A new dawn for Cuba?

Ninety miles is the distance that separates Florida and Cuba. It’s not far. In fact, that’s the equivalent of the drive from Roanoke to Staunton or a roundtrip from Lexington to Lynchburg. But in that short distance, there is a world of difference in the freedoms enjoyed by the American people and the Cuban people.

The passing of Fidel Castro on November 25th marked the death of a tyrant and a dictator. For nearly 60 years, the Castro regime has ruled Cuba, first under Fidel Castro and now his brother, Raul. Fidel Castro’s legacy is one of oppression, murder, and contempt for fundamental liberties. Under his regime, basic freedoms of the Cuban people were stripped from them, freedoms which are still denied today under his brother’s rule.

Fidel Castro’s death represents the possibility of a new dawn for Cuba and an opportunity to return freedoms to the Cuban people. I am hopeful that his brother will see this as the time to take steps in that direction. Unfortunately, we have not seen progress in this regard thus far, even despite President Obama’s executive actions last year to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba. These actions, which I believe were the wrong approach as they came with no guarantee of greater freedoms for the Cuban people, included opening an embassy in Havana, lifting travel restrictions, and calling on Congress to lift the U.S. trade embargo.

Until the Cuban people have real democracy, real freedom, and political prisoners are released, I remain wary of efforts by the United States to normalize diplomatic or economic relations with Cuba. We should use any lifting of restrictions in Cuba as an opportunity to secure additional freedoms and basic human rights for the Cuban people. Changes in U.S. policy should be made gradually as the Cuban government increases freedoms for its citizens, not before any improvements have been made as President Obama has done.

Sweeping the transgressions of the Castro regime under the rug ignores the millions of Cubans who experienced the cruelty of Fidel Castro’s rule and those who lost their life to his violence. Even today, thousands of Cubans have experienced detentions and harassment under Raul Castro’s regime. There are many potential opportunities in strengthening the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba, but we cannot open our doors to Cuba if the Cuban government will not restore the liberty of its people. Cuban leaders must realize that democratic self-governance and the free enterprise system are the only courses of action if they are serious about prosperity and a brighter future for their people.

Amherst County Fire Contained, Trails/Roads Open

While fires continue to burn in other parts of the region, the 11,229 acre wildfire in Amherst County is now contained. I am thankful for the efforts of fire crews as well as contributions from the Amherst community. The weather this week was a significant help, and the rain was welcomed by many in the Sixth District. As of today, all roads and trails have been reopened. While we experienced no structure damage locally, my prayers remain with the people of Tennessee in Gatlinburg and the surrounding area as they face serious property destruction and loss of life due to fire.

Honored to Chair the House Judiciary Committee

Earlier today, my Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives once again elected me Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. I am honored to have been chosen to continue my service in this position, and continue work on policies that benefit the Sixth District and the United States. The Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over some of the most important issues facing our country, including constitutional freedoms and civil liberties, legal and regulatory reform, competition and antitrust laws, terrorism and crime, immigration enforcement and reform, and intellectual property protections.

As Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee I have worked with my committee members on both sides of the aisle to tackle a broad portfolio of issues and compile a strong record of bipartisan accomplishments. From banning bulk data collection and protecting Americans’ privacy in the digital age to banning Internet access taxes, the House Judiciary Committee has solved some of our nation’s most difficult issues. In the 115th Congress, we intend to build on these successes and will continue to advance an agenda focused on making America stronger and more competitive.

Justice for All

For over a decade, the Justice for All Act has done a tremendous amount of good to improve our nation’s criminal justice system and strengthen crime victims’ rights. On Tuesday, the House reauthorized and improved the Justice for All Act to further this good work by helping to reduce the rape kit backlog and provide resources for forensic labs, while protecting the innocent by improving access to post-conviction DNA testing. It also improves these programs by increasing accountability for federal funds to protect taxpayer dollars. The bill now heads to the Senate where I urge them to swiftly pass the amended bill and send it to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Click here to watch my remarks in support of the Justice for All Reauthorization Act on the House floor.