During recess last week, the Congressman visited Cuba, meeting with trade and health officials, and members of the National Assembly and religious leaders. As a former member of the International Relations Committee, Wynn expressed his support for ending the unilateral food and medicine sanctions against Cuba.

"While Congress seemingly lifted the embargo on the sale of food and medicine to Cuba in last year’s agriculture spending bill, it severely restricted the ability of the U.S. government and commercial banks to provide the credit Cuba needs to purchase U.S. exports. It is my opinion that an unconditional sale of food and medicine would be a more prudent course of action towards ending our 40-year embargo against Cuba, which has been counterproductive and inhumane for both countries," Rep. Wynn said. "I will continue work in a bipartisan manner to move toward a common-sense position that many members of Congress have been advocating for years."

During his stay, Rep. Wynn also visited the Latin American School of Medicine, to review first hand the Cuban Government’s offer of full scholarships for U.S. students to study medicine in Cuba. "I’m pleased to be the first Member of Congress to visit the Latin American School of Medicine since the first U.S. students began their studies in Cuba. I was quite impressed with the facilities and, after meeting with some of the U.S. students, am confident that they are adapting quite well to the school and the faculty." Wynn said. "It is my hope that this initiative will be a viable resource to minority students pursuing medical careers. I, along with other members of the Congressional Black Caucus, anticipate that this program will be popular in our communities and will produce high quality health care providers here in the U.S."

This trip was organized by the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), which for three decades has worked with its international church partners and a network of grassroots organizations to assist the disenfranchised in both the US and the third world. Congressman Wynn spent four days in Cuba, Tuesday April 17^th through Friday April 20^th.

On Wednesday, The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on the Internet Freedom and Broadband deployment Act of 2001. Congressman Wynn is a co-sponsor of this legislation, which will spur the growth of high speed Internet service, or broadband, to all areas of the country. This legislation would allow the Bell companies, such as Verizon to enter the long-distance market for the purpose of carrying Internet data, currently prohibited under law. Some regulators and competitors of the Bells have criticized this legislation as providing relief to the Bells Companies prior to the local telephone markets being opened to competition. These critics feel that if the Bells are able to offer long distance data, they will not be obligated to open their networks, so they can offer voice long distance. Where the Congressman is aware of this criticism, he is cognizant of the fact that broadband Internet access has only reached 7% of America’s homes, mostly through cable, and at a price of roughly $40 a month. However, the Congressman feels that if this legislation is passed the Bells will be able to better compete in the broadband market. With the removal of these barriers, Congressman Wynn expects broadband to be deployed in more areas quicker, while the price for broadband service will drop as the Bells become real competitors to cable.

For more information, call 202.226.JOBS (5627)

*Any companies interested in having booths at The 9^th Annual Job Fair should contact the Congressman’s Washington, D.C. office at (202)-225-8699.