Title: Expressing solidarity with the Cuban people in their demands for freedom and respect for basic human rights.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution recognizes and expresses support for the efforts of democracy and human rights activists in Cuba.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 527 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 527

   Expressing solidarity with the Cuban people in their demands for 
              freedom and respect for basic human rights.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 13, 2021

 Mr. Diaz-Balart (for himself, Mr. Scalise, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. McCaul, 
    Mr. Nunes, Mr. Green of Tennessee, Mr. Mooney, Ms. Salazar, Mr. 
 Gimenez, Ms. Malliotakis, Mrs. Cammack, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. 
Buchanan, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Webster of Florida, Mr. Waltz, Mr. Posey, 
    Mr. Mast, Mr. Steube, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Donalds, Mr. 
Rutherford, Mr. C. Scott Franklin of Florida, Mr. Gonzalez of Ohio, Mr. 
 Gaetz, Mr. Tiffany, Miss Gonzalez-Colon, Ms. Cheney, Mr. Chabot, Mr. 
   Issa, and Mr. Barr) submitted the following resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing solidarity with the Cuban people in their demands for 
              freedom and respect for basic human rights.

Whereas the Communist dictatorship in Cuba has been responsible for numerous 
        atrocities including the extrajudicial assassinations of innocent 
        civilians and activists by firing squad and other brutal methods, 
        including the Tugboat Massacre of 1994 and the Brothers to the Rescue 
        Shoot-Down of 1996;
Whereas, in the notorious Black Spring of 2003, the regime engaged in brutal 
        violence to attack independent journalists, human rights activists, and 
        others who dared to expose the realities of totalitarian Cuba which was 
        roundly condemned by international human rights groups;
Whereas human rights activists such as Pedro Luis Boitel, Juan Wilfredo Soto 
        Garcia, leader of the Ladies in White, Laura Pollan, Orlando Zapata 
        Tamayo, Wilman Willar Mendoza, Oswaldo Paya, Harold Cepero, Armando Sosa 
        Fortuny, and Yosvany Arostegui Armenteros died under suspicious 
        circumstances, some while in state custody;
Whereas the State Department's 2020 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in 
        Cuba states, ``Significant human rights issues included: unlawful or 
        arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings, by the government; 
        forced disappearance by the government; torture and cruel, inhuman, and 
        degrading treatment of political dissidents, detainees, and prisoners by 
        security forces; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary 
        arrests and detentions; political prisoners; significant problems with 
        the independence of the judiciary; and arbitrary or unlawful 
        interference with privacy. Freedom of the press functionally did not 
        exist. Criminal libel laws were used against persons who criticized 
        government leadership. The government engaged in censorship and internet 
        site blocking, and there were severe limitations on academic and 
        cultural freedom. There were severe restrictions on the right of 
        peaceful assembly and denial of freedom of association, including 
        refusal to recognize independent associations. There were severe 
        restrictions on religious freedom. There were restrictions on internal 
        and external freedom of movement. Citizens were unable to change their 
        government through free and fair elections. Political participation was 
        restricted to members of the ruling party. There was official 
        corruption; trafficking in persons, including compulsory labor; and 
        outlawing of independent trade unions.'';
Whereas the State Department's 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report lists Cuba as 
        a Tier 3 country, the lowest possible rating, stating that ``there was a 
        government policy or government pattern to profit from labor export 
        programs with strong indications of forced labor, particularly its 
        foreign medical missions program'', and that the regime's exploitative 
        policies toward the program participants include withholding passports, 
        keeping most of the professionals' salaries, preventing access to 
        contract terms, and threatening the professionals' families;
Whereas, in January 2019, Secretary General Luis Almagro of the Organization of 
        American States stated that, ``The Cuban dictatorship has failed in 
        access to rights and equity, its productive system has failed, its 
        financial management has failed, its management of the economy has 
        failed and the only way to melt away its social deficiencies is to push 
        its people into exile; it is a system that is incapable of giving 
        dignified and honest work to its people, that is unable to open its 
        youth to enterprise, unable to generate a competitive productive system 
        and unable to achieve solutions for the simplest financial issues'';
Whereas the Independent Trade Union Association of Cuba (Asociacion Sindical 
        Independiente de Cuba, ASIC) has filed complaints with the International 
        Labour Organization (ILO) condemning violations of fundamental labor 
        rights such as freedom of assembly and repression against labor activist 
        Ivan Hernandez Carrillo, and in response, the ILO provided 
        recommendations on March 24, 2021, to address these human rights abuses;
Whereas Freedom House rates Cuba as ``Not Free'' in both of its 2021 reports 
        ``Freedom in the World'' and ``Freedom on the Net,'' and further 
        summarizes that, ``Cuba is a one-party communist state that outlaws 
        political pluralism, suppresses dissent, and severely restricts basic 
        civil liberties'';
Whereas the United States has long supported the Cuban people with policies that 
        limit hard currency to their oppressors while providing democracy-
        building support to civil society activists, permitting virtually 
        unlimited donations of food, medicines, and other necessities through 
        Acts such as the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act, the Television 
        Broadcasting to Cuba Act, the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, the Cuban 
        Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996, the Trade 
        Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, as well as 
        Executive orders and regulations;
Whereas numerous activists in Cuba such as members of the Patriotic Union of 
        Cuba, the San Isidro Movement, the Christian Liberation Movement, ASIC, 
        the Ladies in White, the Orlando Zapata Tamayo National Resistance 
        Front, religious organizations, exile groups, and many others are 
        demanding freedom for the Cuban people;
Whereas the regime in Cuba has responded to protests with shutting down internet 
        access, acts of repudiation, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation;
Whereas the Cuban dictatorship has employed so-called ``Committees for the 
        Defense of the Revolution'' to force neighbors to spy and turn against 
        each other, which has spread distrust and fear among the Cuban people, 
        and an environment that is deleterious to a strong social fabric and 
        thriving civil society;
Whereas, on July 11, 2021, thousands of courageous protesters gathered 
        throughout the island, in every Province, to demand ``libertad,'' human 
        rights, and to express their opposition to the Cuban dictatorship;
Whereas the regime once again reacted to the July 11 protests with violence, 
        arbitrary arrests, often by plain clothes state security operatives, 
        forced disappearances, shutting down internet access, and calling on its 
        supporters to harass protesters; and
Whereas since Fidel Castro illegitimately and violently seized power, hundreds 
        of thousands of Cuban nationals have fled Communist oppression: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) calls for the release of all political prisoners and 
        for the end of acts of repression, arbitrary imprisonments, 
        torture, and other human rights abuses against the Cuban 
        people;
            (2) honors the courageous Cuban people for daring to stand 
        up to the Cuban regime and demanding respect for fundamental 
        freedoms, such as freedom of expression and assembly;
            (3) recognizes the brave prodemocracy and human rights 
        activists, including independent journalists, artists, labor 
        leaders, and religious leaders, who have been persecuted 
        throughout decades of Communist tyranny;
            (4) urges other democracies, regional and multilateral 
        organizations to affirm that violence against the unarmed 
        people of Cuba will not be tolerated, and that human rights 
        abusers will be held accountable for their crimes;
            (5) expresses solidarity with the long-suffering Cuban 
        people in their demands for a genuine democratic transition; 
        and
            (6) calls on the international community to stand with 
        those struggling for freedom in Cuba by condemning repression 
        and expressing unequivocal support for their rights to self-
        governance, human rights, and basic liberties.
                                 <all>