Republican Bills To End Cuba Trade Embargo, Travel Restrictions, Remittance Limits Show GOP Split On
Republican Bills To End Cuba Trade Embargo, Travel Restrictions, Remittance Limits Show GOP Split On Island Boycott
By Cedar Attanasio | Jul 28 2015, 05:36PM EDT
A Republican congressman from Minnesota introduced a bill on Tuesday that would repeal the U.S. embargo against trade with Cuba, according to the Star Tribune . The announcement follows staunch opposition by some Republicans to the recent restoration of full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba. Called the Cuba Trade Act of 2015 , the bill would remove current restrictions on American businesses and travelers. Freshman Rep. Tom Emmer drafted the bill following a trip to Cuba in June, according to USA Today. He’s joined by congressional Democrat Kathy Castor, of Florida.
“The American people overwhelmingly support lifting the Cuba embargo,” Emmer said. “Along with the Cuban people, Americans are ready for a fresh start and new opportunities for increasing trade, advancing the cause of human rights and ushering in direly needed reforms.”
A recent Pew poll found that seven in ten of Americans supported both an end to the embargo as well as restoring diplomatic relations to the island. Half of Cuban-Americans in Florida agree with those policies and only around 40 percent are opposed. Younger, more liberal Cuban Americans are making the end to an embargo a political possibility.
“Today, I urge my colleagues to join me and Rep. Emmer in taking the next step to lift the embargo. This important step forward will advance human rights and lift the fortunes of families and entrepreneurs on both sides of the Florida straits,” Castor, the Florida Democrat said in a statement on Tuesday. “ I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance this policy of engagement.”
More:
http://www.latintimes.com/republican-bills-end-cuba-trade-embargo-travel-restrictions-remittance-limits-show-332212
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