Nation.

It is long past due for Congress to step up and protect the millions of families that will be torn apart because of this inhumane decision. We must protect DACA and pass legislation to fix our broken immigration system.

Mr. Speaker, our country is reeling from a natural disaster that has left dozens dead, caused billions of dollars in damage, and forced thousands out of their homes. Hurricane Harvey has wrought a level of devastation and suffering that is nearly unparalleled in our country.

It is now our duty as America's representatives to live up to our role and help our neighbors when they are in need. This body cannot afford to delay providing disaster assistance in the wake of this storm, as Congress did when my own state was recovering from Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Month after month, funding was withheld from our cities by political quarrels that came at New Jersey's expense. For five months, our communities were forced to wait for the federal assistance they needed to rebuild critical infrastructure.

Cleaning up the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey is a task that is beyond any single state's resources and I will not stand by quietly if Congress fails to provide swift relief for Harvey's victims.

I hope that this body has learned from its mistakes, will stand together, set aside its differences, and immediately provide the communities affected by Hurricane Harvey with the necessary assistance to recover and rebuild.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Florida. I want to commend her for her passion and her commitment to helping the people of Venezuela. I thank her for making me part of this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the ongoing crisis in Venezuela. With every week that passes, we see the situation in Venezuela becoming more critical.

A country with the world's largest known oil reserves is spiraling into a collapsed state where people are struggling just to survive. Journalists and citizens risk their lives every day to report what is happening inside Caracas and around the country. We see that tensions are growing, and government security forces shoot first and don't even bother to ask questions later.

Maduro continues to keep political prisoners like Leopoldo Lopez under lock and key to send a strong message to those trying to question his actions. Just yesterday, we saw reports that government buildings in western Venezuela are being set ablaze. Make no mistake: It is the failed Chavismo policies and the authoritarian actions of Nicolas Maduro that have brought all of this pain and suffering upon the Venezuelan people.

Press reports show that of 800,000 businesses that opened during the Chavez regime, nearly 600,000 have shut down. Both the Obama and Trump administrations have sanctioned senior officials in the Venezuelan Government for their associations with narcotrafficking, money laundering, and other illicit activities.

Just today, Reuters released an exclusive report that the Venezuelan Government is in possession of 5,000 shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles that are typically used to shoot down low-flying planes and helicopters.

Last week, Spanish authorities interdicted a shipment of 6 tons of cocaine from Venezuela en route to their shores. With the recent sanctions of Vice President Tareck El Aissami, under the Kingpin Act, it has become clear that Venezuela's Government is

acting as a narco-state and facilitating the shipment of narcotics throughout the region. These sanctions are not against the Venezuelan people but are carefully crafted and targeted towards the individuals who are committed to destroying the lives of millions of innocent civilians in exchange for money and power.

Last week, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned members of Venezuela's Supreme Court for their rulings that stripped power away from the National Assembly, further consolidating Maduro's authoritarian regime. Maduro and his cronies continue to get rich as they traffic money and drugs while doing nothing to help the millions of suffering people in Venezuela. They continue to loot the country as reports regarding the worsening situation continue to make front-page news throughout the region. Maduro's tactics are making it impossible to survive.

Multiple news reports confirm a growing health crisis as people lack access to basic medicines, and infant mortality rates and preventable diseases such as diptheria, malaria, and the Zika virus are all on the rise. In addition, nearly every day we hear of young children whose lives are cut short, whether it is from a bullet from Maduro's thugs or the lack of access to food, water, and basic services.

That is why I am grateful for the efforts of my colleagues here tonight who have supported several initiatives in Congress that work to hold these thugs accountable. My colleagues and I have held hearings, sent letters, and met with our allies in the region to work together to try to bring sound relief to the Venezuelan people.

Meanwhile, instead of focusing on the economy, Maduro is staging mock military exercises and stoking fears by spreading propaganda of U.S.- led invasion.

The truth about Maduro is clear, and the international community is starting to unify against him. The OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro has wisely called for Venezuela's suspension from the OAS unless it frees its political prisoners, accepts humanitarian aid, and holds elections without delay.

I believe we need to work together with our allies around the world and continue to insist Maduro abide by international norms and give the Venezuelan people the freedom they deserve.

