Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Stephen Nimer on his successful 5 years as the director of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at my alma mater, the University of Miami. Go Canes.

Throughout his distinguished career as a noted leukemia and stem cell transplant researcher and clinician, Dr. Nimer has dedicated himself to caring for cancer patients in their greatest hour of need. Dr. Nimer has propelled the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center into prominence by bringing together a superb team of leading medical experts who have transformed the center into one of the worldwide leaders in cancer treatment and innovation.

Because of Dr. Nimer's efforts, people from South Florida, and indeed from all over the world, have come to view Sylvester as the ultimate destination for cutting-edge cancer programs, as well as a refuge and helping hand as they deal with this difficult disease.

Congratulations to Dr. Nimer on a successful 5-year tenure at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Our South Florida community is indeed blessed to have you at the helm.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss two foreign policy areas that are important to our Nation, our region, and to my constituency in south Florida. Cuba and Venezuela are two countries in our hemisphere that suffer under dictatorships and are avowed enemies of the United States.

In my native homeland of Cuba, we have seen human rights violations on the rise ever since the U.S. concessions to the Castro regime in December 2014. One example is the case of Dr. Eduardo Cardet of Holguin, Cuba, pictured here. He is a medical doctor and the leader of the Christian Liberation Movement who was savagely beaten in front of his wife and two children and has been imprisoned since November 2016. Just days ago he was sentenced to 3 years in prison.

Dr. Cardet is condemned and sentenced because he is the voice for change and a respected human rights leader. The truth is that Eduardo Cardet has been imprisoned because he is willing--and has been doing it--to tell anyone who would listen that the Cuban people do not approve of the Castro regime. For not supporting this vile Castro dictatorship and for speaking out against such cruelty and abuses, he was sentenced to 3 years.

Mr. Speaker, we cannot stand idly by as more and more prodemocracy leaders are being beaten and arrested on the island. The President and his new administration have committed to reversing some of the damage inflicted by the previous administration on the cause of freedom and democracy in Cuba. Our policy in Cuba should send a strong message throughout the hemisphere that the United States will no longer remain silent on these atrocities.

It is well known that Cuba has exposed, has exported its barbaric tactics to other countries in the hemisphere, namely, Venezuela. The Venezuelan people believe that there is no justice in their land. They believe that there is no respect for law in their country, and they are right.

And what about their economy?

Well, according to the International Monetary Fund, the inflation in Venezuela last year was around 800 percent--800 percent--and the inflation projection for this year is 1,600 percent. This is not sustainable, Mr. Speaker, especially when press reports are so visual when they show that Venezuelan people are scavenging for food. They don't have any money, and they are actually leaving their country in order to find food.

Venezuela has only a little over $10 billion worth of foreign reserves, yet it owes $7 billion in outstanding debt payments. This tells us, Mr. Speaker, that we have, sadly, not yet hit rock bottom in Venezuela and that the situation will get worse, which is why it is so important that we begin the process to bring democratic reforms to the country now in order to prevent a larger crisis that is looming in the future.

One way to achieve this, Mr. Speaker, is to impose sanctions on human rights violators. Mr. Speaker, more targeted sanctions against those individuals who are responsible for the famine and the human rights violations that are ongoing in Venezuela are desperately needed.

Let's examine some of the individuals who I believe should be on the sanctions list. First off we have Maikel Moreno. This individual, months ago, used Venezuela's kangaroo courts and ratified the unjust sentence against political prisoner Leopoldo Lopez.

How was he rewarded by the Maduro regime?

He was appointed to be the president of the Supreme Justice Tribunal. Just appalling.

Next up is Marco Torres. Marco Torres is the Venezuelan Minister of Food. Let's examine his awful track record. The food shortages in Venezuela are rampant, and it is difficult for the people to feed themselves or their families. To make matters worse, Mr. Speaker, press reports indicate that Venezuelans are eating from trash in the street just to survive. The Venezuelan people deserve better.

