Chairman Rush Travels to Cuba as Part of Congressional Delegation

CHICAGO –– As the two-week Congressional District work period gets underway, today, U. S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush, a newly elected Board member of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, embarked on a six-day tour of Cuba, in part, to get a first hand look at expanded trade opportunities for American businesses. 

"As the current global economic crisis demonstrates, the economic vitality of the United States is inextricably linked to international peace, trade and expanded opportunities for American companies to identify stable markets in which to do business,"said Rush.  "I have seen, first hand, the power of a good education and the power of a dream taking root to transform the lives of troubled youth.  Those dreams need to be matched with expanded opportunities and that's what I'm looking for as I travel to Cuba over the course of the next week.  While I am concerned about human rights issues on the island of Cuba, I'm a witness to the fact that a lot has changed in the world since 1961 when the U.S. trade embargo was first imposed.  It's time to take a fresh look at the challenges and opportunities between our two nations and to chart a constructive new path forward."

It's been years since an elected, Illinois official of Chairman Rush's stature has traveled to this communist nation as part of a Congressional delegation.  Congressman Rush is also a co-sponsor of H. R. 874, "The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act,"legislation that would end the current ban on travel by Americans to Cuba.  Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Barbara Lee is leading the delegation along with several other House members from within and outside the caucus.

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