I thank my dear friend from Florida, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and the other Members here tonight for their relentless commitment to these important issues.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this moment to thank my colleague and my chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee for always being present on all the important issues, human rights issues in the Western Hemisphere.

And of course, I want to thank my colleague from Florida, Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, for her passion and determination to bring democracy to Venezuela.

Before I recognize my good friend from Florida, Mario Diaz-Balart, I would just like to say that Venezuela basically has taken a page out of the Castro brothers. This is how the process in Cuba started. Fifty- five years later, there is nothing but oppression, no freedom of expression, no election, and, quite frankly, there are approximately about 30,000 Cubans in Venezuela running the security apparatus.

But I want the Venezuelan people to know that we are fighting along with them, that we are talking to all the Presidents, all the leaders in the Western Hemisphere, to put pressure on Venezuela to develop the democracy and stop the abuse of human rights in Venezuela.

At this time, I yield to my good friend from Florida (Mr. Diaz- Balart), who is also a fighter for human rights and who has been always in the forefront of human rights in the Western Hemisphere.

Thank you, Congressman. Thank you for all your passion and all your effort on behalf of those people who need it the most, the people in Venezuela.

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to end by saying, you know, I remember years ago when Spain went through 39 years of dictatorships in the Franco era. And one of the things that happened that was able to develop democracy in Spain was the fact that all the European countries got together and helped and assisted in developing a democracy in Spain. I think the same thing needs to happen in this region.

The countries of our Venezuela have to demand that Venezuela release its political prisoners, that it has free elections, and stop the human rights abuses. After all, it is in their best interest that a stable Venezuela is good for a stable region.

Mr. Speaker, I thank very much my colleague, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, always for her passion on this issue. She is the little giant of human rights in this Congress. I thank her and my colleague, Mario Diaz- Balart.

Mr. Speaker, as the ranking member of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, I am very concerned about these cuts. This undermines our leadership around the world and makes Americans less safe. When you consider that foreign aid is only 1 percent of our entire budget and helps keep Americans safe, it is an investment in our security.

Fully funding our State Department and ensuring our diplomats have the resources they need prevents conflicts, diffuses crises, and works to keep American soldiers out of harm's way.

U.S. foreign aid helps protect some of the world's poorest people from disease, starvation, and death. President Trump's own Secretary of Defense, General James Mattis, said: ``If you don't fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition. . . .''

I signed onto a letter led by Ranking Member Engel, along with my Democratic colleagues on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, urging the Speaker to oppose these draconian cuts.

We are already hearing from our allies all over the Western Hemisphere how dangerous these cuts could be to the stability of the region. Countries like Colombia fought a 52-year-long war with the FARC guerrillas, and now, when they need us the most to implement the peace deal, the Trump administration has signaled it is ready to abandon one of our strongest partners in the world. The President claims to care about protecting our sovereign border, but this budget says otherwise.

Both Republican and Democrat administrations have pushed for a strong security, economic, and trade relationship with Mexico. Pushing our neighbors away could cost billions of dollars to our U.S. businesses.

Instead of working with our partners in the Western Hemisphere, President Trump is preventing us from maintaining a robust relationship with our neighbors to pay for this unrealistic and ineffective wall.

In Central America, we risk seeing a repeat of the 2014 crisis when nearly 70,000 children made the dangerous journeys from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador after being threatened with violence, assault, and forced gang recruitment. Our engagement in Central America is helping to bring calm to the region, and abandoning our friends in their time of need puts America at risk. Retreating from the world will allow other countries like China and Russia to take our place as a global leader.

Instead of building a wall, the President should continue working with our neighbors to enhance cooperation instead of alienating friends who have stood by us for decades.

Mr. Speaker, I couldn't agree more. Already we are starting to see the influence of China in most of the countries in South America.

You know, I had a conversation with one of the presidents of the colleges in Colombia on one of my trips. He was telling me how the influence of China in Colombia is so strong. He was telling me that the second most studied language in Colombia today is Mandarin. When you think of that, that is a frightening thought.