Next we have Jose Viloria Sosa, this gentleman right here. He is the director of the military prison of Ramo Verde. This decrepit character is responsible for the inhumane treatment and abusive tactics against human rights activist Leopoldo Lopez.

Lastly, Susana Barreiros Rodriguez. In 2015, she was the judge of the 28th Trial Circuit Court of Caracas who was the one who originally unjustly sentenced Leopoldo Lopez to jail.

We must provide a voice for those whose rights continue to be trampled, and take swift and decisive actions such as imposing sanctions on all of these regime officials and many more who facilitate those abuses.

When it comes to the tyranny in Cuba and in Venezuela, Mr. Speaker, we must have a clear vision and a clear understanding of the nature of these rogue regimes that do not respect the rule of law, do not respect freedom of expression, and do not respect any kind of human dignity.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Rotary Club of Miami on its 100th anniversary, which will be celebrated through the Century of Service Gala this Saturday, March 25.

The Rotary Club of Miami is the fifth oldest rotary club in Florida, and has been working around-the-clock to make positive and long-lasting contributions to our beautiful south Florida community. Through community service projects and philanthropy, this organization has helped establish several institutions that aim to assist some of the most vulnerable members of our society, including the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, the YMCA of Greater Miami, and Boys Town of Florida.

Since its inception, the Rotary Club of Miami has been headed by extraordinary individuals with a vision to make south Florida an even better place in which to live. Its first president was Dr. James Jackson, who was

instrumental in establishing Jackson Memorial Hospital, which is now the third largest public hospital and the third largest teaching hospital in our great country.

Another Miami staple of the Rotary Club of Miami is the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, which was established by one of the club members, and is ranked the number one eye hospital in the United States.

The Rotary Club of Miami also helped found one of the largest burn centers in the south, the Bone and Tissue Bank at the University of Miami. And the Rotary Club of Miami has also supported education by providing scholarship opportunities for high school, college, and postgraduate students.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the Rotary Club of Miami for its impressive legacy. I thank everyone who is involved in this club supporting this wonderful organization. And I wish the members of the Rotary Club of Miami much continued success in the decades to come.

Tribute to Congressman Robert Garcia

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a former Member of the House, Robert Garcia, or, as we used to call him, Bobby, who passed away nearly 2 months ago.

I had the opportunity to serve with Bobby for only a few months before his retirement, but during that short time, I was able to see firsthand his commitment to our great Nation.

Bobby was a patriot. After graduating from high school, Bobby joined the Army and went on to serve as part of the Third Infantry Division in the Korean war, where he earned two Bronze Stars.

As the first Hispanic woman elected to Congress, I have been invigorated by Bobby's unwavering passion to fight for better opportunities for our Hispanic community. He was a founding member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and NALEO, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, to ensure that more Hispanics become involved in our political arena.

Bobby was also instrumental in guaranteeing that Hispanics were counted in the U.S. Census. One of Bobby's legacies, Mr. Speaker, was the creation of free enterprise zones designed to spur job creation and economic opportunities in inner city neighborhoods. Bobby also led the effort to establish the Martin Luther King national holiday.

The loss of Bobby's experience and knowledge is felt in New York, in Puerto Rico, and all across our country by everyone who benefited from his contributions. Bobby Garcia's memory will stand as a great example of a tenacious public servant and a remarkable life lived.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Vizcaya, an accredited museum and national historic landmark, located in my congressional district and the legacy of visionary James Deering, who created this south Florida gem 100 years ago.

With the help of Deering's nieces, public officials, and private citizens, Vizcaya has been serving as a public resource for more than 60 years now. Today, it is at the origins of modern Miami's interest in art, international culture and innovation, and welcomes over 275,000 guests each year.

Vizcaya will restore several historic village buildings and the surrounding landscape, which will enable them to tell the full story of the estate, including the legacy of its workers, and to accommodate new programs for students and families, including those on urban farming.

