Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

A key US lawmaker announced Wednesday she had met with a group of Russian journalists and opposition figures and called on President Barack Obama to step up human rights pressure on Moscow. "From Moscow, to Tehran, to Pyongyang, to Havana, it is time for this administration to put human rights -- and not diplomatic niceties -- on top of America?s priority list," said Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Ros-Lehtinen, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said journalists were "an endangered breed in Russia," subject to "increasing and deeply disturbing harassment, violent intimidation and murders." And she charged that the Kremlin was "dragging ... Read Full Story

Congress debates Goldstone By Ron Kampeas · November 3, 2009 The U.S. House of Representatives is debating a resolution condemning the Goldstone report, the U.N. Human Rights Council-mandated report into last winter's Gaza war, and which accuses Israel and Hamas of war crimes. The non-binding resolution demands that the Obama administration do what it can to keep the report from advancing through the U.N. system. It's an unusual set up. Debate on such resolutions, if they're mother and apple pie enough, are controlled by the resolution's sponsor; If it is on a partisan matter, or if there are two sponsors, one from either party, ... Read Full Story

This week Rep Ros Lehtinen, and Rep Berman as well as the co sponsors of the legislation will try to pass House Resolution 867. Please read the legislation and call your Reps and tell them to vote NO. In the article linked below you can read a response to Lehtinen and Berman’s inflammatory and unsubstantiated claims. House Resolution 867: IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OCTOBER 23, 2009 Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, and Mr. ACKERMAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Calling on the President and the Secretary of State to ... Read Full Story

The suspension of American aid and high-level contact with Honduras' interim government following the ouster of its president in a coup is hurting anti-drug efforts, a U.S. Congresswoman said after meeting with officials in the troubled country. The administration of President Barack Obama is seeking to pressure the government of interim President Roberto Micheletti, has suspended more than $40 million in non-humanitarian aid and halted high-level contacts, including those related to long-standing joint efforts against smuggling of U.S.-bound cocaine from South America through Honduras. That lack of cooperation "harms U.S. security," said U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Florida Republican who was visiting Honduras on ... Read Full Story

Three South Florida U.S. Representatives who supported the ouster of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya traveled there Monday to meet with the interim government and to pressure the Obama administration to support the Central American country's upcoming elections. It's the second trip by a GOP delegation there in a week and part of a broader effort to challenge the Obama administration's Latin American policy. President Barack Obama and many world leaders refuse to recognize interim President Roberto Micheletti, who took power following a June coup that ousted Zelaya. They say the Nov. 29 election will be illegitimate unless Zelaya is restored to power or comes ... Read Full Story