Cuba: Issues for the 109
th
Congress
Summary
Since the early 1960s, U.S. policy toward Cuba under Fidel Castro has consistedlargely of isolating the communist nation through comprehensive economicsanctions, which have been significantly tightened by the Bush Administration.Another component of U.S. policy has consisted of support measures for the Cubanpeople, including private humanitarian donations and U.S.-sponsored radio andtelevision broadcasting to Cuba. While there appears to be broad agreement on theoverall objective of U.S. policy toward Cuba — to help bring democracy and respectfor human rights to the island — there are several schools of thought on how toachieve that objective: some advocate maximum pressure on Cuba until reforms areenacted; others argue for lifting some U.S. sanctions judged to be hurting the Cubanpeople; and still others call for a swift normalization of U.S.-Cuban relations. FidelCastro’s announcement in late July 2006 that he was temporarily ceding politicalpower to his brother Raúl in order to recover from surgery has prompted someMembers to call for re-examination of U.S. policy.In the 109
th
Congress, legislative initiatives included the approval of five humanrights resolutions: H.Con.Res. 81, H.Res. 193, H.Res. 388, S.Res. 140, and S.Res.469. P.L. 109-102 funded Cuba democracy projects in FY2006. Action on severalFY2007 appropriations measures were not completed, so action will need to becompleted in 2007: House-passed H.R. 5522 would have funded FY2007 democracyprojects, and House and Senate versions of the bill had contrasting provisions onanti-drug cooperation; House-passed H.R. 5576 would have prohibited funds frombeing used to implement tightened restrictions on financing for agricultural exportsto Cuba; the Senate version of H.R. 5384 would have liberalized travel related to thesale of agricultural and medical goods to Cuba; and H.R. 5522 and H.R. 5672 wouldhave funded Cuba broadcasting.Other legislative initiatives not acted upon would have eased U.S. sanctions invarious ways: suspension of sanctions after Hurricane Dennis (H.Con.Res. 206);overall sanctions (H.R. 208 and H.R. 579); overall travel (S. 894 and H.R. 1814);family visits (H.R. 2617); educational travel (H.R. 3064); cash in advance for U.S.agricultural sales (H.R. 1339 and S. 634); and facilitation of agricultural sales (H.R.719 and S. 328). Other measures had provisions on Cuba’s trademark registrations(H.R. 719, S. 328, H.R. 3372, S. 1604, H.R. 1689 and S. 69); Cuba broadcasting (S.600, H.R. 2601); U.S. fugitives in Cuba (H.R. 2601, H.R. 332); sanctions related toCuba’s offshore oil development (H.R. 5292, S. 2682, S. 2795); participation inCuba’s offshore oil development (H.R. 5353, S. 2787); support for U.S. diplomatsin Cuba (H.Con.Res. 428); repeal of the Cuban Adjustment Act (H.R. 5670);assistance to facilitate a peaceful transition in Cuba (S. 3769); and authorization of $5 million for scholarship and exchange programs (House-passed H.R. 2601).For additional information, see CRS Report RL33622,
Cuba after Fidel Castro:U.S. Policy Implications and Approaches;
CRS Report RL31139,
Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances
; CRS Report RL32251,
Cuba and the StateSponsors of Terrorism List
; and CRS Report RL33499,
Exempting Food and Agriculture Products from U.S. Economic Sanctions: Status and Implementation
.
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