Congressman David Rivera’s Week in Review- Week of January 24th

Washington, DC- As Congress wrapped up the last full week of session for the month of January, Congressman David Rivera (FL-25) focused his efforts on foreign relations and U.S. economic issues, while announcing new offices in his Southern Florida district.

Introducing President Obama to a Former Cuban Political Prisoner

Congressman Rivera attended the new Member reception at the White House on Monday accompanied by Cary Roque, a former Cuban political prisoner who was incarcerated by the Castro dictatorship for 16 years for assisting Cuban dissidents during the Bay of Pigs invasion. 

Roque delivered a letter to President Obama that was signed by 26 Cuban exile organizations about the human rights violations and repression against the Cuban people by the Castro dictatorship.  Rivera invited Roque to the reception to introduce the President to someone who knows firsthand what it’s like to be imprisoned and abused by the Castro dictatorship. 

 “President Obama told Ms. Roque that he wants to do what’s best for the Cuban people, and she made it very clear to him that standing between his good will for the Cuban people, and the Cuban people themselves, is a dictatorship that has been committing atrocities for more than 50 years,” Rivera said. 

“I hope that this encounter serves as the beginning of a discourse between the Obama administration, and the Cuban exile community about the reality of the situation on the island, and to help the White House understand that making unilateral concessions to the Castro dictatorship does nothing but reward a regime that continues to repress the Cuban people.”

Notable Meetings: Rivera Meets with Colombian Vice President Garzón

On Tuesday, House Foreign Affairs Committee Member Rivera and members of the House Colombia Caucus met with Colombian Vice President Angelino Garzón for a discussion about the bilateral relationship between the United States and Colombia. 

Rivera took the opportunity to discuss the special relationship between the United States and Colombia, noting that he, and others, would continue pushing the Obama administration to approve the Colombia Free Trade Agreement that stands to create millions of jobs in the United States and improve trade relations between the two countries. 

In addition to focusing on trade issues, Rivera spoke to Vice President Garzón about how he has seen firsthand the great support in South Florida for relief efforts to benefit victims of the floods in Colombia.

“The Colombian-American community is a vibrant and important part of this country, and I am glad that I had the opportunity to speak to Vice President Garzón about a variety of issues,” Rivera said.  “I made especially sure to convey to the Vice President that people in South Florida are answering the call to help those who have been affected by the floods in Colombia,” Rivera said.  “I have had the opportunity to participate in several efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to flood victims; encouraging the community to make donations through work with local organizations, media appearances, and El Festival de la Entrega at Tropical Park this past Sunday.”

Rivera Responds to the President’s State of the Union Address

On Tuesday President Obama gave the annual State of the Union Address; however Rivera believes that the President did not adequately address America’s economic problems. 

“When President Obama made his second State of the Union Address, many of the new faces in the chamber should have served as a signal that the American people are unhappy with the results of the last two years, when spending overindulgences have led to a historic national debt of more than $14 trillion, and businesses are afraid to grow, or hire new employees, because they are uncertain of what taxes or burdensome regulations will affect them next,” Rivera said.

“In 2007, the budget deficit was 1.14 percent of U.S. GDP.  In recent years that number has hovered near or above 10 percent, the largest share of GDP in 65 years. This week the Congressional Budget Office predicted that the 2011 deficit will be a record $1.5 trillion,” Rivera said.  “This spending track is unsustainable, and the President did not address specifics on how to deal with the national debt or the annual deficit. His proposal to simply freeze spending at current levels for the next five years is not enough.  We can’t afford current spending levels. 

“Through measures like repealing the job-killing health care law, which reduces the deficit by $700 billion; and voting to cut government spending to pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels, we are tackling the national debt and annual deficits head on by reducing spending, not maintaining the bloated spending status quo of the last two years.” 

House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee Appointments

This week Rivera received his subcommittee assignments for the House Committee on Natural Resources.  Rivera was assigned to the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee and the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee oversees energy production and mining on federal lands- both on and offshore. Rivera supports conservation efforts that incentivize, not penalize, energy efficiency by businesses and individuals, and promoting renewable energy sources as well as exploring American energy sources. 

The National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee is responsible for all matters related to the National Parks System, U.S. Forests, public lands and national monuments.  Rivera’s district in Southern Florida stretches from Western Miami-Dade County into parts of Collier and Monroe counties and includes Everglades National Park. 

District Activities: Florida International University Bowl Victory Celebration

On Friday, Rivera, an alumnus of Florida International University, attended the FIU Bowl Victory Celebration to congratulate the Golden Panther football players, coaches and students on their victory in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl on December 26. 

The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl was FIU’s first bowl game appearance in the program’s history, and Head Coach Mario Cristobal’s team beat the Toledo Rockets 34-32 in the final seconds of the game.  FIU Wide Receiver T.Y. Hilton received the bowl MVP award. 

Photos of Rivera at the celebration are available at: http://rivera.house.gov/photo-gallery/fiu-football-little-caesars-pizza-bowl-celebration

District Activities: Swamp Buggy Races Winter Classic

On Sunday, Rivera went to the Swamp Buggy Races Winter Classic in Florida Sports Park east of Naples, Fla. 

The Swamp Buggy Races are a Collier County tradition that is held three times a year as part of the Budweiser Cup Series.  The first leg of the series took place in October, the third will take place in March.  The event provides entertainment and fundraising opportunities for local organizations that are allowed to sell items to raise money for their respective causes.

District Activities: Offices & Constituent Outreach Days

Rivera announced that he has opened two offices in his Southern Florida district which extends from Western Miami-Dade County into parts of Collier and Monroe counties. 

The district offices provide services for the Congressman’s constituents including  helping constituents deal  with federal agencies such as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Internal Revenue Service, Medicare, the Veterans Affairs Administration, and the Social Security Administration; assistance with financial aid for students; and internships.  

Rivera’s Miami-Dade County district office is located at:

12851 SW 42nd Street

Suite 131

Miami, FL 33175

Constituents can contact the Miami-Dade County district office at (305)222-0160. 

Rivera’s Collier County district office is located at:

4715 Golden Gate Parkway

Suite One

Naples, FL 34116

Constituents can contact the Collier County district office at (239) 348-1620.

Rivera’s district offices are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Rivera also released his office’s schedule for Constituent Outreach Days in Miami-Dade and Collier counties. 

The Constituent Outreach Days schedule goes into effect in the first week of February.  Constituents with any questions can reach Rivera’s Miami-Dade office at (305) 222-0160 and his Collier office at (239) 348-1620.

The Constituent Outreach Days schedule is available at http://rivera.house.gov/constituent-outreach-days.