Vizcaya's future will be rooted in its history, but directed toward the demands of 21st century Miami.

For 100 years, Mr. Speaker, Vizcaya has been a place for people to gather, to learn, to engage in social activity, and to find inspiration. Its continued evolution will cement its role as Miami's cultural hub.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow we will, sadly, commemorate the 25-year anniversary of the terrorist bombing against the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which occurred on March 17, 1992. The terror attack also destroyed a Catholic church and a nearby school.

Twenty-nine people lost their lives in this horrific attack, including Israeli diplomats and their spouses, a Catholic priest, and Argentinian citizens, many of whom were children; and nearly 250 others were wounded.

Two years later, on July 18, 1994, over 80 people were murdered in a similar terrorist bombing at the building of the Jewish community organization, also known as AMIA, in Buenos Aires.

These two attacks had many similarities, Mr. Speaker: many innocent people lost their lives or were severely injured; Israelis and Jews were the main target for these horrific attacks; and, unsurprisingly, Iran, the world's foremost state sponsor of terror and its terror proxy group, Hezbollah, were responsible for these attacks.

Yet here we are, 25 years after the Israeli Embassy bombing and 23 years after the AMIA attack, and those responsible for those cowardly acts have yet to be brought to justice.

It hasn't been for lack of evidence, Mr. Speaker. In fact, the Supreme Court of Argentina found that the Iranian-backed--U.S.-, Israel-, and Arab League-designated--Lebanese-based terror group Hezbollah was responsible for the embassy bombing. A preponderance of evidence shows that Iran directed, financed, and assisted Hezbollah in the commission of the terror attack.

Buenos Aires also called for a special prosecutor to investigate the AMIA bombing and appointed special investigator Alberto Nisman to the case. As a result, Argentina issued international arrest warrants for nine Iranian officials in connection with the AMIA bombing after Nisman determined that Iranian proxy Hezbollah was responsible for this heinous act.

Mr. Nisman's commitment to the rule of law and the fight against corruption and terror was unwavering. I had the honor and privilege to call Alberto a friend and speak with him frequently to discuss the case and Iran's role in these barbaric attacks.

Sadly, Mr. Speaker, Alberto was found dead in his apartment in Argentina on January 19, 2015, under mysterious and suspicious circumstances. In December 2015, President Macri made a bold statement, a decision, to create a special prosecutor to investigate Nisman's death, which hopefully will not only uncover the truth surrounding his death, but also could vindicate the work for which Alberto dedicated and maybe even gave his life.

We can honor Alberto's legacy by continuing his work to hold those responsible for the terrorist bombings 25 years ago against the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires and the AMIA bombing in 1994. That is why I am introducing a resolution today alongside Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, Ted Deutch, Jeff Duncan, and Albio Sires, all of whom lead the way in holding Iran accountable for its cowardly acts of terror.

This resolution, Mr. Speaker, expresses support to the Government of Argentina for its investigation into the terrorist bombing of the Israeli Embassy on March 17, 1992, as well as the AMIA bombing on July 18, 1994. The resolution also commends President Macri for appointing a special investigator in December of last year to examine the 1994 AMIA terrorist attacks.

We are calling on our own government to assist Argentina in any way possible to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. We also urge responsible nations to work together to fight and defeat international terrorism and its state sponsors like Iran.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this important resolution, to take a moment today to remember those who suffered in Hezbollah's barbaric terrorist attack, and to continue to press those responsible to be brought to justice.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge and personally thank the Argentine Ambassador to the U.S., Martin Lousteau, for being here in the gallery this morning. The Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, is represented by Reuven Azar, Deputy Head of Mission at the Israeli Embassy, who was actually born in Argentina. I thank them for being here this morning.

I urge this investigation to go forward with U.S. support as well. I thank them so much, and let us remember the victims of these dastardly attacks today.

