Delahunt Applauds Relaxation Of Cuba Restrictions

04/13/2009
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Bill Delahunt today applauded a decision by President Barack Obama to end restrictions on family travel and remittances to Cuba.

“This is a very welcome move,” said Delahunt.  “It is a critical first step toward changing a policy that has been a complete failure.  President Obama has fulfilled the pledge he made during his campaign that he would allow unlimited family travel and remittances to the island.”

“Now it’s up to us in Congress to take the next step, and end travel restrictions on all Americans,” Delahunt continued. “According to recent polls, Cuban-Americans reject such discrimination against their fellow citizens, and Cuban dissidents have repeatedly said that this policy needs to change.  Now it’s time for us to restore that basic American liberty – the freedom to travel.”

Today’s action by the Obama Administration will also loosen the restrictions on the contents of gift packages to Cuba, which had been restricted under President Bush.  Now any American can send to almost any Cuban such necessities as soap, clothing, and personal hygiene items.

In addition, President Obama announced the easing on restrictions of communications links with Cuba.  “This step is critical because it allows numerous ways of sharing American values with the Cuban people. It should reduce the need for wasteful efforts like the plane that circles around Cuba to broadcast TV Marti, the government’s channel aimed at the island.  By TV Marti’s own figures, this plane has not increased its viewership, but costs over $5 million per year,” Delahunt said.

Previous Presidents of both parties have placed restrictions on Cuban-American family travel and remittances, but none went so far as President George W. Bush in 2004.  He limited trips to once every three years – with no humanitarian exceptions, even for a death in the family – and redefined family to exclude aunts, uncles, and cousins.  

“That was the height of cruelty,” said Delahunt, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, “and it woke everyone up to the horrific absurdity of such restrictions.  While the Treasury Department relaxed the family travel rules somewhat last month, returning them to their pre-2004 limits, it still wasn’t enough.  Restricting the ability of families to help their relatives is simply wrong, and President Obama has helped erase this stain on our national honor.”

While today’s announcement is encouraging news, the Administration is only able to go so far with rule changes and executive orders, since ending the ban on travel for all Americans would require legislative action. As a result, Delahunt has introduced legislation, HR 874, the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act, which would eliminate travel restrictions for all Americans.  It now has 124 co-sponsors.

Delahunt concluded by noting that “Cuban-American families in America can now fully share their success with their relatives in the homeland.  What could be more American than that?  That is the classic immigrant and refugee experience.  This is a wonderful day for Cuban-Americans, and all Americans should celebrate it.”

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