Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
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| Ileana Ros-Lehtinen | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office August 28, 1989 |
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| Preceded by | Claude Pepper |
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| Born | July 15, 1952 Havana, Cuba |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Dexter Lehtinen |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (also known as Ileana Ros; born Ileana Ros y Adato July 15, 1952) is a Republican United States Representative for Florida's 18th congressional district (map), having held that office since 1989. She is currently the most senior Republican woman in the United States Congress.
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[edit] Early Years
She was born in Havana, Cuba to Enrique Ros and his wife, Amanda Adato; was educated at Florida International University where she received a BA in Education and an MA in Educational Leadership, and also attended the University of Miami where she received a PhD in Higher Education [1]. She was a member of the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate before entering the House. Prior to entering political life, Ros-Lehtinen was an educator and the owner/operator of a private school in Miami-Dade County [2]. Upon her election to succeed the late Congressman Claude Pepper, she became the first Cuban American congresswoman elected to the United States Congress.
[edit] Religious Views
Although earlier biographies listed her religious affiliation as Roman Catholic,[citation needed] she no longer makes reference to her religion in her official biography.[3]. Project Vote Smart lists Ros-Lehtinen as Episcopalian [4]. Her mother was Jewish[citation needed] but converted to Catholicism.
[edit] Her Political Views
Ros-Lehtinen is a solidly conservative Republican, although she sides with liberal Democrats on one social issue: gay rights. She supports anti-hate crime laws, anti-discrimination bills, believes gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the armed forces, and voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment. She is however considered as a conservative on foreign, economic, and other social policy, and is the Ranking Member on the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Ros-Lehtinen is a supporter of President Bush's surge policy in Iraq, a staunch supporter of Israel and is allied with the anti-Castro lobby.
Among Ros-Lehtinen's other conservative views include votes against the estate tax on the wealthy, votes in favor of President Bush's tax cuts, for fuel efficiency standards on autos, drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, support of CAFTA, votes in favor of making the Patriot Act permanent, support of the Military Commissions Act, votes in favor of the government's warrantless wiretapping, votes against funding for stem cell research, and votes against SCHIP. She is also a frequent guest on Real Time with Bill Maher.
[edit] Committee Assignments
- Committee on Foreign Affairs (Ranking Member)
- Co-Chair, Congressional Vision Caucus
- Co-Chair, National Marine Sanctuary Caucus
[edit] Positions
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Iraq: “Whether or not there is a direct link to the World Trade Center does not mean that Iraq is not meritorious of shedding blood. The common link is that they hate America.” [5]
State Department Passport Controversy: Ros-Lehtinen recently pressured the State Department to accelerate its processing of passports, something that had hindered American citizens’ travel during the crucial summer travel season. Calling the delay “outrageous, incomprehensible, unconscionable” at a hearing of the House Foreign Affair Committee, where she is Ranking Member, Ros-Lehtinen brought the pressure of committee Republicans to bear on the State Department and spur them to action. [6]
Darfur: This summer, Ros-Lehtinen joined Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on a Congressional delegation to the United Nations in order to encourage international support for an end to the genocide in Darfur. In addition, Ros-Lehtinen returned from a trip to Darfur in April of 2007 where she visited Sudanese refugee camps. Ros-Lehtinen returned and strongly encouraged the United States and the international community to find a solution to this humanitarian crisis. [7][8]
Miami River: During her tenure in Congress, Ros-Lehtinen has been successful in championing the issue of the Miami River. In July 2007, she signed a mock check for $20.5 million, much of it federal funds in addition to state and local money, in order to resume the dredging of the Miami River. [9]
Aquarius Dive: Recently, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen participated in a scuba dive down to the underwater Aquarius Habitat where she joined in a live underwater broadcast shown directly to 3rd through 6th graders at an Islamorada Montessori School on how to preserve coral reefs in the Florida Keys. [10]
WRDA: Rep. Ros-Lehtinen voted for the Water Resources Development Act. This bill will provide for extensive environmental development and restoration projects. It also provides assistance for South Florida's coral reefs and the Miami River. [11]