Mr. Speaker, since its creation in 1989, Best Buddies has grown into a leading nonprofit entity that has provided countless opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through its eight programs, participants are able to learn social skills, leadership development, integrated employment, and so much more. Today, Best Buddies has a presence in all 50 States and has spread internationally across many continents.

I am also proud to say that the founder and the chairman of Best Buddies, Anthony Shriver, is a Floridian and a constituent.

This Saturday, Best Buddies will be hosting its South Florida Friendship Walk which will take place at Museum Park, located in my congressional district, and I pray for a safe and successful event.

I would like to express my tremendous appreciation to Best Buddies and the truly great people who support its cause.

Mr. Speaker, I want to encourage everyone in south Florida to come out to Zoo Miami this Sunday, March 12, for the Families for Fragile X Monkey Madness 5K Run/Walk.

Fragile X syndrome is the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability, which results in a wide range of mental and physical impairments. It is also the most common known genetic cause of autism.

Through events like the upcoming 5K run/walk, organizations like the National Fragile X Foundation and the Families for Fragile X are working to raise awareness and advance groundbreaking research. These events also bring together those impacted by fragile X in our community and provide them with essential support and encouragement so that no one family has to go through this journey alone.

I ask everyone in south Florida to join Michele and her son Matthew, as well as hundreds of other patients, caregivers, and friends whose lives have been impacted by fragile X, this Sunday for the Monkey Madness 5K Run/Walk. You can register at familiesforfragilex.com.

Recognizing the Friendship Circle of Miami

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the Friendship Circle of Miami, a program provided by the Chabad of Kendall & Pinecrest that offers much-needed acceptance to children and young individuals with special needs by providing them with the skills to become our future leaders.

Since its inception, the Friendship Circle has provided these vulnerable members of our society the opportunity to participate in many programs like organized sports or visual and performing arts, all while building lasting friendships.

The Friendship Circle has grown from a small organization that started in Detroit to now having chapters all across our Nation and, indeed, around the world. I would like to offer a special congratulations to our Miami chapter, as it recently held its annual Walk for Friendship, raising awareness and support for the programs and services offered to our youth.

Mr. Speaker, it is organizations like Friendship Circle that serve as the pillar of equality and celebrate each person's individual qualities that make them great. I ask south Florida to join members of our community like the Pardo family--Angel, Rosie, and Andrew--in bringing a smile to the faces of some very special children in our community.

Celebrating the 56th Anniversary of the Peace Corps

Mr. Speaker, March 1 marked the 56th anniversary of the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps' talented volunteers have accomplished a lot over the years, serving in over 140 countries across the globe. They have changed millions of lives, provided immeasurable technical assistance to communities in need, and helped create a better understanding between Americans and peoples abroad.

In 2011, I was proud to author a bill that helped protect Peace Corps volunteers. The Senate companion to that bill became law as the Kate Puzey Act, establishing policies that improved volunteer safety and ensured that they would have the resources necessary to contend with emergencies.

Peace Corps volunteers exemplify the extraordinary compassion and leadership of our great Nation, and their security is paramount as they carry out their missions abroad. I congratulate the Peace Corps on its 56th anniversary, and I wish it even greater success in the years ahead.

Congratulating Jonathan Aguiar and the KNOW MORE Campaign

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Jonathan Aguiar, a wonderful student at Christopher Columbus High School, whom I recently met, for his efforts that are known as KNOW MORE. He started this organization KNOW MORE, and it is an organization founded to raise awareness about sexual assault on high school campuses in south Florida.

Anyone, regardless of age, can become a victim of sexual assault. Unfortunately, it is a crime that often goes unreported due to the detrimental scars felt by some victims. By joining together to create KNOW MORE, Jonathan and his friends have undertaken a noble effort to support victims, protect others from harm, and prepare high school students to make informed decisions.

