FL-27 Newsletter Vol. 118, Issue #16 Dear Friends/Amigos, This week I was back in Washington advocating on behalf of you, my constituents, before the House Foreign Affairs and Small Business Committees. I confronted President Petro on behalf of the thousands of Colombian Americans in my district who want to know what his plans are for Colombia, and how they will affect the families of my constituents who remain there. Predictably, Petro dodged the tough questions I posed to him just like every other socialist I've interviewed as a journalist. As a reminder, there is one week left to get in your submissions to the 2023 Congressional Art Competition. All FL-27 high school students are eligible! See below for more details. It is an honor to serve you in Congress, and please continue to call my office or visit my website to share your thoughts with me. As always, I invite you to connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, to get the latest from Washington and from across our district. Sincerely/Atentamente, Maria Elvira Salazar U.S. Representative (FL-27) I CONFRONTED PRESIDENT GUSTAVO PETRO ON HIS TERRIBLE VISION FOR COLOMBIA! This week, I confronted President Gustavo Petro on his terrible vision for the people of Colombia ahead of his meeting with President Biden on Thursday. Our meetings were, to say the least, disappointing and lackluster. President Petro could not answer the most basic questions about his social and economic vision for Colombia, including his plans to emulate the Cuban healthcare system and create impunity for drug trafficking, among others. As the Chairwoman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, I will continue putting pressure on Petro and the Biden Administration to ensure that the U.S.-Colombia partnership remains strong and that Colombia remains a free and democratic society. Read the full press release here. THE PAN-AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION (PAHO) MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE! This week, I co-signed a letter along with Reps. Mark Green (R-TN) and Carlos Giménez (R-FL) to demand accountability over the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO)'s role in helping the Cuban regime traffic thousands of doctors and healthcare professionals to Brazil between 2013 and 2018. The U.S. State Department categorizes the Cuban regime's medical missions as “forced labor” as this is a form of modern-day slavery. Let me be clear, any organization that is funded by our tax dollars should NEVER be used to help repressive regimes engage in the systematic oppression of their own citizens abroad. My colleagues and I will get to the bottom of this, and demand justice for the doctors who were forced to work for free as propaganda for the evil Castro/Díaz-Canel regime! Read the full press release here! **ONE WEEK LEFT!** SUBMIT YOUR ARTWORK FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION! There is ONE WEEK LEFT to submit your artwork to the 2023 Congressional Art Competition! Every year, Members of Congress receive thousands of pieces of artwork from up-and-coming artists from high schools across the United States for the Artistic Discovery Contest. The winner will get a chance to display their artwork in the U.S. Capitol for thousands of fellow Americans to see! Entries are due in-person at our Miami District Office (3951 NW 7th St., Bay F) by April 28, 2023. For more information on the rules and requirements of the competition, click here. Questions can be directed to Leslie Collazo at [email protected]. CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA! ‌ ‌ ‌ Have questions? Reach me at: [link removed] Washington, D.C. 2162 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-3931 Miami, FL 3951 NW 7th St, Bay F Miami, FL 33126 Phone: (305) 668-2285 Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar | 2162 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]