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Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) filed an amendment (#3097) to the Senate Budget Resolution that requires the Biden Administration to facilitate free, open, and uncensored access to the internet for the people of Cuba. Specifically, the amendment would create a Deficit Neutral Reserve Fund (DNRF) in the forthcoming reconciliation bill to be used to build up and deploy existing technology on the island.
Rubio is the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues.
“I’ve been highlighting the importance of getting internet access to the people of Cuba since the historic protests began one month ago,” Rubio said. “The regime’s crackdown makes the need to act clear. Thankfully, the technology exists to provide connectivity from balloons and other methods directly to those without internet access. Efforts were underway under the Trump Administration to do exactly that, but the Biden Administration is sitting on those plans. The people of Cuba cannot afford any more delays. It is time to act.”
“As the Cuban people take to the streets to call for freedom and democracy, and an end to the brutal, illegitimate communist Cuban regime, the United States must stand with these brave freedom fighters,” Scott said. “The communist regime is terrified of the Cuban people, trying to cut off their communication with each other and the rest of the world and doing everything in its power to prevent them from shedding light on the regime’s oppression and atrocities. The time for President Biden to review his Cuba policy is over – we need to take immediate action to implement all technology to facilitate the free flow of information to and from the island, and amplify the voices of the Cuban people by passing this amendment.”
In December 2020, Rubio warned the Biden Administration needed to prioritize internet access in Cuba:
On July 12, one day after peaceful protests broke out across the island, Rubio urged President Biden to make it “an urgent priority of the United States to facilitate open and free satellite internet access on the island of Cuba.” It was a call he reiterated on the Senate floor the same day, and in a July 14 letter that outlined various options the Administration could take. Rubio’s office met with the White House and continues to speak with companies with the capabilities to help Cubans communicate freely. Rubio continued to push the Biden Administration to act throughout the month of July.
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Washington, D.C. — Los senadores estadounidenses Marco Rubio (R-FL) y Rick Scott (R-FL) presentaron una enmienda (#3097) a la resolución del presupuesto del Senado que requiere a la Administración Biden que facilite acceso libre, abierto y sin censura al internet para el pueblo de Cuba. Específicamente, la enmienda crearía un Fondo de Reserva Neutral de Déficit (DNRF, por sus siglas en inglés) en el próximo proyecto de ley de reconciliación que se utilizará para desarrollar y desplegar la tecnología existente en la isla.
Rubio es el Miembro de Más Alto Rango del Subcomité sobre Hemisferio Occidental, Crimen Transnacional, Seguridad Civil, Democracia, DDHH y Asuntos Globales de la Mujer.
“He estado resaltando la importancia del acceso al internet para el pueblo de Cuba desde que comenzaron las protestas históricas hace un mes”, Rubio dijo. “La represión por parte del régimen, deja en claro la necesidad de actuar ya. Afortunadamente, la tecnología existe para proporcionar conectividad desde globos y otros métodos directamente a quienes no tienen acceso al internet. Ya habían esfuerzos en curso bajo la Administración Trump para hacer exactamente eso, pero la Administración Biden no está actuando en esos planes. El pueblo de Cuba no puede permitirse más demoras. Es tiempo de actuar”.
“Mientras el pueblo cubano toma las calles para pedir libertad, democracia y el fin del brutal e ilegítimo régimen comunista cubano, Estados Unidos debe apoyar a estos valientes luchadores por la libertad”, Scott dijo. “El régimen comunista está aterrorizado por el pueblo cubano, tratando de cortar la comunicación entre ellos y con el resto del mundo y haciendo todo lo posible para evitar que las atrocidades del régimen salgan a la luz. El tiempo para que el Presidente Biden revise su política hacia Cuba ha terminado; debemos tomar medidas inmediatas para implementar toda la tecnología para facilitar el libre flujo de información hacia y desde la isla, y amplificar las voces del pueblo cubano al aprobar esta enmienda “.
En diciembre del 2020, Rubio advirtió que la Administración Biden necesitaba priorizar el acceso a internet en Cuba. El 12 de julio, un día después que surgieran las protestas pacíficas en toda la isla, Rubio instó al presidente Biden a que el acceso al internet fuese una prioridad urgente de EE.UU.
Rubio reiteró este llamado en el pleno del senado el mismo día, y le envió una carta al presidente Biden el 14 de julio describiendo varias opciones que la administración podía tomar. La oficina de Rubio se reunió con la Casa Blanca y continúa dialogando con empresas con capacidad para ayudar a los cubanos a comunicarse libremente. Rubio continuó presionando a la Administración Biden para que actuara sobre este tema durante todo el mes de julio.