Archive for the ‘Legislation’ Category
US Lifts Online Sanctions - Cuba to Get Web Based Communication Tools
The US Treasury announced it has amended the Cuban Assets Control Regulations which will allow the Cuban people the ability to use web based applications such as online email, blogs, wikis, etc.
Internet companies such as Google, supported the change in policy according to The Hill:
Google on Tuesday heralded the Treasury Department’s decision to lift federal restrictions on Web communication exports to Iran, Sudan and Cuba.
The policy shift marks a “great accomplishment,” said Bob Boorstin, director of policy communications for the search-engine giant.During a speech at a conference in Geneva, Boorstin said Google could now offer citizens in those countries access to such services as Google Earth, its mapping software; Google Talk, its instant-messaging tool; and Picassa, its photo-sharing site.
“We are hopeful this will help people like yourselves in this room and activists all over the world take a small step down what is certainly a long road ahead,” Boorstin said.
Dairy Farmers Support End of Travel & Export Restrictions
Congressman Jerry Moran of Kansas is co-sponsoring legislation he to open Cuba markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers. Dairy farmers are supportive of the legislation according to the CattleNetwork:
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) applauded yesterday’s introduction of a House bill that would allow for open travel for all Americans to Cuba and further facilitate U.S. agricultural exports to that nation.
The Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act (H.R. 4645) was offered by House Agriculture Committee Chairman, Collin Peterson, and is currently co-sponsored by 33 other Members of Congress, including Representatives Jerry Moran of Kansas, Rosa L. DeLauro of Connecticut and Jo Ann Emerson of Missouri.
The NMPF also sees the value of ending travel restrictions to Cuba:
The other critical element that H.R. 4645 would tackle is to abolish restrictions on Americans’ rights to travel to Cuba. This would facilitate U.S. exporters’ ability to conduct business with Cuba, spurring greater demand for U.S. agricultural products.
“This bill would help to address administrative and technical barriers to U.S. dairy exports to Cuba that are not in keeping with the original spirit and intent of Congress when it determined that we should be able to export agricultural products to Cuba roughly ten years ago,” said Tom Suber, President of the U.S. Dairy Export Council. “The Cuban market holds significant promise for U.S. dairy exporters but has become increasingly difficult to supply within the past few years.”
Senate Bill Permits Travel to Cuba for US Citizens - S 428
Today Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D introduced Senate Bill 428 identical to HR 874-Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act. From AP:
The Dorgan bill — co-sponsored by Richard Lugar, top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee; Mike Enzi, ranking Republican on the Health Committee; and Banking Committee chairman Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. — would prevent the president from stopping travel to Cuba except in cases of war, imminent danger to public health or threats to the physical safety of U.S. travelers.
FL Senator Mel Martinez, a Cuban born dissenter said “This is the time to support pro-democracy activists in Cuba, not provide the Castro regime with a resource windfall.”
Senator Martinez should support freedom for Cubans in the same proven way communism was defeated in China and Russia, with American influence from travel and trade. Senator Martinez should also do what’s in the best interest of Florida’s economy by ending the Cuban embargo.
Speaking of ending the embargo, Travel is a great place to start, but lifting the embargo is what makes sense, according to Daniel Erikson, author of The Cuba Wars:
“So you would have American tourists traveling to Cuba driving around on Chinese buses, staying at Spanish hotels, eating Canadian food,” Erikson said, adding, “The only McDonald’s I’ve ever seen in Cuba is at the military base at Guantanamo Bay.”
Obama to Announce Lessened Restrictions on Cuba before Summit of the Americas
President Barack Obama cautiously extends offerings of peace and reform of current laws and the embargo with Cuba. Such examples of early reform would consist of trade and travel restrictions being lessened, which is primarily for Cuban-American families and to take the damper off of US and Latin American relations before the Summit of the Americas. Provisions for this reform would be included in a spending bill to be voted on by members of congress within the week. Changes are suspected to be announced before the Summit meeting. This could be a quick reconciliation for the US in the Foreign Policy department.
“There is a strong likelihood that Obama will announce policy changes prior to the summit,” said Daniel Erikson, director of Caribbean programmes at the Inter-American Dialogue and author of The Cuba Wars. “Loosening travel restrictions would be the easy thing to do and defuse tensions at the summit.”
Cuban-American Travel to Cuba may be Approved
Cuban-Americans will soon be able to visit their families again.
A provision in a huge spending bill the U.S. House is scheduled to pass Wednesday that will lift President Bush’s restrictions on family travel and remittances to Cuba.
Senator Luger: Deal with the Cuban regime in a way that enhances U.S. interests
Richard Lugar, the Ranking Foreign Committee Ranking Minority Member has released “CHANGING CUBA POLICY — IN THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL INTEREST.”
From the Huffington Post, Senator Luger states:
Economic sanctions are a legitimate tool of U.S. foreign policy, and they have sometimes achieved their aims, as in the case of apartheid South Africa.
After 47 years, however, the unilateral embargo on Cuba has failed to achieve its stated purpose of “bringing democracy to the Cuban people,” while it may have been used as a foil by the regime to demand further sacrifices from Cuba’s impoverished population.
The current U.S. policy has many passionate defenders, and their criticism of the Castro regime is justified. Nevertheless, we must recognize the ineffectiveness of our current policy and deal with the Cuban regime in a way that enhances U.S. interests.
This is an excellent sign that change has come to Washington concerning Cuba-America Policy.
Freedom To Travel To Cuba Act - HR 874
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel is reporting a bill named the “Freedom To Travel To Cuba Act” was introduced in Congress on Feb 4.
The bill allows for the freedom of travel for US Citizen and prohibits the President from restricting travel. This is the first step in normalizing relations with Cuba.
The Bill H.R.874, was Sponsored by Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass and cosponsored by:
Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3]
Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4]
Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8]
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17]
Rep Flake, Jeff [AZ-6]
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3]
Rep Moran, Jerry [KS-1]
Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14]
These members should be applauded for the forward thinking, write your congressperson and tell them to support H.R. 874.