>Subject: Cuba Trade Normalization Act of 2000 > > >Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) > >Introduction of: > >"The Cuba Trade Normalization Act of 2000" > >United States Senate May 25, 2000 > > >I rise today, on behalf of myself and Senators >Roberts, Dorgan, and Lincoln, to introduce the >"The Cuba Trade Normalization Act of 2000". > >For forty years, we have implemented a series of >policies designed to end Fidel Castro's leadership >of Cuba. The instruments we have used have >included a trade embargo, an invasion of Cuba, >assassination attempts, and multilateral press- >ures. None of these measures has moved Cuba >any closer to democracy and a market economy. >In fact, the result has been just the opposite. >Castro is as entrenched as ever. The economy is >in tatters. The Cuban people are suffering. > >For four decades, Castro has suppressed his >own citizens. He has been responsible for the >imprisonment and mistreatment of thousands, >and the emigration of hundreds of thousands. >He has dispatched Cuban troops around the >world to support revolution. > >During the Cold War, Cuba was an integral member >of the Soviet bloc. Castro was an eager and active >participant in the proxy battles fought between >the United States and the Soviet Union throughout >Africa, Asia, and Latin America. But the Cold War >has been over for a decade. The embargo, which >had the goal of forcing Castro out of power, has >failed totally. And it will continue to have no >impact on the longevity of Castro's rule. > >What has the embargo and American policy actually >done? It has certainly done nothing to advance >liberty and democracy for the Cuban people. And >there are no prospects that it will. > >First, it prohibits all trade with Cuba. It does >include an exception for the sale of food and >medicine. However, the requirements are so >complex and burdensome on US suppliers that very >little food or medicine has been exported to Cuba. >We hurt the Cuban people. We hurt American >business, American farmers, and American workers. >And we have had no impact on the regime. > >Second, we have succeeded in alienating virtually >all potential allies who would be willing to work >with us in developing a realistic policy to >influence change in Cuba - the nations of the >European Union, Canada, the Organization of >American States, the United Nations, even the >Pope. > >Third, we now have a law, the Cuban Liberty and >Democratic Solidarity Act, that prohibits lifting >the embargo until there is a transition government >in Cuba that does not include Castro. This is an >"all or nothing policy" that cannot work in the >real world. > >Unilateral trade sanctions don't work. This is as >true with Cuba as it has been with China, Myanmar, >Iraq, or North Korea. In some cases, it hurts the >people in those countries. And it hurts Ameri- >cans, our farmers, ranchers, workers, and >businesses. Forty years of sanctions have >accomplished nothing in Cuba. It is time for the >Congress to recognize that. I fully support the >efforts being made again this year in both the >Senate and the House to remove the unilateral >restraints we have put on our export of food and >medicine to a number of countries, including Cuba. >This bill is not a substitute for those efforts. > >Rather, this bill is directed only toward Cuba, >and goes far beyond liberalization of food and >medicine exports. > >Thomas Jefferson said "Enlighten the people >generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body >and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn >of the day." Current US policy turns Jefferson's >statement on its head. Our effort to isolate Cuba >through the trade embargo and other policies >has failed to bring human rights improvement, >has provided a pretext for Castro's continued >repression, makes the United States the scape- >goat for Castro's failed economic policies, and >hurts the Cuban people. > >It is time to put together a responsible strategy >to improve the human condition in Cuba and set >the stage for increased freedom and respect for >human rights once Fidel Castro leaves the scene. > >Obviously, Cuba will not change overnight with >the removal of the trade embargo. But this bill >is a first step down the road to a peaceful tran- >sition to a democratic society and a market >economy in Cuba. > >Before I conclude, I want to recognize my friend, >Congressman Charles Rangel, who has been a >leader in trying to end the embargo and move >toward normalization of relations with Cuba. >I look forward to working closely with him to >make this happen. > >I urge my Senate colleagues to support our effort. > > >TEXT OF LEGISLATION FOLLOWS: > > >106th CONGRESS 2st Session > >S 2617 > >IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES > >Mr. Baucus (for himself and Mr. Roberts, Mr. >Dorgan, and Ms. Lincoln) introduced the following >bill; which was read twice and referred to the >Committee on May 24, 2000 > >A BILL > >To lift the trade embargo on Cuba, and for >other purposes. > >Be it enacted by the Senate and House of >Representatives of the United States of >America in Congress assembled, > >SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. > >This Act may be cited as `The Cuba Trade >Normalization Act of 2000'. > >SEC. 2. FINDINGS. > >The Congress finds that-- > >(1) with the end of the Cold War and the collapse >of the Soviet Union, Cuba is no longer a threat to >the United States or the Western Hemisphere; > >(2) the continuation of the embargo on trade >between the United States and Cuba that was >declared in February of 1962 is counterproductive, >adding to the hardships of the Cuban people while >making the United States the scapegoat for the >failures of the communist system; > >(3) in the former Soviet Union, the Eastern bloc >countries, China, and Vietnam, the United States >is using economic, cultural, academic, and >scientific engagement to support its policy of >promoting democratic and human rights reforms; >and > >(4) the United States can best support democratic >change in Cuba by promoting trade and commerce, >travel, communications, and cultural, academic, >and scientific exchanges. > >SEC. 3. REMOVAL OF PROVISIONS REST RICT- >ING TRADE AND OTHER RELATIONS WITH CUBA. > >(a) AUTHORITY FOR EMBARGO AND SUGAR QUOTA- >Section 620(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of >1961 >(22 U.S.C. 