Sens. Cruz, Rubio, Scott Introduce Bill to Ensure the Cuban Regime Remains a State Sponsor of Terrorism

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) today introduced the Fighting Oppression until the Reign of Castro Ends Act or FORCE Act, which would prevent President Biden or Secretary Blinken from removing Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism List. Under the FORCE Act, Cuba cannot be removed from the U.S. Department of State's Sponsor of Terrorism list until the requirements under the LIBERTAD Act (P.L. 104-114) are met. Specifically, Section 205 of that public law requires Cuba to release all of its political prisoners and transition to a system that guarantees the basic human rights of the Cuban people, as well as free, fair, and democratic elections. Earlier this year, Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) introduced the House companion of the FORCE Act.

Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said:

"My family knows firsthand the brutality of totalitarian Cuban regimes, and Cuba's abuses have not ceased. I am deeply concerned that President Biden plans to follow in the ill-advised steps of the Obama Administration, which would recklessly and needlessly endanger American national security."

Sen. Rubio said:

"The Trump Administration was right to reverse President Obama's removal of the Cuban regime as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. Under this new administration, we must ensure the meaningful actions to hold the despotic Castro and Díaz-Canel regime accountable remain in place. I am proud to work with my colleagues and lead this effort in the Senate, and thank Congresswoman Salazar for her leadership in the House of Representatives."

Rep. Salazar added:

"As the daughter of Cuban refugees who fled the brutal dictatorship that continues to jail, starve, murder, and systematically oppress the people of Cuba, I was so proud to introduce the force act in the U.S. House of Representatives. I want to thank our Senator, Marco Rubio, for leading the FORCE Act through the Senate. The Castro regime has terrorized the Cuban people for 62 years and we must hold them accountable for their participation in international terrorism!"

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