You talk about the influence in Nicaragua of the Chinese. They even think of building a canal, which many people think will never happen. But to have China so close to our borders is not good for America. To push away our neighbors is not good for America. We must work with our neighbors. People don't realize the amount of economic activity between the United States and the rest of Central America and Mexico.

I read something very funny the other day. Well, it is not funny, but it is really sad. They were discussing this wall that the President proposes. Some people say: Where are we going to put it? In the middle of the river? Or are we going to put it on the American side and give the river to Mexico? Or are we going to go invade Mexico and put the wall on the Mexican side and keep the river to ourselves?

So I thought that was telling of the difficulty.

If I might, I couldn't agree with the gentleman more. Just to bring it even closer to home, we recently met with the attorneys general from the Northern Triangle. These attorneys general have been fighting corruption, have been fighting the cartel. We have assisted them with a small amount of money. These people put their lives every day in peril fighting the cartel, fighting this corruption.

In our conversation, they said to me: We need America's support to continue our work. If we stop now, all that we have accomplished until now is going to go for naught.

When you are talking about a small amount of money, the strong impact that it has on countries that, for decades, have experienced a great deal of corruption, and we finally have people that have stepped forward and want to fight this corruption and put their lives in peril every single day, I think we should support those people. Cutting and running away from these people can only hurt us.

This is just one small example of the impact that this 30 percent cut would have on this region.

Well, before we finish, I just want to compliment Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel on the recent resolution that we worked on together in encouraging Argentina to continue on the path under new President Macri. Former President de Kirchner decided that she was going to be an isolationist.

Argentina is too big. It is a country that could be a player in assisting us in any crisis that we have in South America. So this resolution did not cost any money, but it shows our friendship, it shows our support, and it shows that they are moving in the right direction.

So my compliments to the gentleman, my compliments to the people that signed this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution.

I would like to start by thanking Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, and their staffs for working with me to bring H. Res. 54 to the floor. I would like to thank my friend from South Carolina, Chairman Jeff Duncan, who is in charge of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere and led a delegation to Argentina last March to help restart relations with the Macri administration.

H. Res. 54 reaffirms the strong U.S. partnership with Argentina and acknowledges their President Mauricio Macri for his efforts to make the necessary changes and bring Argentina back into the international community. President Macri worked hard to stimulate growth and bring Argentina back as a powerful player in the region after years of isolationist views from the Kirchners.

I was pleased to visit Argentina last year and see, firsthand, the changes the new government was making, and it was refreshing to see the progress already being made. Most importantly, we received assurances from the Macri administration that they will restart the investigation into the horrific 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish center in Buenos Aires, which left 85 dead and hundreds more injured, and the untimely and suspicious death of prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who was found dead on the eve of delivering his explosive report which outlined the connections between the bombing, Iran, and former Argentina President Cristina Kirchner's efforts to cover up these links. Unfortunately, the victims of these attacks and their families still lack answers to what really occurred, and the troubling reports of Iran's role in the bombing deserves thorough investigation that finally brings the perpetrators to justice.

Argentina is a great partner and a friend, and I believe we must continue to support our friends and continue to grow this critical relationship. Once again, I thank my colleagues for their support of this resolution and urge Members of the House to support H. Res. 54 to further strengthen the great ties our country has with Argentina.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

In conclusion, let me say that the U.S.-Argentina relationship is critical, and I stand in strong support of H. Res. 54.

Argentina's new President, Mauricio Macri, has done a tremendous job reforming their outdated and isolationist economic policies. Most importantly, the Macri administration has renewed its efforts to find the long sought after justice for the bombing of the AMIA Jewish Cultural Center, whose perpetrators are still evading justice.

His efforts have improved the lives of countless Argentines, and I look forward to working with his government to continue building on the progress we have already made.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution and thank them all for their support.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the grave consequences that undetected obstructive sleep apnea has on safety in the railroad industry.

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the obstruction of the airway during sleep. Untreated sleep apnea can cause unintended sleep episodes that may result in attention deficits and in a loss of situational awareness. It is a serious safety concern in railroading and has been a factor in numerous crashes:

The September New Jersey Transit crash in Hoboken, New Jersey, was operated by an engineer with undiagnosed sleep apnea;

In April 2011, a BNSF coal train collided with a standing train in Iowa that resulted in the deaths of two crew members. Medical records showed that both crew members had multiple risk factors for sleep apnea;

In December 2013, a Metro-North Railroad passenger train derailed, killing four passengers and injuring 60. The engineer feel asleep due to undiagnosed sleep apnea.

