Marco Rubio schedules Senate hearing on U.S.-Cuba policy

Marco Rubio schedules Senate hearing on U.S.-Cuba policy
@PatriciaMazzei

Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio took the helm Wednesday of a
subcommittee -- and promptly scheduled a hearing on on President Obama's
new Cuba policy.

As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Western
Hemisphere subcommittee, Rubio called for a hearing at 10 a.m. next
Tuesday to "examine President Obama's changes to Cuba policy, and its
implications for human rights in the island," according to a news release.

"Being from Florida, I've seen how events in the Western Hemisphere not
only impact our state but our entire nation. For too long, Congress and
the Administration have failed to prioritize our relations in this
hemisphere." Rubio said in the statement.

"As chairman of the subcommittee, I will promote bold measures that
improve U.S. economic and security interests by addressing the region's
growing calls for transparent institutions, access to quality education,
private sector competitiveness, and respect for political and economic
freedom for all."

Rubio, who has been taking steps toward a potential presidential
campaign, is also a member of three other Foreign Relations subcommittees.

RUBIO NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE'S WESTERN
HEMISPHERE SUBCOMMITTEE

Panel will hold its first hearing next Tuesday regarding Cuba policy

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) was officially named
today as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's
Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian
Security, Democracy, Human Rights and Global Women's Issues. He will
also be a member of the Subcommittee on East Asia, The Pacific, and
International Cybersecurity Policy; the Subcommittee on Near East, South
Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism; and the Subcommittee on Africa
and Global Health Policy.

Rubio also announced the first hearing to be held in the Western
Hemisphere subcommittee will be next Tuesday, February 3 at 10:00 a.m.
EST. It will examine President Obama's changes to Cuba policy, and its
implications for human rights in the island.

In assuming this chairmanship, Rubio issued the following statement:

"Being from Florida, I've seen how events in the Western Hemisphere not
only impact our state but our entire nation. For too long, Congress and
the Administration have failed to prioritize our relations in this
hemisphere. This lack of attention has kept us from seizing the
opportunities of a rising middle class, emboldened tyrants and non-state
actors to erode democratic values, allowed global competitors to deepen
their influence in the continent, and diminished our ability to respond
to the proliferation of transnational organized crime and the violence
and instability associated with it.

"As chairman of the subcommittee, I will promote bold measures that
improve U.S. economic and security interests by addressing the region's
growing calls for transparent institutions, access to quality education,
private sector competitiveness, and respect for political and economic
freedom for all.

"I look forward to advocating for closer ties with Canada, Mexico, and
other regional partners such as Colombia as well as greater energy
cooperation and trade. The subcommittee will be a platform for bringing
light and solutions to rising problems in the hemisphere, such as
growing inhospitality for individual freedoms, deteriorating security
environments, lagging competitiveness, ineffective regional
organizations, the need for political stability and economic prosperity
in Haiti, and the promotion and support of democracy in places where
individual freedoms are all but a dream, such as Cuba and Venezuela.

"I hope to also continue my work on the U.S. government's efforts to
promote democracy and advance human rights around the world, to support
the fair and equitable treatment of women around the globe, and increase
religious freedom. This is another set of issues that has far too often
been neglected by this administration. I plan to continue to be a voice
for the oppressed, whether they be in our own hemisphere or on the other
side of the globe. I look forward to working to ensure that U.S.
programs aimed at advancing these freedoms are effective and achieving
results that are consistent with our values as a nation.

"I also intend to remain active on the East Asia and Pacific
subcommittee by supporting our strong alliances in Asia and working to
address the challenges confronting that vitally important region which
will play a significant role in shaping the 21st century. It's clear
that American leadership has achieved a great deal in this region in
recent decades, and now it's important that we take none of our gains
for granted and continue working with our allies to advance our
security, economic and human rights agenda."

Posted by Patricia Mazzei at 1:57 PM on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015 in
Cuba, Marco Rubio, Miami-Dade Politics | Permalink

Source: Marco Rubio schedules Senate hearing on U.S.-Cuba policy | Naked
Politics -
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/01/marco-rubio-schedules-senate-hearing-on-us-cuba-policy.html