Bipartisan legislation to withhold funding from OAS introduced

MACK INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO WITHHOLD U.S. FUNDING FOR THE OAS IF CUBA READMITTED AS MEMBER

WASHINGTON – Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14), the Ranking Republican on the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, introduced bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives today that would withhold U.S. funding for the Organization of American States (OAS) if Cuba is readmitted as a member.

Cuba was suspended from the OAS in 1962. This week at the annual meeting in Honduras, the OAS is considering a resolution that would repeal the 1962 suspension and readmit Cuba to full status in the organization.

Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ), House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN), Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), and Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) are original cosponsors of Mack’s bill.

Mack said:

“Since Cuba was excluded from the Organization of American States (OAS) nearly 50 years ago, the Castro regime has kept a tight grip over the Cuban people. Today, hundreds of Cubans continue to live as political prisoners, many families have been torn apart by the Castro Brothers’ tyrannical ways, and all Cubans live under constant oppression and fear.

“For the members of the OAS to even consider at this time readmitting this brutal dictatorship to their organization is feckless, irresponsible, and anti-democratic.

“As we’ve seen time and again, the OAS has allowed itself to become hijacked by a select number of its members who want to prevent the spread of freedom, security and prosperity in the Western Hemisphere.

“Allowing Cuba to regain its full status clearly violates the OAS’ own Inter-American Democratic Charter, which requires its members to promote and defend democracy. For Cuba to rejoin the OAS would be another example of the organization’s failure and dysfunction as a promoter of peace and freedom in our hemisphere.

“In fact, rather than allowing Cuba to return to its full status, the OAS should consider kicking Hugo Chavez out of their organization as well. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who is living up to the example set by his mentor, Fidel Castro, has systematically silenced the free press and arrested and threatened his opponents. What’s more, there hasn’t been a free and fair election under Hugo Chavez since his first attempt at political power in a coup over 15 years ago.

“This is in Cuba’s hands. Cuba needs to release its political prisoners, allow free and fair elections, and permit freedom of expression in its country in order to rejoin the Inter-American community.

“We stand with our friends in Cuba who desire freedom. We remember their daily struggles for basic individual liberties. And the American people continue to support the Cuban people’s fight for freedom, security and prosperity.”

For additional information click HERE for Rep. Mack's web site

For additional information click HERE for Rep. Sires's web site