News Release, July 21, 2000

DIAZ-BALART STATEMENT REGARDING HOUSE ACTION ON CUBA OF JULY 20

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) issued the following statement today regarding last night's votes in the U.S. House of Representatives concerning U.S. policy toward the Cuban dictatorship:

"Yesterday we won a battle by overwhelmingly defeating the amendment by Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY) that sought to lift the entire U.S. embargo against the Cuban dictatorship.

We lost a skirmish, concerning travel and agricultural sales, but this is not the first little battle that we have lost and the legislative process is by no means over. A skirmish does not constitute an entire war.

The Senate must still act and afterwards there will be a Conference committee process, during which we have always had great influence. Last night's skirmish shows the effects of eight years of nonstop lobbying instigated and coordinated by a White House dead set on helping Castro, and it brings to light more than ever the need to elect George W. Bush as President of the United States in November."