[edit] Cuba
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen plays a prominent role in the Cuban-American lobby, which aims to put pressure on the Cuban government and encourage political change on the island. She is a member of the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus. She is the daughter of Enrique Ros, a Florida based Cuban business man and anti-Fidel Castro activist and Amanda Adato. Ros-Lehtinen also advances strongly held views on Cuba, and has lobbied against ending the United States embargo against that country. In 2004 she formed the Cuba Democracy Group aimed at curtailing U.S. agriculture exports and preventing U.S. banks from doing business with the Cuban government.[1]
Ros-Lehtinen's rise to congress was coordinated by Jeb Bush, who became her campaign manager and was endorsed by Jorge Mas Canosa, former head of the Cuban-American National Foundation. Ros-Lehtinen has defended former fugitive Velentin Hernández, convicted of murdering Luciano Nieves, a fellow Cuban exile who supported negotiations with the Cuban government,[2] In the 1980s Ros-Lehtinen lobbied for the release and pardon of Cuban exile Orlando Bosch, who had been convicted of terrorist acts and has also been accused of involvement in the 1976 bombing of Cubana Flight 455, which killed 73 people, helping organize an "Orlando Bosch day" to gain support for his release.[3] Ros-Lehtinen played a prominent role in the failed attempt by relatives of Elian Gonzalez to gain custody of six year old from his Cuban father, describing Cuba as "that system of godless communism".[4] She also attempted to block Jimmy Carter's visit to the island in 2002.[5]
[edit] Calls to assassinate Fidel Castro
Ros-Lehtinen again stirred controversy by calling for the assassination of Cuban Leader Fidel Castro. She appears in the British documentary 638 Ways to Kill Castro, saying: "I welcome the opportunity of having anyone assassinate Fidel Castro and any leader who is oppressing the people."
After a 28-second clip began circulating on the Internet, the Havana-born lawmaker claimed the filmmakers spliced clips together to get the sound bite. Twenty-four hours after the controversy erupted, director Dollan Cannell sent unedited tapes of his interview with Ros-Lehtinen to reporters.[6] The uncut version contradicted Ros-Lehtinen's response and showed that she had twice welcomed an attempt on Castro's life. Though she attempted to distance herself from her denial, filmmaker Cannell requested an apology, which has not been forthcoming.[7]
"Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has made a very serious accusation against the team who made the films. You can't get more serious than that in terms of an accusation of gross professional wrongdoing. Her accusation is completely, totally false. I'd like her to retract what she said and to apologize." [7]
[edit] Foreign Affairs Committee
Ros-Lehtinen was chosen as the Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee for the 110th Congress.
[edit] Notable Staff members or Interns
- Rene Garcia, member of the Florida House of Representatives and former intern to Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
- Enrique Pollack, host and founder of "Havana Rock," the Miami, Florida show on radio station WWFE 670 AM and former Congressional Aide to Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
- Alonso R. del Portillo, is a Cuban-American genealogist and former Assistant District Director to Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
- Marco Rubio, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and former intern to Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
- Mauricio J. Tamargo, 14th Chairman of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission and former Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Election galvanizes Cuba embargo backers. Cuba central.
- ^ Our Man's in Miami. Patriot or Terrorist? Washington Post. April 17, 2005.
- ^ The ghost of terror past. Salon.com.
‡ Who is a terrorist? South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Wayne S. Smith. May 31, 2002.
‡ Congressman Diaz-Balart Says U.S. Should Consider Assassination of Fidel Castro. Wayne Smith. CIP senior fellow. March 31, 2004. - ^ Who Should Decide the Destiny of Elian Gonzalez. CNN transcripts.
- ^ Ann Louise Bardach. Cuba confidential. p351. "Ignoring the growls of the Reich team and attempts by Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Diaz-Balart to block the visit, the Bush administration reluctantly granted approval"
‡ Will Jimmy Carter Become First President to Visit Castro in Cuba? CNN transcripts. - ^ Rep. Ros-Lehtinen Admits 'Kill Castro' remark Newsmax
- ^ a b Tape contradicts Ros-Lehtinen. Miami Herald.
[edit] External links
- Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen official U.S. House site
- Re-Elect Ileana Ros-Lehtinen official campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
| Preceded by Claude Pepper |
U.S. Representative for Florida's 18th Congressional District 1989– |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
