Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the systematic human rights violations in Cuba committed by the Castro regime, calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners, and supporting respect for basic human rights and free elections in Cuba.

Bill: 108-hres-179
Sponsor: Rep. Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [R-FL-21]
Introduced: 2003-04-07 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Caribbean area
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Cuba
Democracy
Dissenters
Europe
Freedom of association
Freedom of speech
Freedom of the press
Government Operations and Politics
Human rights
International agencies
Latin America
Political persecution
Political prisoners
Political violence
Right of assembly
Right to travel
Switzerland
United Nations

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-07
text: Condemns the brutal crackdown of the Cuban Government on the island's peaceful pro-democracy movement.
Calls for the immediate release of all Cuban political prisoners.
Supports the right of the Cuban people to exercise fundamental political and civil liberties, including freedom of expression, assembly, association, movement, press, and the right to multiparty elections.
Calls on the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, to work with the member countries of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to ensure a resolution that includes the strongest possible condemnation of the current crackdown of dissidents and of the gross human rights violations committed by the Cuban Government.
Calls on the Latin American and Caribbean group (GRULAC) at the Commission to exclude Cuba from its slate of candidates for the Commission, and urges all member nations to oppose renewing Cuba's membership on the Commission until the Government of Cuba adheres to international human rights standards, such as those delineated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced on April 7, 2003. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Condemns the brutal crackdown of the Cuban Government on the island's peaceful pro-democracy movement.
Calls for the immediate release of all Cuban political prisoners.
Supports the right of the Cuban people to exercise fundamental political and civil liberties, including freedom of expression, assembly, association, movement, press, and the right to multiparty elections.
Calls on the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, to work with the member countries of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to ensure a resolution that includes the strongest possible condemnation of the current crackdown of dissidents and of the gross human rights violations committed by the Cuban Government.
Calls on the Latin American and Caribbean group (GRULAC) at the Commission to exclude Cuba from its slate of candidates for the Commission, and urges all member nations to oppose renewing Cuba's membership on the Commission until the Government of Cuba adheres to international human rights standards, such as those delineated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 414 - 0, 11 Present (Roll no. 117). (text:  CR H2887-2888)
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 414 - 0, 11 Present (Roll no. 117).(text:  CR H2887-2888)
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration:  CR H2910-2911)
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 179.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration:  CR H2887-2895)
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.
action_date: 2003-04-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2003-04-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-04-07
text: Introduced in House