February 17, 2026 Press Release MIAMI, FL - Today, Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez (R-FL) held a press conference at PortMiami alongside Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez, Ambassador Rosa María Payá, José Daniel Ferrer, Dr. Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat, and leaders of the Cuban exile community to outline decisive measures aimed at ending the Cuban dictatorship and accelerating a democratic transition on the island.Congressman Gimenez emphasized that funds and resources sent from the United States overwhelmingly benefit regime-controlled entities rather than the Cuban people, stressing that every dollar reaching the regime strengthens its machinery of repression."Humanitarian aid is necessary, but luxury goods and non-essential exports cannot continue funding a dictatorship. The regime is in its weakest position in more than 65 years, and the time for decisive action is now," said Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez. "The United States stands firmly with the Cuban people, not with the Castro regime. We are calling for immediate action to shut down the regime's financial lifelines, freeze assets tied to its officials, and fully enforce U.S. law to hold those responsible for human rights abuses, terrorism, and financial crimes accountable." ###