![The Florida Senate easily passed a non-binding resolution Tuesday against normalizing Cuban relations.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7e64da9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/800x534+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmediad.publicbroadcasting.net%2Fp%2Fwfsu%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fmedium%2Fpublic%2F201503%2FFranck_Vervial.jpg)
Florida lawmakers of Cuban descent spoke out Tuesday on the Senate floor against normalizing relations with the island nation.
Sen. Miguel Diaz De La Portilla (R-Miami) tore into the Castro regime, referring to Fidel and Raoul as “mafia dons” and “octogenarian despots.” His colleague, Sen. Rene Garcia (R-Hialeah) says the executive action doesn’t do enough for regular Cubans.
![Sen. Rene Garcia (R-Hialeah) arguing in favor of the resolution.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fa5f7d3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/577x334+0+0/resize/880x509!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmediad.publicbroadcasting.net%2Fp%2Fwfsu%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fmedium%2Fpublic%2F201503%2FRene_Garcia.jpg)
“When the President came out with this order, things would change on the island? I would say I congratulate the President. I congratulate the President making something happen,” Garcia says. “But nothing—those Cubans woke up the same way they did yesterday.”
De La Portilla and Garcia jumped on as co-sponsors of the non-binding Senate resolution. Sen. Anitere Flores (R-Miami) is the bill’s principal sponsor. It passed the chamber on a voice vote with one objection.
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