WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Senator Rick Scott released the following statement in response to reporting that President Joe Biden is considering to reverse Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, which was made under the Trump administration in January 2021. Earlier this Congress, Senator Scott introduced the Fighting Oppression until the Reign of Castro Ends (FORCE) Act to prevent President Biden from normalizing relations with the illegitimate, communist Cuban regime unless freedom and democracy are restored on the island. Senator Scott is also fighting to pass his Denying Earnings to the Military Oligarchy in Cuba and Restricting Activities of the Cuban Intelligence Apparatus (DEMOCRACIA) Act to authorize the president to use all means necessary to ensure internet access on the island and hold the illegitimate, communist Cuban regime accountable through severe sanctions and unprecedented financial pressure.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Calls at the 11^th hour of the Biden administration from communist-sympathizers in the Democrat Party for President Biden to remove Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list are not just ignorant, but dangerous. The Biden-Harris administration’s years of appeasement toward the illegitimate, communist Cuban regime has fueled terrorism and instability in the Western Hemisphere and put America’s national security at unacceptable risk. Removing the Castro/Díaz-Canel regime from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list ignores the fact that it harbors terrorists, provides a secret police force to Maduro to oppress the Venezuelan people, and hosts a Chinese Communist Party spy station 90 miles from Florida. Every time President Biden appeases the illegitimate, communist Cuban regime, he helps it destabilize the Western Hemisphere, supports terrorism and does a huge favor for America’s enemies in Russia, Iran and Communist China. With President Trump returning to the White House in January, there cannot be any changes to U.S. policy toward Cuba that advance Biden’s failed appeasement. Removing Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list would only further jeopardize the national security of the United States and I’ll be fighting like hell to make sure it doesn’t happen.”

Since the July 11, 2021, demonstrations began, Senator Scott has continued to condemn the Castro/Díaz-Canel regime’s brutal oppression of the Cuban people and demand action from the Biden administration and international leaders to support the Cuban people. See a list of Senator Scott’s actions and statements HERE.

The FORCE Act prevents the Cuban communist regime from being removed from the State Sponsor of Terrorism List until they meet the requirements of Section 205 of the LIBERTAD Act, which requires Cuba to comply with the following conditions:

• Release all political prisoners and allow for investigations of Cuban prisons by appropriate international human rights organizations.
• Transition away from the Castro regime to a system that guarantees the rights of the Cuban people to express themselves freely.
• Commit to holding free and fair elections.

These conditions are the same requirements that must be met to lift the embargo and accompanying sanctions towards the regime, and would require the regime to comply with existing U.S. law.

The Denying Earnings to the Military Oligarchy in Cuba and Restricting Activities of the Cuban Intelligence Apparatus Act (DEMOCRACIA Act):

• Authorizes the President to impose sanctions—blocking assets and denying entry into the United States—on a foreign person if the President determines that the person knowingly engages in an activity with Cuba’s defense sector, security sector, intelligence sector, or any other sector involved in carrying out human rights abuses or providing support for international terrorism.

o   A foreign person or senior official that provides significant financial, material or technological support to, or engages in a significant transaction with Cuba’s defense, security or intelligence sector or any entity or individual affiliated with that sector (including their immediate adult family member)

o   Any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 25% or more by one or more designated persons are also subject to sanctions

o   Any foreign person that is a military contractor, mercenary or paramilitary force knowingly operating in a military, security, or intelligence capacity for or on behalf of the Cuban regime

• Authorizes the President to impose sanctions with respect to human rights abuse and corruption in Cuba including:

o   Members of the Communist Party of Cuba, to include the Office of Religious Affairs and members of the Politburo and the Central Committee

o   Members of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers

o   Ministry of the Interior of Cuba, to include, the National Revolutionary Police Force

o   Members of the committee for the Defense of the Revolution

o   The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba

o   Office of the President of Cuba

o   Any official of the Cuban regime who works with the Ministry of Justice or the Office of the Attorney General and who violates due process rights of an individual in Cuba

o   The spouse and children of any of these blocked individuals are also subject to these sanctions

• Authorizes the President to terminate these sanctions only if he certifies to Congress that the Government of Cuba:

o   Has released all political prisoners,

o   Legalized all political parties,

o   Establishes a free press, and

o   Free, fair, multiparty internationally observed elections are scheduled in a timely manner

• Authorizes the President to immediately use all means possible to provide unrestricted, reliable internet service to the people of Cuba that is not censored or blocked by the Cuban regime
• Requires the President to establish a task force to develop long-term solutions for providing reliable internet service to the people of Cuba that is not censored or blocked by the Cuban regime

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