I thank Jonathan and Christopher Columbus High School for their work and advocacy to combat this issue that affects so many in our community and across the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, appalling human rights violations take place in my native homeland of Cuba on a regular basis and have only gotten worse in the past few years. Just last week, the Castro regime sentenced a man to a year in prison. What was his crime? He did not watch Fidel Castro's funeral on the television. And just a few months ago, Danilo Maldonado, also known as El Sexto, was arrested for writing ``he's gone'' on a wall after Fidel Castro's death.

Mr. Speaker, the Cuban people lack the most basic of human rights, and they are punished for any sentiment that is not in accordance with the Castro regime. The former administration of this wonderful country failed the people of Cuba.

Since the change in the Cuba policy, reports show that the humanitarian crisis has only gotten worse on the island. The 2017 Freedom in the World report put out by Freedom House showed that arbitrary arrests were at the highest level in 7 years. The Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation documented a monthly average of 862 arbitrary detentions between January and November of last year.

Raul Castro tries to silence the Cuban people by subjecting human rights defenders, journalists, and peaceful protesters to arbitrary arrest and short-term detentions. Castro also tries to cut any relation between the opposition and outside groups.

Just last week, Mr. Speaker, Luis Almagro, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, the OAS, was denied entry to Cuba. He was to receive the first Oswaldo Paya Liberty and Life Award. Paya was a human rights activist murdered by the Castro regime just 5 years ago. Almagro was to be presented with the award by Paya's daughter, but the Castro regime called this ``an unacceptable provocation''-- receiving an award.

Similarly, the former Education Minister of Chile denied entry to Cuba and former Mexican President denied entry to Cuba simply because they planned to meet with true human rights activists and defenders on the island.

I challenge these U.S. congressional delegations that go to Cuba to march with the Ladies in White on any given Sunday. Here they are. Here are their faces. Will they be brave enough to do so, to march with these defenseless ladies, or do they just want a junket to glamorize Cuba?

Not to mention the many human rights abuses that go unreported, Mr. Speaker. Instead, the Cuban people risk their lives to record abuses, to report them to outside organizations.

The Ladies in White, Las Damas de Blanco, march every Sunday, peacefully protesting the unjust and barbaric imprisonment of dissidents.

Look at these images, Mr. Speaker, and the stories of the women on these posters. They are regularly beaten and arrested, yet they continue fighting for the freedom of their country. Protesters like Xiomara de las Mercedes Cruz Miranda, who has been in prison since last April; or Maria del Carmen Cala Aguilera, in prison since April of 2015; or Juana Castillo Acosta, who was beaten in her own home, and then sentenced to 5 years in house arrest.

There are so many women to highlight, so I will flip the posters.

Here are some other faces and other names: Yunet, Marieta, Jacqueline, Marta, and Aymara Nieto Munoz, right over here, just a handful of the many women who are in prison today in Castro's gulags.

Mr. Speaker, these are just a few of the many who are persecuted daily for opposing the Castro regime. That is their crime. They are simply tossed in jail in Castro's effort to silence the people. But the Cuban people remain strong in the face of the repressive Castro regime. They do not give up hope of seeing a free and democratic Cuba.

I see that same hope, Mr. Speaker, in the eyes of my constituents, Cuban Americans like me and my family, who were given the opportunity to create a life in a country--our country--that stands for everything that Castro is against: freedom of speech, assembly, petition, the rule of law, and democracy.

Mr. Speaker, we must stand with the people of Cuba. We must stand against a Castro regime that seeks to benefit only itself. We must give the Cuban people hope and commit to help them achieve freedom and democracy.

It is the duty of the new administration to review the previous administration's failed policy and start working for the people of Cuba and against the Castro regime.

Mr. Speaker, as we observe National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, I urge our south Florida community to attend the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness Walk this Saturday, March 4, at Tradewinds Park. The walk will celebrate everybody's shape and also encourage screening for eating disorders.

