|
December 2, 2016
Greetings,
This week, with the death of Cuba’s brutal Communist dictator Fidel Castro, we witnessed a powerful moment for people all across the country, particularly Cuban-Americans like myself. Many families in our great state have suffered at the hands of the brutal Castro regime and have come to Texas to escape the hopelessness and evil that consumes the island.
While Fidel Castro’s death is cause for celebration, the tyrannical regime remains ever-present under his brother, Raul. Unfortunately, under President Obama, the United States has adopted a position of weakness and appeasement when dealing with hostile dictators. Change can come to Cuba, but only if America learns from history and prevents Raul Castro from perpetuating his brother’s oppressive legacy.
It is my hope and prayer that with a new president coming into office in January, American foreign policy will be one of strength and that one day we will see a free Cuba, where people can live according to their beliefs without fear of imprisonment, torture, or oppression.
Keep Texas Strong,
Ted Cruz
Sen. Cruz: A Dictator Is Dead, But His Dark, Repressive Legacy Will Not Automatically Follow Him to the Grave
On Wednesday, Sen. Cruz delivered a speech on the Senate floor regarding the death of Fidel Castro. Sen. Cruz reflected on Castro’s legacy of exploitation and oppression, and recommended a new path forward for Cuban American relations.
“Let me be absolutely clear, Mr. President,” said Sen. Cruz. “We’re not mourning the death of a romantic revolutionary or distinguished statesman. We’re not grieving for a protector of peace or a judicious steward of his people. Today, we are thankful. We are thankful that a man who has imprisoned, tortured, and degraded the lives of so many is no longer with us. A brutal dictator is dead, and I would like to pay tribute to the millions who have suffered at the hand of the Castro regime. We remember them and honor the brave souls who fought the lonely fight against the totalitarian Communist dictatorship he imposed on Cuba.”
Watch and read Sen. Cruz’s floor speech in its entirety here.
Sen. Cruz also penned an op-ed for National Review Online, outlining the violence of the Castro regime and calling for America to end the Obama administration’s policy of appeasement towards hostile dictators. Read Sen. Cruz’s op-ed in its entirety here.
On Sunday, Sen. Cruz appeared on ABC’s ‘This Week’ to discuss the death of Castro and the future of U.S.-Cuban relations. Watch the full interview here.
Sen. Cruz Chairs First Congressional Hearing on Artificial Intelligence
On Wednesday, Sen. Cruz chaired a hearing of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Space, Science and Competitiveness titled “The Dawn of Artificial Intelligence.” The hearing was Congress’ first ever hearing focused solely on artificial intelligence and conducted a broad overview of the state of artificial intelligence, including policy implications and effects on commerce.
“We are living in the dawn of artificial intelligence, and it is incumbent that Congress and this subcommittee begin to learn about the vast implications of this emerging technology to ensure that the United States remains a global leader throughout the 21st Century,” Sen. Cruz said.
Watch Sen. Cruz’s full opening statement and read the release in its entirety here.
Sen. Cruz, Rep. Meadows Introduce SuperPAC Elimination Act of 2017 to Champion Free Speech in Elections
Sen. Cruz and Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) on Wednesday introduced the SuperPAC Elimination Act of 2017, which champions free speech in the election process and effectively eliminates SuperPACs by allowing unlimited individual contributions to candidates with immediate disclosure.
“Another election cycle has come and gone without addressing a glaring issue that remains significant: free speech and transparency in campaign finance,” Sen. Cruz said. “Our current campaign finance system is absurd. Right now, a large percentage—sometimes a majority—of campaign expenditures are made by independent third-party SuperPACs that are prohibited from communicating with candidates. That makes no sense. Candidates should define their own messages, and citizens should be free to support whatever candidates they choose to support. Restrictions to political contributions are always presented under the guise of preventing corruption and holding politicians accountable, when in fact they accomplish exactly the opposite: protecting incumbent politicians. This bill will put Americans on a level playing field with the media and politicians when it comes to influencing elections and exercising our First Amendment rights. Establishing unlimited contributions paired with immediate disclosure is the best way to promote transparency, eliminate the viability of SuperPACs going forward, and ensure that free speech is protected in the electoral process. I’m proud to work alongside Rep. Meadows to shed light on the political arena and advance this important legislation.”
Read the full release online here.
Sen. Cruz Issues Statement on Terror Attack at Ohio State
On Tuesday, Sen. Cruz issued the following statement regarding the terror attack at Ohio State University:
“Heidi’s and my prayers are with the victims of the vicious attack on the Ohio State campus yesterday, and we are as always grateful for our brave law enforcement officers who so quickly and effectively responded to the attack, preventing even greater carnage.
“This attack is yet another reminder of the very real danger our country faces from radical Islamic terrorism. Groups like ISIS and al Qaeda hate everything a campus like Ohio State strives for—tolerance, equality, and education. It is particularly disturbing that this attacker appears to have been a refugee here through the generosity of the American people, and even a student at Ohio State. We have to immediately revisit this program to make sure the refugees we accept, especially those from countries with known terrorist populations like Somalia, are not a danger to the American people.”
Read the full release online here.
In Washington, Sen. Cruz Stands for Texas
|
