Dodd, Chafee, Leach, Serrano Introduce Bridges to the Cuban People Act

For Immediate Release

DODD, CHAFEE, LEACH, SERRANO INTRODUCE BRIDGES TO THE CUBAN PEOPLE ACT

June 12, 2001

Washington, D.C. — Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT), Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee (R-RI), Congressman James A. Leach (R-IA), and Congressman José E. Serrano (D-NY) introduced comprehensive legislation in both the Senate and the House today which will set U.S.-Cuba policy on a new course. It will also help the Cuban people, our American farmers, and American businesses. This legislation will authorize the unrestricted sale of food, farm equipment, agricultural commodities and medicines to Cuba. In addition to Dodd and Chafee, Senators Leahy, Lugar, Roberts, Baucus, Akaka, Kennedy, Wellstone, Levin, Jeffords, Dorgan, Boxer, Bingaman, and Durbin are also cosponsors. The bill also has the support of 81 members of the House of Representatives.

"In our efforts to isolate the Castro regime, we've built walls that are hampering our goal of bringing democracy to the Cuban people," said Dodd, who has just assumed the Chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs, the Subcommittee with jurisdiction over Cuba legislation in the Senate. "As a measure that tears down those walls and replaces them with bridges, this legislation is a good starting point for a serious debate about how we can change U.S. policy in order to foster a peaceful transition to democracy on the island of Cuba while alleviating the hardship that our current policy has caused for the 11 million people who reside there. I hope to hold hearings in the near future and will be discussing with the committee leadership dates for the markup of this important legislation."

"While we cannot ignore the unfortunate political situation in Cuba, the United States should not enact laws that exacerbate the suffering of the Cuban people," Chafee said. "We must recognize that the thirty-seven year embargo against Cuba has failed to acheive its aims, while inadvertantly increasing the hardships endured by average Cubans. I believe that it is time to formulate a new approach to Cuba in which the United States reaches out directly to the Cuban people, while being careful not to reward the Cuban govenment for policies with which we strongly disagree."

"Cuba is no longer a national security threat to the United States," Roberts said. "Continuing our current policy only benefits our trade competitors at the expense of the American farmer and businessman. I believe that trade, travel, and cultural exchange between Cuba and the United States will benefit both Americans and Cubans. I am hopeful that this legislation can move forward to bring positive engagement between our two countries."

"This bill is another positive step in moving our country towards a policy that benefits the Cuban people instead of harming them, and I urge my colleagues on Capitol Hill to support and pass this legislation," Serrano said.

The Bridges to the Cuban People Act will facilitate the building of positive relationships with the Cuban people in some very constructive ways. For example, all travel restrictions on United States citizens would be lifted, which would allow for the free exchange of ideas between the American and Cuban people. Throughout our history, educational and cultural exchanges have proven to be valuable tools that lead to understanding and friendship. This legislation provides scholarships to Cuban students who would like to pursue graduate study in the United States. Limitations on remittances that Americans can send to Cuba would be lifted so that Americans would be free to provide whatever assistance they wished to their loved ones.

The expansion of humanitarian trade to Cuba would be facilitated by allowing our farmers and businesses to use American banks and financing and by removing restrictions on the ability of vessels carrying legal exports to Cuba to reenter United States waters. All restrictions would be removed on the export of products intended for use by children. No embargo should make children its victims. This bill would also allow for the importation of some Cuban medicines, not currently manufactured in the United States, with the appropriate agency approvals.

Passage of this legislation would enhance the flexibility of our President to make changes in our foreign policy with respect to Cuba. The President would have the authority to waive Titles I, II, and IV of the Helms/Burton Act and, in addition, the codification of the embargo included in Helms/Burton would be repealed.