Posted: | March 22, 2017 12:08 PM |
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From: | Senator Charles T. McIlhinney, Jr. |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Resolution Urging Congress to Normalize Relations with Cuba |
In the near future, I plan on introducing a concurrent resolution urging Congress to normalize relations with the Cuban government and lift the current embargo and other trade barriers with the Republic of Cuba. For more than five decades, the United States has maintained, through the most comprehensive set of economic sanctions levied against any nation, a strict embargo with the Republic of Cuba. Through various federal acts, regulations, and presidential orders, the embargo places significant restrictions and prohibitions on American-Cuban relationships, notably on trade, travel and financial restrictions. U.S. laws and regulations make American exports to Cuba difficult, if not prohibited, under provisions of the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 and export regulations from the Department of Commerce, U.S. food and agriculture entities are legally permitted to export to Cuba, but doing so requires prior permission from the Department of Commerce and compliance with numerous federal export regulations; despite the ability to legally export, financial restrictions limit the ability of American entities to competitively serve the market, allowing international competitors to capitalize off potential U.S. market share. Relaxing restrictions and prohibitions on U.S. exports to Cuba will present new opportunities to grow Pennsylvania’s and our nation’s agricultural sector and create jobs in rural communities across the United States. I invite you to join me in cosponsoring this resolution. |
Introduced as SR139