Mario Diaz-Balart



Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican, has represented the 25th District of Florida in the U. S. House of Representatives since 2003.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Estate tax
On January 11, 2007, Mario Diaz-Balart introduced a bill which would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reduce the federal sales tax deduction, the child credit, and also repeal the estate tax. As of March 1, the bill had collected 49 cosponsors, and had been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Embargo with Cuba
Diaz-Balart supported the embargo with Cuba, arguing against the Free Trade With Cuba Act, which would end the trade embargo the U.S. has enforced with Cuba since 1962, and also repeal other economic, travel, and communications restrictions with Cuba. Diaz-Balart argued that "to lift sanctions would not only reward Castro's injustices against the Cuban people but also it would further strengthen this dying dictatorship and prevent Cuba from much needed democratic change."

Biography
Diaz-Balart was born September 25, 1961 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was educated at the University of South Florida, and was a businessman and member of the Florida House of Representatives (1988-1992) and the Florida Senate (1992-2000) before entering the U.S. House in 2005. He is the brother of Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart and the son of exiled Cuban politician Rafael Diaz-Balart, and a former nephew by marriage of Fidel Castro.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Democrats nominated Michael Calderin to face Diaz-Balart in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Diaz Balart retained his seat.

Money in Politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Aviation
 * Subcommittee on Railroads
 * Subcommittee on Highways Transit and Pipelines
 * House Committee on Science and Technology
 * Subcommittee on Environment and Energy
 * House Committee on Budget

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Budget
 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Aviation
 * Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
 * Subcommittee on Highways Transit and Pipelines

External resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

External articles

 * Jay Nordlinger, "Meet the Diaz-Balarts: A couple of Castro's 'nephews' &mdash; in Congress" National Review, March 10, 2003.