From: Frank Scofi <fscofi@igc.org>
Subject: Legislative Update on Cuba
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: University of Missouri
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 19:01:37 GMT

         APRIL 16, 1992, LEGISLATIVE UPDATE ON CUBA
 
                  POSITIVE LEGISLATION
 
Phone for both House and Senate: 202-224-3121
 
Phone to find out the status of a bill: 202-225-1772
 
Address (the simplest one):
[Name of Congressional Member]
House Office Building [or] Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510 (for Senate) or 20515 (zip for House)
 
H.R. = House Bill;    S. = Senate Bill
 
ASK YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO CO-SPONSOR THE FOLLOWING:
 
1.   H.R. 434. Rep. Weiss's (D-NY) bill would end U.S. embargo on
export of medicine and medical supplies, instruments, and equipment
to Cuba. Co-sponsors: Rangel (D-NY), Pelosi (D-CA), Leon Panetta
(D-CA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Kleczka (D-WI), Gonzalez (D-TX). Ask
your representative to co-sponsor.
 
2.   H.R. 4705. Rep. Alexander's (D-AR) bill would make it illegal
for the President to prohibit export of agricultural products to
any country except in time of war or national emergency. Ask your
representative to co-sponsor.
 
3.    Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) plans to introduce the Free Trade
in Ideas Bill to end U.S. restrictions on travel, communications
and telecommunications, and import of informational materials. This
legislation would apply to all countries, not just Cuba.
 
NOTE: Rep. David Nagle (D-Iowa) is currently working on legislation
to end the embargo on export of agricultural products to Cuba. He
could use some encouragement in that effort.
 
NOTE: I understand that the Cuban American National Foundation
(CANF), the right-wing Cuban lobby with startling influence on
Congressional members (as well as other people), holds meetings
with Congressional representatives and\or their aides at which CANF
promises deals in a post-Castro Cuba; for instance, congressional
representatives from farm states would get preferred trade deals,
etc. CANF obviously assumes that its President, multimillionaire,
Jorge Mas Canosa, will be the head of government in Cuba.
 
 
 
 
 
                    NEGATIVE LEGISLATION
 
1.   H.R. 4168 or the "Cuban Democracy Act of 1992" engineered by
Rep. Robert Torricelli (D-NJ), chair of the Western Hemispheric
Affairs Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. This
bill is the most serious legislation aimed at Cuba at the moment
because it would tighten the U.S. trade embargo in many different
ways, including punishment of third nations which trade with Cuba.
     In November 1988, after a visit to Cuba and a meeting with
President Castro, Rep. Torricelli told reporters  that in Cuba
"living standards are not high, but the homelessness, hunger and
disease that is witnessed in much of Latin America does not appear
evident." However, since then he has begun to work closely with
Jorge Mas Canosa of the right-wing Cuban American National
Foundation (CANF) and has changed his position.
     Torricelli introduced H.R. 4168 on February 5 with House co-
sponsors Dante Fascell (D-FL), chair of the Foreign Affairs
Committee; Frank Guarini (D-NJ), Solarz (D-NY), Engel (D-NY), Larry
Smith (D-FL), McCurdy (D-OK), Richardson (D-NM), Ros-Lehtinen (R-
FL), Burton (R-IN), Goss (R-FL), Lagomarsino (R-CA).
      In the Senate the same bill was introduced (S. 2197) by Bob
Graham (D-FL). Co-sponsors were Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Tom Harkin
(D-Iowa), Carl Lieberman (D-CT), D'Amato (R-NY), Connie Mack (R-
FL), McCain (R-Ariz), and Kasten (R-WI).
       The Torricelli legislation has been sent to six House
Committees. The Foreign Affairs Committee has held hearings on it
and may mark it up (that is, vote to have it sent to the House
Floor) soon. But the other five committees have taken no action on
it and it is possible that it will die in committee because this
session of Congress has more to handle than it can. The other five
committees are Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; Banking,
Finance and Urban Affairs; Merchant Marine and Fisheries; Post
Office and Civil Service.
      Call House Speaker Tom Foley and let him know that you oppose
this legislation. Primary arguing point: Cuba has the best Health
Care and Educational system in the Third World, so why should the
United States attempt to turn that backward by tightening the trade
embargo? This legislation means suffering for those who will be
affected first of all by hunger--babies and the aged.
 
     CALL SENATOR LAUTENBERG AND PROTEST HIS SPONSORSHIP.
 
     CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND ASK HIM/HER TO OPPOSE H.R. 4168.
 
     Call Senator Bradley to ask him not to join the sponsors of
S.R. 2197 and ask him why he continues to promote current U.S.
policy against Cuba when this could increase the infant mortality
rate in Cuba (Bradley has expressed concern on numerous occasions
about the high infant mortality rate here in the U.S.)
 
2.    The Mack Amendment to the Export Administration Act has
passed both House and Senate and awaits conference committee
finalization of the Export Administration Act. It would prevent
third country subsidiaries of U.S. companies from trading with
Cuba.
 
3.   T.V. Marti wastes our tax dollars on an illegal invasion of
Cuban television airwaves.
 
4.    H.R. 3706.  Rep. Frank Guarini's (D-NJ) bill, now in the Ways
and Means Committee's Trade Subcommittee would refuse most-favored-
nation trading status to the "Soviet Union' if it does not stop aid
to Cuba. Even the language of the bill is antiquated.
 
 
                                        Prepared by Jane Franklin
 
 
This Update was prepared for people doing legislative work in NJ
(ie. urging Lautenberg and Bradley for action). We urge individuals
in their respective states to contact their Senators and House
Members. 
 
Frank Scofi
Legislative Committee
U.S. Hands Off Cuba Committee - New Jersey
 
 
 
 
 
For more information on legislation contact:
National Network on Cuba - Legislative Working Group
Attn: Tony Ryan
P.O. Box 21744
Washington, D.C. 20009
202-986-1561 
 


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