I am pleased that the Federal Railroad Administration finally released a safety advisory that calls for railroads to screen train operators for sleep apnea, and I hope it is instituted quickly.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Union City Public Schools for their outstanding achievements.

Having come to the United States from Cuba as a child, I experienced the challenges of assimilating into a new community firsthand. As the representative of one of our Nation's most diverse districts, many of my constituents experience these challenges every day. Giving immigrants the tools they need to succeed is not only beneficial to our country, it is sound policy.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Union City Public Schools ``have become a model for ushering low-income English-language learners into the mainstream.''

With a student body that is 95 percent Hispanic, one of the keys to Union City Public Schools' success is their English as a second language program and their early childhood programming. The programming has become a model for educators in the U.S. and as far away as Europe. Graduation rates have also increased by nearly 10 percent, in just 2 years, in the district.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent a school district that has made tremendous strides in easing the transition of immigrant youth into our society and become the foundation of success for thousands of children and young adults.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for allowing me to speak tonight.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my disappointment and deep concerns regarding the administration's plan for loosening the sanctions and initiating diplomatic discussions with the Cuban dictatorship. It is naive and misguided to think that this is going to give us the long-desired political and economic changes that the Cuban people deserve.

In fact, just a few days after the announcement, Raul Castro made sure to dispel any misgivings and brazenly declared that the regime would not abandon its communist path, let alone loosen its stranglehold over the people of Cuba. I feel that the administration has abandoned all those Cuban people for all those years who fought for human rights and democracy in Cuba. I feel that those people who are still lingering in the Cuban jails are so disappointed in this administration's efforts.

You know, the Alan Gross release should have been something joyous. And we all wanted Alan Gross released because he was incarcerated for no reason other than he was foreign. But to release three Cuban spies or a network of spies that exists in this country currently is just not acceptable. Alan Gross should have been released on his own. He did nothing. He just went to Cuba to establish some sort of communication for this community.

The other thing that is troubling me, coming from New Jersey, is the fact that there was no discussion about any extradition of the criminals that are currently in Cuba. There are over 100 criminals in Cuba, including Joanne Chesimard, who killed a State trooper in New Jersey point blank 30 years ago. She escaped to Cuba. She has been enjoying the sun, she has been enjoying the beach. Meanwhile, Trooper Werner Foerster's family for over 30 years grew up without a father. And yet we can't seem to get this government to think that it is important that we bring these people to justice. As a matter of fact, the FBI has named Joanne Chesimard as number one in the list of terrorists that they want back.

So to me it was very disappointing because the people of New Jersey, after all these years, are still trying to bring this woman to justice.

People tell me, well, we negotiate and we trade with Vietnam, we trade with China. We trade with other countries. And I say this: that is not the island that I want in Cuba. We haven't helped Vietnam's people at all. There is still no freedom, and there are human rights abuses. You look at China, it is the same thing. You look at North Korea, it is the same thing. I don't want that for the island where I was born. And I surely don't want that kind of government 90 miles away from this country. You know, the history of Cuba, all in the past 50 years of this dictatorship, has been one to try to hurt this country as much as it can, and I certainly don't want that 90 miles from this country.

The administration with this effort has taken away what we believe was a pressure point on a communist dictatorship 90 miles from this country. It has taken away how we can pressure this island. First of all, Russia can't help them any more. Russia used to help Cuba to the tune of $4 billion a year. Venezuela can't any more. Venezuela is falling apart. There are 30,000 Cubans in Venezuela trying to create the same type of country that we have in Cuba.

And at this point, we take away this pressure and basically give millions of dollars to this dictatorship. People may not know it, but any time anybody sends any money to Cuba, the Cuban government keeps 30 percent of it. So if you raised it from $500 to $2,000, you tell me how many millions that is going to be. When you go to all of the beaches and to the restaurants, that is all government owned. In Cuba, if you want to set up a business, you have to negotiate with the government.

