Congress panel votes to loosen Cuba travel rules

[Judi Lynn]

Congress panel votes to loosen Cuba travel rules
Posted 2008/06/17 at 7:07 pm EDT

WASHINGTON, June 17, 2008 (Reuters) — People living in the United States could travel to Cuba more often and visit a broader list of family members under legislation approved by a congressional panel on Tuesday.

A House of Representatives appropriations panel embraced the liberalized travel initiative, which faces several more legislative steps over the next few months and likely would be opposed by the Bush administration.

Under a proposal that funds several federal agencies next year including the Treasury Department, which oversees Cuba travel and trade restrictions, travelers would be able to visit close relatives in Cuba once a year, instead of the current once-every-three-years restriction.

The list of eligible family members U.S. residents could visit in Cuba would grow from immediate relatives to include first-cousins, uncles and aunts.

More:
http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/n17386492-usa-cuba-travel/

[Vogon_Glory]

1. Federal Travel Restrictions Are An Unnecessary Infringement on American Liberties

The US federal government's restrictions on travel to Cuba placed on American citizens and resident aliens are an unnecessary infringement on American liberties imposed during a period of Cold War hysteria that should have been repealed decades ago. Voting to repeal such restrictions isn't about supporting the current Cuban government or endorsing its policies; it's about restoring American liberty and removing lessening the heartbreak of Cuban families caused by the political divisions within and without our island neighbor. The elected politicians that still support such restrictions ought to be voted out not only by those favoring a changed policy towards Cuba, but also by those libertarian-minded voters who claim to oppose any restrictions on their liberties.

[Texano78704]

2. Why is it?

Why is it I can travel to China, or even Viet Nam for that matter, but not Cuba?

[magbana]

3. Latin American Working Group Action Alert on Travel to Cuba

Received via email

June 19, 2008

Dear Cuba Policy Advocates,

It's time for us - and you - to get to work! A House subcommittee (Financial Services) yesterday added language to the appropriations bill that would ease travel restrictions for Cuban Americans wishing to visit family and would facilitate agricultural sales to Cuba. The result of yesterday's subcommittee meeting is an appropriations bill that allows for Cuban Americans to travel to Cuba once per year and expands the definition of family to include cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Get more details from this Reuters article http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1738649220080617. Or in Rep. Serrano's words: "This mark also includes provisions to liberalize travel to Cuba for Americans who have family members living in that nation. There is no reason to place harsh restrictions on those who simply wish to visit close family members. In addition, the bill contains a provision to facilitate agricultural trade with Cuba, allowing more American farmers to sell their products to Cuba."

This language in the legislation is only the beginning. This is a very modest effort, but it is extremely important that it not lose! It paves the way for broader changes that are what we and you really want. The message that would be sent if these provisions lose would be harmful to our work for real change next year.

The real work starts now, and it starts with us! We have to work to get this bill on the floor, and to do so we have to make our voice heard on Capitol Hill! The first step is getting it passed by the full Appropriations Committee, which will meet tentatively Wednesday June 25. We must urge members on that committee to vote in favor of Representative Serrano's Cuba provisions in the Financial Services Appropriations bill so it reaches the floor. See a full list of committee members here http://appropriations.house.gov/members110th.shtml Check it out to see if your representative is on this committee. If so, we need you!

We have selected a number of members in particular that need strong encouragement. This list includes:

Rodney Alexander (R) LA-5 (Alexandria, Monroe areas) tel. [phone]
Jo Bonner (R) AL-1 (Mobile, Foley areas) tel. [phone]
Allen Boyd (D) FL-2 (Tallahassee, Panama City areas) 202.225.5235
Chet Edwards (D) TX-17 (Waco, College Station areas) 202.225.6105
Patrick Kennedy (D) RI-1 (Pawtucket Area) 202.225.3290
Jack Kingston (R) GA-1 (Savannah, Brunswick, Baxley, Valdosta areas) 202.225.5831
John Peterson (R) PA-5 (State College, Titusville areas) 202.225.2565
Dennis Rehberg (R) MT-At large (full state) 202.225.3211
Ciro Rodriguez (D) TX-23 (San Antonio area) 202.225.4511
Steven Rothman (D) NJ-9 (Hackensack, Jersey City areas) 202.225.5061
Tim Ryan (D) OH-17 (Youngstown, Akron, Warren areas) 202.225.5261
Adam Schiff (D) CA-29 (Pasadena area) 202.225.4176
Zach Wamp (R) TN-3 (Chattanooga, Oak Ridge areas) 202.225.3271
Frank Wolf (R) VA-10 (Herndon, Winchester areas) 202.225.5136

We urge advocates from these districts contact your members and ask them to support Rep.Serrano's Cuba provisions in the Financial Services Appropriations Bill. Call the Washington office, ask for the foreign policy aide, and request that the congressperson vote in favor of the Cuba provisions in the Financial Services Appropriations Bill to be considered next week in full committee. Call today!

And, if you aren't in any of the target districts but know people in these districts, PLEASE pass on this information and ask these constituents to call.

The list above is made up of what we consider priority members to contact, but any member on the full committee should be strongly encouraged to vote in favor of Rep. Serrano's Cuba provisions. So, if your member is on the committee list (http://appropriations.house.gov/members110th.shtml ) but not one of the targets, we still encourage you to contact him/her.

Finally, please let us know with a quick email if you contact your member's office and what the response is. Thanks!

Thank you for all you do advocating for a more just policy.

Sincerely,
Mavis Anderson
Paulo Gusmao
Latin America Working Group
www.lawg.org

[Judi Lynn]

4. Patrick Kennedy needs encouragement? Geez, what's wrong with him?

His cousin, Robert F. Kennedy went there, taking documents, on the 40th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs to the conference which was attended by some former Cuban "exile" Bay of Pigs veterans.

Time for him to wake the #### up.

One of the stray Democrats, Steven Rothman, is from the other "exile" stronghold, New Jersey. Apparently he's in their service, or he's just afraid of them.

Thanks for the LAWG info.

[Mika]

5. "several more legislative steps over the next few months". Wanna make a bet?

Some of the "several more legislative steps over the next few months" are back room negotiations, committees, and markup sessions. No matter what the vote counts are these pro Cuba travel amendments to bills almost always get stripped out.

The gusano congresscritters have a significant share of Dem disaster capitalists to play along in the horse trading that is American policy.


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[Judi Lynn]

6. If enough outsiders move into Miami, and break up that death-grip the gusanos have on Florida

politics, and the how many electoral votes now? 27? 29? they will lose their power completely, and the constant parade every two years to Miami to get Miami money for Congressional races will dissipate, and Presidential campaigners won't make those preposterous speeches every 4 years to get their backing, and keep them from supporting the other guy.

They have thrown their ill gotten weight around far too long, it's time to break it all up. The sooner the better.

Any chance the Republican loons are running behind in the polls yet? That would make the day for a lot of us if that news every surfaced.