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Ten Member, Bipartisan Group Will Examine U.S. Policies Toward Cuba,
Calls Sanction Policy "Ineffective"
Cuba Policy Foundation
Press Release. Monday, March 24, 2003.
Washington, DC, March 24, 2003 - In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill
Frist (R-TN) and Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), on Friday, March 21, 2003,
ten U.S. Senators announced the formation of the bipartisan "Senate Working
Group on Cuba." The letter said the working group would "examine U.S.
policies toward Cuba, including trade and travel restrictions," citing
Americans' right to travel and Cuba's potential as a U.S. export market. The
full text of the letter follows this release.
With the formation of the Senate Working Group on Cuba, both chambers of the
U.S. Congress now have Cuba working groups committed to a new approach on U.S.
policy toward Cuba. In the House of Representatives, the bipartisan,
fifty-member Cuba Working Group was formed in April 2002. That group produced a
"Review of U.S. Policy Toward Cuba," and announced a nine-point
legislative agenda. For more information on the House Cuba Working Group, visit
www.cubafoundation.org/congress.html.
The ten members of the Senate Working Group on Cuba are: 5 DEMOCRATS: Max
Baucus (MT); Byron Dorgan (ND); Maria Cantwell (WA); Blanche Lincoln (AR); Jeff
Bingaman (NM); 5 REPUBLICANS: Michael Enzi (WY); Chuck Hagel (NE); Norm Coleman
(MN); Jim Talent (MO); Pat Roberts (KS).
The following is the text of the letter announcing the launch of the Senate
Working Group on Cuba:
March 21, 2003
Dear Senators Frist and Daschle:
We are writing to inform you of our intention to launch the Senate Working
Group on Cuba. The Working Group will examine U.S. policies toward Cuba,
including current trade and travel restrictions.
The sanction policy of the United States has been ineffective since it was
adopted in 1962. Other nations trade with Cuba, and their producers benefit from
that trade. The U.S. policy places our farmers, workers, and companies at an
international competitive disadvantage. By some estimates, the United States
loses out on an export market of nearly $1 billion per year.
Current U.S. policy also hinders our ability to interact with the Cuban
people by restricting American citizens' right to travel to Cuba. We believe
that the American people can have greater influence on Cuban society by
developing a relationship with the Cuban people. That is the only way to
influence the peaceful transition to democracy and a market-oriented economy.
We are pleased with the formation of this group and look forward to working
with you on matters related to Cuba.
Sincerely,
Max Baucus
Michael Enzi
Byron Dorgan
Chuck Hagel
Maria
Cantwell
Norm Coleman
Blanche Lincoln
Jim Talent
Jeff Bingaman
Pat
Roberts
Cuba Policy Foundation
11 Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 835-0200 Fax (202) 835-0291
Web:
www.cubafoundation.org | 