If I want to set up a business and I need 100 workers, I don't go out and get 100 workers, I go out and speak to the government and the government tells me you have to pay $15 an hour. They in turn give those workers $2-3 an hour. That is not helping the Cuban people in their economics. That is not helping them move forward.

So I think it is really naive to think that these kinds of changes are going to help. You know, I can only think back when I was young, and I came to this country at the age of 11. I remember when they took all of the books out of the school system and started the indoctrination process. I remember the military coming into my house and they took inventory. My mother and father were poor people, but they took inventory of everything that was in the house. And they threatened my parents that if anything was missing at the time we got our visa, it would be revoked.

This is not the country that I want for Cuba. I want a country with democracy. I want a country where human rights are observed. And yet, for 50 years this dictatorship has been killing.

People talk about Raul Castro as some sort of a changer. People forget that Raul Castro and Che Guevara were the ones who set up the firing squads in Cuba that killed thousands of people. Thousands of people were killed by the firing squads.

So I rise today in total disappointment, and I hope that this administration sees that this is not the way forward, that this is a hardened dictatorship, and that the only way we can deal with this dictatorship is through pressure. Through pressure is the only way to deal with these people, especially at this time. There is nobody that is going to come out and bail out Cuba.

Just last year, they were funneling arms to North Korea right in our backyard. Is this the kind of government we want 90 miles from our shores?

I thank my good friends for having this hour, allowing me to express my sentiments, and I thank all my colleagues who are here speaking with the same approach.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the life of the legendary North Bergen High School football coach Vincent Ascolese.

Coach Ascolese, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, neighbor, and friend, passed away on December 3 after a long battle with cancer.

His career as a high school football coach spanned 50 years, beginning with 11 years in Hoboken, New Jersey, and then taking over the North Bergen football program in 1973. He retired after the 2011 season as New Jersey's third winningest coach in history.

As a member of the Hudson County Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Football Coaches Hall of Fame, he guided the North Bergen Bruins to 12 Hudson County crowns and six State championships.

As a Jersey City native, Coach Ascolese was named Hudson County Coach of the Year 14 times, and in 1997, he was named the Toyota Coach of the Year for the Eastern United States. In 2011, North Bergen's home field was renamed as the Vincent Ascolese Field.

Coach Ascolese will be remembered for his lasting impact on and off the field and his ability to inspire his players and the community. My thoughts are with the Vincent Ascolese family, former players, and the North Bergen community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the people of Jersey City, New Jersey, upon the recent announcement to host the PGA 2017 Presidents Cup at the premier Liberty National Golf Club.

The prestigious tournament will not only expose golf fans to Jersey City, but also bolster tourism, investment, and raise awareness for charities in the area. In addition, all the living Presidents will be at the opening ceremony as honorary chairmen. The Presidents Cup is one of 10 PGA events that will be held at Liberty National during a span of 25 years.

I congratulate the father and son team of Dan and Paul Fireman for their unwavering commitment and vision to bring a world-class course to Jersey City, New Jersey. Built on top of an old landfill, Liberty National offers sweeping views of the Hudson River and views of the Statue of Liberty nearly at every hole.

The Firemans' dedication to bringing a world-class golf course to the area was never about a profit, rather, giving back to the game and the community. In correlation with the tournament, the Firemans announced a $5 million, 5-year commitment to the First Tee program, an international youth organization that promotes life skills and leadership through the game of golf.

I congratulate the city of Jersey City and the Fireman family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the recent loss of Sheriff Ralph Froehlich.

Sheriff Froehlich was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey. After serving over 9 years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Infantryman and a drill instructor, Mr. Froehlich joined the Elizabeth Police Department. Mr. Froehlich worked for almost 20 years, rising up to the rank of Lieutenant.

In 1977, he was elected the Sheriff of Union County and, at the time of his passing, was in the midst of serving his 13th term. This gave him the distinction of being the longest-serving Sheriff in the history of New Jersey.

While serving as the Sheriff of Union County, he implemented several programs designed to make our community safer. He worked hard to establish units regarding missing persons, domestic violence, and search and rescue.

I want to express my deepest condolences for all who knew and cared for Sheriff Froehlich, and my gratitude for the years he devoted to keeping our community safe.