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Urge Senators to Ease Cuba Trade
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Progressive Portal
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Jul 21, 2003 19:10 PDT
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BILL WOULD OVERRULE BUSH ADMINISTRATION DENIAL
OF TRAVEL LICENSES FOR UPCOMING FOOD TRADE SHOW
[From the Cuban American Alliance Education Fund
<http://www.cubamer.org>]
On 17 July 2003, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved an
amendment to the agriculture appropriations bill requiring the Treasury
Department to issue a license to anyone traveling to Cuba to deliver,
promote, or sell food and medicine.
Although Congress legalized agricultural sales to Cuba three years ago,
the Bush Administration has repeatedly thrown roadblocks in the way of
such sales by refusing to issue the licenses required for travel to the
island. Recently, for example, the Treasury Department denied travel
licenses for industry representatives who had applied to attend a food
trade show in Cuba scheduled for January 2004. A similar fair held in
2001 resulted in almost $100 million in food sales to Cuba.
The amendment, introduced by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), requires the
Treasury Department to authorize the same kind of open-ended travel
license for those who wish to sell agricultural goods to Cuba that are
now granted to journalists, government officials, amateur athletes
participating in organized competitions, and Cuban Americans visiting
relatives.
Such sales benefit both Cuba and American farmers. Urge your Senators to
support the Dorgan amendment when it comes before the full Senate.
Take Action
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Call your Senators at their Washington or local offices, or via the
Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. To find phone and fax numbers and
addresses, and to send e-mail, enter your ZIP Code in the box in the
left column of most Progressive Portal pages.
More Information
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For Sen. Dorgan's statement on the amendment, see:
http://dorgan.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=206419
For information on a broader campaign to eliminate restrictions on
travel to Cuba, see:
http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/cuba/travel/index.html
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