REPS. SNYDER, EMERSON CALL FOR EXPANDING TRADE WITH CUBA LITTLE ROCK - United States Representatives Vic Snyder
(D-AR-02) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO-08) called for an end to the trade embargo
and travel ban with Cuba at a press conference today at the Little Rock Port.
"The entire Arkansas Congressional delegation-Representatives Berry, Ross,
and Boozman and Senators Lincoln and Hutchinson-are united along with Governor
Huckabee on the issue of opening trade with Cuba," Congressman Snyder said.
"Cuba is no longer a security threat to our country and no good comes from
continuing our failed policy of trying to isolate Cuba economically."
"Forty years of failure -- that is what we are talking about when we talk
about the trade embargo with Cuba," Congresswoman Emerson said. "Instead of
toppling communism, all we've really done is cut off markets for our farmers.
Folks working in and around agriculture -- from Farm Bureau members, to rice
producers to the poultry industry support improving trade opportunities with
Cuba. Clearly, when it comes to Cuba policy, the entire Arkansas Delegation
along with many of us in Congress will work hard to make sure that the voices
and concerns of our stakeholders here at home are heard."
Following the press conference, Reps. Snyder and Emerson toured Riceland
Foods, Inc. and the National Rice Research Center in Stuttgart.
Reps. Snyder and Emerson are members of the Cuba Working Group, a bipartisan
group of 34 U.S. representatives that has called on Congress to end the trade
embargo and travel ban with Cuba in order to improve prospects for American
farmers and to help bring about democratic reform to Cuba.
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