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Back Bipartisan Bill on Cuba Travel
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Progressive Portal
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Sep 13, 2004 12:55 PDT
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BUSH ADMINISTRATION REPORTEDLY TWISTING ARMS TO BLOCK
GROWING CONGRESSIONAL MOVEMENT TO LIFT POINTLESS TRAVEL BAN
[From the Center for International Policy <http://ciponline.org>]
On 14 or 15 Sep 2004, Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) will offer amendments to
the Treasury-Transportation appropriation bill to legalize travel by
Americans to Cuba.
On five separate occasions since 2000, the House and Senate have voted
to stop enforcing the travel ban because a growing bipartisan majority
in the Congress - as well among the American people - has recognized
that these sanctions accomplish nothing. All they do is restrict our
freedom, divide families, harm our farmers, cost American jobs, and
prevent the kinds of contacts between our citizens and the Cuban people
that would ease tensions between our two governments and serve the best
interests of both peoples.
But instead of moving to eliminate or at least loosen the ban, the Bush
administration has made it a priority to tighten it. In June 2004, the
administration announced a new package of unjust and punitive measures
aimed at stopping Cuban-Americans from visiting their families on the
island. Now, with the election less than two months away, Washington
watchers report that the White House is putting serious pressure on
Congress members who have voted for the legalization of travel in the
past to support Bush's position this time around.
Pope John Paul II, the Cuban Catholic Church, and Cuba's political
dissidents oppose the travel restrictions. Thousands of Cuban-Americans
have demonstrated against them on the streets of Miami. Newspapers from
across the political spectrum in the United States have published
editorials in opposition to the administration's policy.
Urge your Representative to show up on the House floor for consideration
of the Flake amendments and to vote to legalize travel to Cuba.
Take Action
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Send a message to your Representative at:
http://capwiz.com/ciponline/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=6356476
More Information
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http://www.lawg.org/countries/cuba/action_9_8.htm
http://www.cubacentral.com
http://www.ffrd.org/cuba/travelpaper.htm
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