Washington, D.C.—On the eve of the first anniversary of the historic announcement that the United States and Cuba would restore diplomatic relations, twelve members of the House of Representatives are reaching across the aisle to push for greater U.S. engagement with Cuba by forming the bi-partisan Cuba Working Group.In a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announcing the group’s formation, the steering committee members said:
“Increasingly, the American people are indicating their desire for a new, more pragmatic approach to Cuba. More people are traveling from the U.S. to Cuba, more businesses are looking for opportunity on the island, and more sectors are eager for trade. The bi-partisan Cuba Working Group will promote a U.S.-Cuba policy that reflects the interests of the American people in engagement with Cuba”.
Steering Committee
The letter concludes, “Our goal is to raise the level of understanding inside of Congress for the need to build a new policy framework for U.S.-Cuban relations. “The bi-partisan Cuba Working Group steering committee members are: Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Rick Crawford (R-AR), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Reid Ribble (R-WI), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Sam Farr (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Ted Poe (R-TX), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Mark Sanford (R-SC), and Nydia Velázquez (D-NY).
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Over the past year, both the United States and Cuban governments have made significant progress towards normalizing relations, including opening embassies in each country and deepening cooperation in the realms of civil aviation, law enforcement cooperation, direct mail and environmental conservancy. But Congress needs to act to remove the travel and trade restrictions still held in place by the embargo.
“The establishment of a bi-partisan Cuba working group in this Congress is a game-changer,” said Marc Hanson, Senior Associate at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). “The House Cuba working group will be instrumental in translating the overwhelming public support for ending the embargo on Cuba into legislative initiatives that can pass in Congress.
Senate committees have passed significant legislation to lift the travel ban on Cuba and widen trade with bi-partisan support.
Senate committees have passed significant legislation to lift the travel ban on Cuba and widen trade with bi-partisan support. The House of Representatives has been more reticent to move U.S. policy forward, making this Cuba working group even more important.
H2 Styling
Over the past year, both the United States and Cuban governments have made significant progress towards normalizing relations, including opening embassies in each country and deepening cooperation in the realms of civil aviation, law enforcement cooperation, direct mail and environmental conservancy. But Congress needs to act to remove the travel and trade restrictions still held in place by the embargo.
H3 Styling
“The establishment of a bi-partisan Cuba working group in this Congress is a game-changer,” said Marc Hanson, Senior Associate at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). “The House Cuba working group will be instrumental in translating the overwhelming public support for ending the embargo on Cuba into legislative initiatives that can pass in Congress.
Over the past year, both the United States and Cuban governments have made significant progress towards normalizing relations, including opening embassies in each country and deepening cooperation in the realms of civil aviation, law enforcement cooperation, direct mail and environmental conservancy. But Congress needs to act to remove the travel and trade restrictions still held in place by the embargo.
“The establishment of a bi-partisan Cuba working group in this Congress is a game-changer,” said Marc Hanson, Senior Associate at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). “The House Cuba working group will be instrumental in translating the overwhelming public support for ending the embargo on Cuba into legislative initiatives that can pass in Congress.
H2 Styling
H3 Styling
“The establishment of a bi-partisan Cuba working group in this Congress is a game-changer,” said Marc Hanson, Senior Associate at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). “The House Cuba working group will be instrumental in translating the overwhelming public support for ending the embargo on Cuba into legislative initiatives that can pass in Congress.
Over the past year, both the United States and Cuban governments have made significant progress towards normalizing relations, including opening embassies in each country and deepening cooperation in the realms of civil aviation, law enforcement cooperation, direct mail and environmental conservancy. But Congress needs to act to remove the travel and trade restrictions still held in place by the embargo.