Title: A resolution commending the actions of Cuban democracy and human rights activist Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia and the pro-democracy and human rights group, the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), to uphold fundamental freedoms in Cuba and condemning Cuba's brutal authoritarian Communist regime.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution commends the actions of Cuban democracy and human rights activist José Daniel Ferrer García, and it honors the humanitarian efforts of the Patriotic Union of Cuba for its work to defend fundamental freedoms and human rights in Cuba. Further, it condemns Cuba's communist dictatorship and the repression of Cuban activists, and it calls for the international community to stand with the Cuban people against the communist regime.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 173 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 173

  Commending the actions of Cuban democracy and human rights activist 
Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia and the pro-democracy and human rights group, 
the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), to uphold fundamental freedoms in 
   Cuba and condemning Cuba's brutal authoritarian Communist regime.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 22, 2021

 Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Mr. Cruz, and Mr. Rubio) submitted 
   the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Commending the actions of Cuban democracy and human rights activist 
Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia and the pro-democracy and human rights group, 
the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), to uphold fundamental freedoms in 
   Cuba and condemning Cuba's brutal authoritarian Communist regime.

Whereas Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia is a Cuban democracy and human rights activist 
        who has worked tirelessly to ensure fundamental freedoms for the Cuban 
        people;
Whereas Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia was born in Cuba on July 29, 1970, in Santiago 
        de Cuba and has spent most of his adult life fighting for Cubans to have 
        a voice in the matters of their own country and against Cuba's brutal 
        authoritarian Communist dictatorship;
Whereas Cuba's authoritarian Communist regime retaliated against Jose Daniel 
        Ferrer Garcia over decades by repeatedly imprisoning, beating, and 
        torturing him and constantly threatening and harassing his family and 
        members of the pro-democracy and human rights group that he founded, the 
        Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU);
Whereas, in March 2021, Cuba's brutal authoritarian Communist regime committed 
        the latest human rights violation against Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia and 
        members of UNPACU, as Cuban security forces harassed them, kept them 
        from meeting, and blocked their attempts to distribute aid, food, and 
        medical care to fellow desperate residents of Santiago de Cuba;
Whereas, on March 20, 2021, Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia and other courageous 
        members of UNPACU began a hunger strike to protest the constant 
        harassment, human rights violations, and the police siege of the 
        headquarters of UNPACU in Santiago de Cuba;
Whereas the hunger strike underscored the importance of defending the right of 
        the members of UNPACU to deliver food and medication to a group of 
        approximately 250 residents of Santiago de Cuba as the need for aid, 
        food, medicine, and basic necessities has risen during the global 
        pandemic; and
Whereas, on April 10, 2021, Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia and several activists from 
        UNPACU ended the hunger strike after 21 days after Cuban security forces 
        lifted the police siege on the headquarters of UNPACU in Santiago de 
        Cuba: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commends the actions of Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia and 
        his unyielding resolve to advance democracy and defend freedoms 
        and human rights for the Cuban people;
            (2) honors the vital contribution and humanitarian efforts 
        of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) and all of its members 
        for their tireless work to defend fundamental freedoms and 
        human rights in Cuba;
            (3) condemns the repression of Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia 
        and other brave Cuban activists;
            (4) condemns Cuba's brutal authoritarian Communist 
        dictatorship and demands an end to the suffering of the Cuban 
        people and the impunity of the regime's human rights abusers, 
        including Miguel Diaz-Canel and Raul Castro;
            (5) calls for the international community to stand with the 
        Cuban people and against Cuba's authoritarian Communist regime 
        for infringing on the freedom of thought, expression, assembly, 
        association, and prosperity of the Cuban people; and
            (6) commends the courage of the pro-democracy movement and 
        activists in Cuba for risking everything to bring freedom to 
        the Cuban people.
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