Eating disorders impact millions of Americans and has a proportionate impact on teens and young adults. That is why, Mr. Speaker, I have led bipartisan legislation that urges the Federal Trade Commission to uphold its duty to protect the next generation by promoting fair and responsible advertisements, especially for products geared for children and teens.

I was so proud that last year we were able to enact into law the Anna Westin Act, which I introduced with my colleague Ted Deutch, in order to allow an avenue for millions of young Americans impacted by eating disorders to seek the help that they need.

Let's celebrate and commemorate Eating Disorders Awareness Week, and I encourage everyone to help spread awareness and promote authentic healthy body images.

Mr. Speaker, Vladimir Putin's regime has long sought to undermine U.S. interests and shape a world more compliant with its corruption. I have argued for a stronger stance against Russia for years. I opposed the Obama administration's failed reset of relations.

I helped lead the push for greater sanctions on Russia's human rights violators, helping secure passage of the Sergei Magnitsky Act.

I have called for sanctions against those who poisoned my friend, Vladimir Kara-Murza, and against all those involved in the murder of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, the 2-year anniversary of which occurred just yesterday.

I also support the efforts to codify sanctions against Russia and to limit the lifting of executive waivers. But we should be limiting the ability to waive sanctions not just on Russia, but also on Iran, on the Palestinian Authority, and on so many others because, in order for sanctions to be effective, they must be fully implemented and fully enforced.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the members of my south Florida community who came out last Saturday to the Live Like Bella Superhero 5K Run/Walk at Zoo Miami.

Live Like Bella works every day to fight pediatric cancer through medical research while offering much-needed support for families and caregivers.

I would also like to recognize the Run, Walk and Stroll 2K for Cerebral Palsy that took place in the Village of Palmetto Bay, located in my congressional district, also on Saturday. This walk brought together patients, families, friends, and volunteers to shed light on how cerebral palsy can impact those afflicted and to provide much- needed assistance for therapy programs and special needs equipment.

Live Like Bella and the Cerebral Palsy Walk are just two of the latest examples of south Floridians banding together to help others.

Mr. Speaker, as our Nation celebrates American Heart Month, I want to highlight the groups and individuals working to ensure that south Florida is filled with healthy hearts.

Organizations like the Ft. Lauderdale-Miami chapter of the American Heart Association work tirelessly every day to raise awareness and support patients, as well as caregivers. The members will be hosting the Miami Heart and Stroke Ball to help fund lifesaving research and prevention programs in our community.

I would also like to recognize the medical researchers, the doctors, and the nurses at the Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute and so many other medical centers that are working to pioneer innovative treatments that save lives in south Florida every day.

This American Heart Month, let us unite as a community to promote exercise, healthy eating habits, and frequent checkups to ensure that south Florida is heart-healthy throughout the entire year.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the new administration, including Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, OFAC, took decisive action to hold Venezuelan regime officials accountable for their elicit activity.

The announcement was that two Venezuelan nationals were labeled as ``specially designated narcotics traffickers'' pursuant to the Kingpin Act, including Venezuela's second in command, the Vice President of Venezuela, and his front man, Lopez Bello. It also identified 13 companies owned or controlled by these individuals or other designated parties that pose a serious threat to U.S. national security as well as the U.S. and global financial systems. These designations were long overdue, Mr. Speaker, and represent a significant first step in what appears to be a positive, fundamental shift in our policy toward Venezuela.

Just yesterday, my colleague Mario Diaz-Balart and I met with Vice President Pence to discuss Venezuela and how Congress and the administration can work together to craft a positive agenda to help the people in Latin America suffering without democracy or human rights.

Last week, Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey and I led a bipartisan and bicameral letter--together with 32 of our congressional colleagues--to the President urging his administration to take immediate action against the Maduro regime for his illicit activity and for its gross human rights abuses. While this round of sanctions target the illegal drug activities of these officials, this is just the tip of the corruption iceberg in Venezuela, Mr. Speaker.

