RL32730
Cuba: Issues for the 109th Congress
July 07, 2005

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Summary:

Since the early 1960s, U.S. policy toward Communist Cuba under Fidel Castro has consisted largely of isolating the island nation through comprehensive economic sanctions. Another component of U.S. policy consists of support measures for the Cuban people, including private humanitarian donations and U.S.-sponsored radio and television broadcasting to Cuba. The Bush Administration has further tightened restrictions on travel, on sending private humanitarian assistance to Cuba, and on the payment process for U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba. While there appears to be broad agreement on the overall objective of U.S. policy toward Cuba -- to help bring democracy and respect for human rights to the island -- there are several schools of thought on how to achieve that objective. Some advocate maximum pressure on the Cuban government until reforms are enacted; others argue for lifting some U.S. sanctions that they believe are hurting the Cuban people. Still others call for a swift normalization of U.S.-Cuban relations. Most attention in the 109th Congress has focused on Cuba's human rights situation and on Cuba sanctions. Legislative initiatives have included four human rights resolutions: House-passed H.Con.Res. 81 and H.Res. 193; Senate-passed S. 140; and H.Con.Res. 165, which also expresses support for the embargo. In addition, H.R. 2601 would authorize $5 million for U.S. government scholarship and exchange programs; a pending amendment (S.Amdt. 319) to S. 600 would authorize $15 million in democracy and human rights projects. With regard to Cuba sanctions, House-passed H.R. 3058, the FY2006 Transportation appropriations bill, would prohibit funds from being used to implement tightened restrictions on "payment of cash in advance" for U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba. In other action: on June 30, several amendments to H.R. 3058 (H.Amdt. 420, H.Amdt. 422, and H.Amdt. 424) that would have eased sanctions failed; on June 29, in considering H.R. 2361, the Senate rejected a motion to suspend the rules with respect to S.Amdt. 1059 regarding family travel for humanitarian reasons; and on June 15, H.Amdt. 270 to H.R. 2862 that would have eased gift parcel restrictions failed. Other initiatives include H.R. 208 and H.R. 579 (overall Cuba sanctions); S. 894 and H.R. 1814, (travel) H.R. 2617 (family visits); H.R. 3064 ( educational travel); H.R. 1339 and S. 634 (cash in advance for U.S. agricultural sales); and H.R. 719 and S. 328 (measures to facilitate agricultural sales and repeal a provision of law preventing payments from Cuban or foreign nationals for trademark registration related to confiscated assets in Cuba). In contrast, H.R. 1689 and S. 691 would amend the law regarding Cuban trademarks so that it applies to all parties regardless of nationality. An initiative to tighten sanctions, H.R. 332, would link the lifting of the embargo to Cuba's extradition of U.S. fugitives from justice. Other legislation relates to funding for Cuba broadcasting: H.R. 2862, H.R. 3057, S. 600, and H.R. 2601. A failed amendment (S.Amdt. 284) to S. 600 would have prohibited funding for television broadcasting to Cuba. For additional information, see CRS Report RL31139, Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances; and CRS Issue Brief IB10061, Exempting Food and Agriculture Products from U.S. Economic Sanctions: Status and Implementation.