2370(a)) is repealed. > >(b) TRADING WITH THE ENEMY ACT- >The authorities conferred upon the President by >section 5(b) of the Trading With the Enemy Act, >which were being exercised with respect to Cuba >on July 1, 1977, as a result of a national >emergency >declared by the President before that date, and >are >being exercised on the day before the effective >date of this Act, may not be exercised on or after >such effective date with respect to Cuba. Any >regulations in effect on the day before such >effective date pursuant to the exercise of such >authorities, shall cease to be effective on such >date. > >(c) EXERCISE OF AUTHORITIES UNDER >OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW- > >(1) REMOVAL OF PROHIBITIONS- >Any prohibition on exports to Cuba that is in >effect on the day before the effective date of >this Act under the Export Administration Act of >1979 shall cease to be effective on such >effective date. > >(2) AUTHORITY FOR NEW RESTRICTIONS- >The President may, on and after the effective >date of this Act-- > >(A) impose export controls with respect to Cuba >under section 5, 6(j), 6(l), or 6(m) of the Export >Administration Act of 1979, and > >(B) exercise the authorities he has under the >International Emergency Economic Powers Act >with respect to Cuba pursuant to a declaration of >national emergency required by that Act that is >made on account of an unusual and extraordinary >threat, that did not exist before the enactment of >this Act, to the national security, foreign >policy, or economy of the United States. > >(d) CUBAN DEMOCRACY ACT- >The Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 >(22 U.S.C. 6001 and following) is repealed. > >(e) REPEAL OF CUBAN LIBERTY AND >DEMOCRATIC SOLIDARITY (LIBERTAD) >ACT OF 1996- > >(1) REPEAL-The Cuban Liberty and Democratic >Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 is repealed. > >(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- >(A) Section 498A of the Foreign Assistance Act >of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295a) is amended-- > >(i) in subsection (a)(11) by striking `and >intelligence facilities, including the military >and intelligence facilities at Lourdes and >Cienfuegos,' and inserting `facilities,'; > >(ii) in subsection >(b)--(I) in paragraph (4) by adding `and' after >the semicolon; > >(II) by striking paragraph (5); and > >(III) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph >(5); and > >(iii) by striking subsection (d). > >(B) Section 498B(k) of the Foreign Assistance Act >of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295b(k)) is amended by >striking paragraphs (3) and (4). > >(C) Section 1611 of title 28, United States Code, >is amended by striking subsection (c). > >(D) Sections 514 and 515 of the International >Claims Settlement Act of 1949 (22 U.S.C. 1643l >and 1643m) are repealed. > >(f) TERMINATION OF DENIAL OF FOREIGN >TAX CREDIT WITH RESPECT TO CUBA- >Subparagraph (A) of section 901(j)(2) of the >Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to >denial of foreign tax credit, etc., with respect >to >certain foreign countries) is amended by adding >at the end thereof the following new flush >sentence: > >`Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, this >subsection shall not apply to Cuba after the date >which is 60 days after the date of the enactment >of this sentence.'. > >(g) SUGAR QUOTA PROHIBITION UNDER >FOOD SECURITY ACT OF 1985- >Section 902(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 >is repealed. > >SEC. 4. TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT >AND FACILITIES. > >Any common carrier within the meaning of section 3 >of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153) >is authorized to install, maintain, and repair >telecommunications equipment and facilities in >Cuba, and otherwise provide telecommunications >services between the United States and Cuba. >The authority of this section includes the >authority to upgrade facilities and equipment. > >SEC. 5. TRAVEL. > >(a) IN GENERAL- Travel to and from Cuba by >individuals who are citizens or residents of the >United States, and any transactions ordinarily >incident to such travel, may not be regulated or >prohibited if such travel would be lawful >in the >United States. > >(b) TRANSACTIONS INCIDENT TO TRAVEL- >Any transactions ordinarily incident to travel >which >may not be regulated or prohibited under sub- >section (a) include, but are not limited to-- > >(1) transactions ordinarily incident to travel or >maintenance in Cuba; and > >(2) normal banking transactions involving foreign >currency drafts, traveler's checks, or other >negotiable instruments incident to such travel. > >SEC. 6. DIRECT MAIL DELIVERY TO CUBA. > >The United States Postal Service shall take such >actions as are necessary to provide direct mail >service to and from Cuba, including, in the >absence of common carrier service between the 2 >countries, the use of charter providers. > >SEC. 7. NEGOTIATIONS WITH CUBA. > >(a) NEGOTIATIONS- The President should take all >necessary steps to conduct negotiations with the >Government of Cuba-- > >(1) for the purpose of settling claims of >nationals of the United States against the >Government of Cuba for the taking of property by >such government; and > >(2) for the purpose of securing the protection of >internationally recognized human rights. > >(b) DEFINITIONS- As used in this section, the >terms `national of the United States' and >`property' have the meanings given those terms in >section 502 >of the International Claims >Settlement Act of 1949 (22 U.S.C. 1643a). > >SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE. > >This Act shall take effect 60 days after the date >of the enactment of this Act. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >Paying too much for Long Distance should be ILLEGAL! $60 in FREE >Long Distance calls when you join beMANY! >http://click.egroups.com/1/4169/0/_/30563/_/959373909/ >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >Cuba SI - Imperialism NO! >Information and discussion about Cuba. >Socialism or death! Patria o muerte! Venceremos! >http://www.egroups.com/group/cubasi > >Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Change Delivery Options: http://www.egroups.com/mygroups > > > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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