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Washington, D.C. - The United States has maintained an economic embargo, including travel restrictions, against Cuba since the Castro brothers seized power some 50 years ago. Congress is considering legislation to end travel restrictions and the Obama administration is preparing to ease them in the coming days. Ending or easing these travel restrictions without any concessions would be a mistake that would serve only to bolster the Castro regime.
Restricting U.S. citizens’ travel to Cuba has often been controversial. Because the CubanState actually owns all of the businesses affected by tourism, the Castros can exploit tourist dollars for their own needs. For almost five decades, the United States has sought to deny the Castro regime these tourist dollars.
Since their inception in 1963 the travel restrictions have undergone numerous changes, alternatingly being eased or tightened depending upon the policies of the Administration in power. Under current law, U.S. citizens with family members in Cuba can visit their relatives. And, there are a total of 18 different categories of citizens for which travel to Cuba is allowed.
Recently, the Agriculture Committee, upon which I serve, considered a bill that would unconditionally end all travel restrictions to Cuba. Those who supported this bill argued that our current policies are actually harming the Cuban people, the very people we are seeking to help live in freedom. Their primary argument is that Americans’ tourist dollars will find their way into Cuban citizens’ pockets, easing their burdens.
If this argument were true, it would be difficult to vote against such a change. Ambassador James Cason, Former Chief of Mission in Havana, testified before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs last November, pointing out “the State owns the hotels, the bars, the restaurants, the clubs, the cigar and rum shops and souvenir stands.” He argues that the 15 million tourists who have visited Cuba over the last decade have failed to bring about any change. In fact, he believes that the State security apparatus has actually gotten stronger because of these tourists dollars.
Berta Antunez, who left Cuba a short time ago and who is the sister of a former Cuban political prisoner, agrees. In the same hearing, she testified that, “The real people of Cuba . . . will not benefit from tourist travel. Rather, those resources will serve the totalitarian regime to increase its repressive capabilities.”
I think it is time to rethink our policy with regard to Cuba. If we can ease the trade embargo in ways that will guarantee that Cuban citizens have the food and medicines they need, we should do it. We should not however be providing the Castro regime with a $2 billion infusion of tourist cash that they will simply use to further repress its long-suffering people.
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