In fact, Venezuela's so-called Executive Vice President has facilitated drug shipments, has protected drug traffickers in Venezuela, and has alleged links with the U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization and Iranian proxy, Hezbollah. According to OFAC, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the second individual also sanctioned is Lopez Bello, who laundered drug proceeds and generated significant profits as a result of illegal activities.

Holy Toledo.

While these announced sanctions were a critical first step, it pales in comparison to the dire humanitarian situation that Maduro and his cronies have created for the people of Venezuela. Mr. Speaker, Venezuela has been on a downward spiral for years, and there have been bipartisan calls from Congress to take action in support of the Venezuelan people.

Maduro's failed economic policies have the country with the highest inflation rate in the world leaving his people without food, without basic necessities, without medical supplies. In most areas, hospitals and groceries have shut down due to lack of supplies, and the people of Venezuela are forced to ransack what is left of these hospitals and stores for the basic survival of their families.

How does the regime react when they see the suffering of their own citizens? They are lining their own pockets at the expense and the suffering of the Venezuelan people. An AP report showed that senior- level officials like Generals Rodolfo Marco Torres and Carlos Osorio are allegedly orchestrating fraudulent schemes with suspected shell companies to personally profit, instead of bringing food to the people.

Opposition leaders like Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledesma are still in jail or under house arrest. Leaders like Maria Corina Machado of the National Congress is still not allowed to travel outside her country. This is unacceptable, Mr. Speaker. Their so-called crimes: speaking out against the Maduro regime and standing up for democratic principles.

The regime stifles all who stand for democracy and freedom in Venezuela. The opposition is vilified, is persecuted, and is arrested on false charges. We must show Venezuelans that their fight is not in vain, that their actions are seen, and that their cries are heard.

Next on the sanctions list should be the judges and officers of these kangaroo courts in Venezuela who are behind this unwarranted incarceration and are responsible for the injustices and human rights violations.

Mr. Speaker, this is what America is all about. We stand firmly by our values, firmly in our ideals, and we promote and defend them, and we try to have other parts of the world be enlightened in this way.

Hope is dwindling quickly in Venezuela. As human rights violations multiply, now is the time to hold Venezuelan regime officials accountable, and we urge all responsible nations to join us in this struggle.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation for its efforts and commitment to transform the lives for those living with HIV/AIDS.

Since its creation in 1991, this foundation has advanced Elizabeth Taylor's dream to create a future free of HIV/AIDS by supporting organizations delivering care and services for people living with this disease.

Today, the Foundation remains a leading player in the fight to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by providing grants to global programs that seek to fund education, to raise awareness, and to create innovative treatments for patients.

As the co-chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, I have had the opportunity to work with this foundation over the years to help improve the lives of patients and advance research efforts that can lead to a cure for this terrible disease.

I celebrate The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, and I look forward to continuing to work with it to realize our common dream of an AIDS- free generation in the U.S. and, indeed, throughout the world.

Mr. Speaker, I am so honored that the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) is here to listen to this important 1 minute, as he always does.

Israel Bonds recently hosted its annual award ceremony at the Fontainebleau Hotel located in Miami Beach, in my congressional district.

For over 30 years, Mr. Speaker, Israel Bonds has honored members of the Jewish community from all over the country who have made an incredible impact on the U.S.-Israel relationship and who have helped make Israel's economy one of the world's strongest.

I have had the privilege of working with Israel Bonds over the years and the many individuals who helped make its mission such a success.

One of those individuals, who I know is a friend of the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), Alex Halberstein, was honored with the Israel69 Award for his commitment to strengthening the economy of the democratic Jewish State of Israel.

Mr. Speaker, Alex is the chairman of Israel Bonds for south Florida. Alex and his wife, Monique, are deserving of such a high honor. I congratulate them both for such a tremendous achievement.