Center for International Policy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Eric Thomas
July 15, 2003 202/822-9491
Jody Frisch
202/887-0278

USA*Engage Lauds Progress in Legislation to End Cuba Travel Ban

Washington, DC - As co-hosts of a forum today to examine U.S. policy on Cuba travel, USA*Engage officials praised the work of Congressional lawmakers on pending legislation to end the ban on U.S. travel to Cuba. Currently, bills eliminating the travel ban have been introduced in both the House (H.R. 2071, "Export Freedom to Cuba Act") and the Senate (S.950, "Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act").

"Gaining momentum and co-sponsors on an almost daily basis, these bills to ease the travel ban to Cuba will be crucial in expanding ties between the two countries," said Bill Reinsch, President of the National Foreign Trade Council and Co-Chairman of the NFTC. "Both pieces of legislation, with their strong bi-partisan support, indicate that there is momentum within the Congress to end the travel ban. USA*Engage remains committed to this issue and commends lawmakers for their work on opening Cuba to travel from the U.S. once again."

USA*Engage has long advocated the position that restricting travel by U.S. citizens to Cuba prevents the open exchange of American values and ideals, restricts the freedom of American citizens, hurts families on both sides of the Florida Straits, and impedes the prospects for better U.S.-Cuban relations in years to come. Most importantly, the travel ban increases the isolation of the Cuban people, which in turn, has helped the Castro regime maintain its 40-year grip on power.

"Increasing contact between Americans and the Cuban people does not reward Castro, it punishes him by building pressures that will ultimately lead to a free government and people in Cuba," continued Reinsch. "The travel ban accomplishes nothing toward bringing freedom to the Cuban people; rather it restricts the freedom of American citizens, hurts families on both sides of the Florida Straits and impedes the prospects for better U.S.-Cuban relations in years to come. It is our sincere hope that the Congress will continue building support for this important legislation."

USA*ENGAGE is a coalition of over 670 small and large businesses, agriculture groups and trade associations working to seek alternatives to the proliferation of unilateral U.S. foreign policy sanctions and to promote the benefits of U.S. engagement abroad. For more information on USA*ENGAGE and the harmful effects of unilateral trade sanctions, visit the USA*ENGAGE web site at www.usaengage.org.

The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves 350 member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.

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