Dear Friends, 

As Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, I held a hearing to discuss the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) operations and its interactions with adversarial foreign governments, especially with the Cuban Regime. This hearing was the result of TSA hosting delegation from the murderous dictatorship of Cuba on May 20, 2024, which included a tour of sensitive security areas at Miami International Airport (MIA) and a meeting at TSA Headquarters in D.C.

I am extremely concerned with the Department of Homeland Security and the TSA on how they implement their policies and procedures when it comes to nations that are listed as State Sponsors of Terrorism. How can the U.S. government rely that information coming from the state sponsor of terrorism is truthful as they get cleared to tour sensitive security areas? The simple answer is they can not. No nation designated a state sponsor of terror can be trusted. It is a shame that Castro’s agents were allowed access to security information, especially at Miami International Airport which is in the heart of the Cuban-American community of the United States. This negligent act is disrespectful to our democracy and Cuban-Americans across our country.

As long as the U.S. government interacts and allows visits by the Cuban regime, we give them a lifeline to continue their atrocities. The State Department continues to seriously neglect the threat of Cuban agents on American soil, which leads me to believe they do not think that Communist Cuba poses any real threat to the United States. President Biden, Secretary Blinken, and Secretary Mayorkas cannot take a backseat and reward the Cuban dictatorship with special access for their regime agents in the U.S. while they carry out major human rights abuses on its own citizens.  

To hear a clip of my line of questioning, click HERE.
To read my opening statement, as prepared to be delivered, click HERE.
Watch the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security hearing, click HERE.


Sincerely,

Your Congressman, 
Carlos A. Gimenez 

Congressman Carlos Gimenez Demands the Release of all Political Prisoners in Cuba on the Third Anniversary of the July 11 Protests 

On the third anniversary of the July 11, 2021, pro-democracy protests in Cuba, I joined my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to demand the freedom of over 1,000 Cuban political prisoners arrested by the brutal Castro dictatorship for demanding freedom and liberty from the murderous regime. The Cuban people fought in 2021, and continue to fight every day, for freedom and liberty. 

I joined two House Resolutions that call for accountability for human rights violations and commanding the bravery of those who took to the streets on July 11, 20201.

H. Res. 1358 - Calling for accountability for grave violations of internationally recognized human rights in Cuba and malign activities against the United States and democratic countries in the Western Hemisphere committed by the Communist regime in Cuba - Introduced by Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL). Rep. Carlos Gimenez joined as an original co-sponsor.

H. Res. 1351 - Commending the courage, bravery, and resolve of all in Cuba, who stood in the face of brutal harassment, beatings, and torture to protest against the Communist Cuban regime on July 11, 2021, as they demanded fundamental rights to life, dignity, and freedom. - Introduced by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL). Rep. Carlos Gimenez joined as an original co-sponsor.

“On the anniversary of the July 11 Movement, the people of Cuba rose up spontaneously, throughout the island, to demand one thing - Libertad. Freedom,” said Rep. Gimenez. “The United States must be the champion of freedom in our hemisphere. We cannot tolerate communism, or any type of dictatorship, in our hemisphere. The United States has the moral responsibility to call out the continued human rights violations and demand the liberation of all political prisoners.”

Watch my video statement HERE.
Watch my video statement in Spanish HERE.

Congressman Carlos Gimemez met with the Critical Mineral Policy Working Group

As a member of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party's Critical Minerals Policy Working Group, I met with my colleagues and industry experts to discuss the United States reliance on Chinese imports of critical minerals and how we can change our policy to work better with our allies to create different avenues of acquiring critical minerals. The U.S. can not be reliant on adversarial governments, like Communist China, for minerals that go into our critical infrastructure. We must address this issue and find policy solutions to end our reliance on Communist Chinese imports. 

Watch the full meeting HERE.

Congressman Carlos Gimenez meets with Executives from the Netherlands ahead of the NATO Summit

I had the honor of meeting with Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp, and Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans from the Netherlands. We discussed the importance of our strong transatlantic friendship and how critical NATO is to international security.

June 2024 Flood Help Centers

The Miami-Dade County Department of Emergency Management and the U.S. Small Business Administration has opened a Disaster Loan Outreach Center to help business owners and residents that were affected by sustained personal, property, or business damages during the June 11-14, 2024, flooding.

Today, an in person center has opened in Miami Gardens. SBA staff will be available to help those with questions about the disaster relief program, assist in filling out disaster loan applications, accepting documents, and provide updates on application’s status. 

North Dade Regional Library, 2455 NW 183rd Street, Miami Gardens, FL 33056
Opening: Monday, July 15, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Operating Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Closed: Sunday
Closes Permanently: Saturday, July 20 at 2 p.m. 

Those that need assistance can also go online to sba.gov/disaster or call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.

H.R. 8281 - Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act - Aye (221-198)
This bill will ensure that only American citizens can vote in American elections. Illegal immigrants should not have a say in our elections and requiring proof of citizenship in order to vote is a nonstarter. Americans only should decide our electoral outcomes.


H. J. Res. 165- Disapproving of the Department of Education’s Title IX Rule - Aye (210-205)
With the passage of this joint resolution, the House reaffirmed Title IX. The House of Representatives will protect women's rights by ensuring and calling for fair competition and privacy for women on and off the field. The radical rule change under Title IX submitted by the Department of Education ignores biological realities and harms women and girls educational and athletic opportunities.