PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 785

Public Law 104–114

104th Congress

An Act

To seek international sanctions against the Castro government in Cuba, to plan

for support of a transition government leading to a democratically elected government in Cuba, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Cuban Liberty

and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996’’.

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of this Act

is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Findings.

Sec. 3. Purposes.

Sec. 4. Definitions.

Sec. 5. Severability.

TITLE I—STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST THE

CASTRO GOVERNMENT

Sec. 101. Statement of policy.

Sec. 102. Enforcement of the economic embargo of Cuba.

Sec. 103. Prohibition against indirect financing of Cuba.

Sec. 104. United States opposition to Cuban membership in international financial

institutions.

Sec. 105. United States opposition to termination of the suspension of the Cuban

Government from participation in the Organization of American States. Sec. 106. Assistance by the independent states of the former Soviet Union for the

Cuban Government.

Sec. 107. Television broadcasting to Cuba.

Sec. 108. Reports on commerce with, and assistance to, Cuba from other foreign

countries.

Sec. 109. Authorization of support for democratic and human rights groups and

international observers.

Sec. 110. Importation safeguard against certain Cuban products.

Sec. 111. Withholding of foreign assistance from countries supporting Juragua nuclear plant in Cuba.

Sec. 112. Reinstitution of family remittances and travel to Cuba.

Sec. 113. Expulsion of criminals from Cuba.

Sec. 114. News bureaus in Cuba.

Sec. 115. Effect of Act on lawful United States Government activities.

Sec. 116. Condemnation of Cuban attack on American aircraft.

TITLE II—ASSISTANCE TO A FREE AND INDEPENDENT CUBA

Sec. 201. Policy toward a transition government and a democratically elected government in Cuba.

Sec. 202. Assistance for the Cuban people.

Sec. 203. Coordination of assistance program; implementation and reports to Congress; reprogramming. Sec. 204. Termination of the economic embargo of Cuba.

Sec. 205. Requirements and factors for determining a transition government.

Sec. 206. Requirements for determining a democratically elected government.

22 USC 6021

note.

Cuban Liberty

and Democratic

Solidarity

(LIBERTAD) Act

of 1996.

Mar. 12, 1996

[H.R. 927]

110 STAT. 786 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

Sec. 207. Settlement of outstanding United States claims to confiscated property in

Cuba.

TITLE III—PROTECTION OF PROPERTY RIGHTS OF UNITED STATES

NATIONALS

Sec. 301. Findings.

Sec. 302. Liability for trafficking in confiscated property claimed by United States

nationals.

Sec. 303. Proof of ownership of claims to confiscated property.

Sec. 304. Exclusivity of Foreign Claims Settlement Commission certification procedure.

Sec. 305. Limitation of actions.

Sec. 306. Effective date.

TITLE IV—EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN ALIENS

Sec. 401. Exclusion from the United States of aliens who have confiscated property

of United States nationals or who traffic in such property.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress makes the following findings: (1) The economy of Cuba has experienced a decline of at least 60 percent in the last 5 years as a result of— (A) the end of its subsidization by the former Soviet Union of between 5 billion and 6 billion dollars annually; (B) 36 years of communist tyranny and economic mis- management by the Castro government; (C) the extreme decline in trade between Cuba and

the countries of the former Soviet bloc; and

(D) the stated policy of the Russian Government and the countries of the former Soviet bloc to conduct economic

relations with Cuba on strictly commercial terms.

(2) At the same time, the welfare and health of the Cuban

people have substantially deteriorated as a result of this economic decline and the refusal of the Castro regime to permit

free and fair democratic elections in Cuba.

(3) The Castro regime has made it abundantly clear that it will not engage in any substantive political reforms that

would lead to democracy, a market economy, or an economic

recovery.

(4) The repression of the Cuban people, including a ban

on free and fair democratic elections, and continuing violations

of fundamental human rights, have isolated the Cuban regime

as the only completely nondemocratic government in the Western Hemisphere.

(5) As long as free elections are not held in Cuba, the

economic condition of the country and the welfare of the Cuban

people will not improve in any significant way.

(6) The totalitarian nature of the Castro regime has

deprived the Cuban people of any peaceful means to improve

their condition and has led thousands of Cuban citizens to

risk or lose their lives in dangerous attempts to escape from

Cuba to freedom.

(7) Radio Marti and Television Marti have both been effective vehicles for providing the people of Cuba with news and

information and have helped to bolster the morale of the people

of Cuba living under tyranny.

(8) The consistent policy of the United States towards

Cuba since the beginning of the Castro regime, carried out

by both Democratic and Republican administrations, has sought

to keep faith with the people of Cuba, and has been effective

in sanctioning the totalitarian Castro regime.

22 USC 6021.

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 787

(9) The United States has shown a deep commitment, and

considers it a moral obligation, to promote and protect human

rights and fundamental freedoms as expressed in the Charter

of the United Nations and in the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights.

(10) The Congress has historically and consistently manifested its solidarity and the solidarity of the American people

with the democratic aspirations of the Cuban people.

(11) The Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 calls upon the

President to encourage the governments of countries that conduct trade with Cuba to restrict their trade and credit relations

with Cuba in a manner consistent with the purposes of that

Act.

(12) Amendments to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961

made by the FREEDOM Support Act require that the President,

in providing economic assistance to Russia and the emerging

Eurasian democracies, take into account the extent to which

they are acting to ‘‘terminate support for the communist regime

in Cuba, including removal of troops, closing military facilities,

and ceasing trade subsidies and economic, nuclear, and other

assistance’’.

(13) The Cuban Government engages in the illegal international narcotics trade and harbors fugitives from justice in

the United States.

(14) The Castro government threatens international peace

and security by engaging in acts of armed subversion and

terrorism such as the training and supplying of groups dedicated to international violence.

(15) The Castro government has utilized from its inception

and continues to utilize torture in various forms (including

by psychiatry), as well as execution, exile, confiscation, political

imprisonment, and other forms of terror and repression, as

means of retaining power.

(16) Fidel Castro has defined democratic pluralism as

‘‘pluralistic garbage’’ and continues to make clear that he has

no intention of tolerating the democratization of Cuban society.

(17) The Castro government holds innocent Cubans hostage

in Cuba by no fault of the hostages themselves solely because

relatives have escaped the country.

(18) Although a signatory state to the 1928 Inter-American

Convention on Asylum and the International Covenant on Civil

and Political Rights (which protects the right to leave one’s

own country), Cuba nevertheless surrounds embassies in its

capital by armed forces to thwart the right of its citizens

to seek asylum and systematically denies that right to the

Cuban people, punishing them by imprisonment for seeking

to leave the country and killing them for attempting to do

so (as demonstrated in the case of the confirmed murder of

over 40 men, women, and children who were seeking to leave

Cuba on July 13, 1994).

(19) The Castro government continues to utilize blackmail,

such as the immigration crisis with which it threatened the

United States in the summer of 1994, and other unacceptable

and illegal forms of conduct to influence the actions of sovereign

states in the Western Hemisphere in violation of the Charter

of the Organization of American States and other international

agreements and international law.

Fidel Castro.

110 STAT. 788 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

(20) The United Nations Commission on Human Rights

has repeatedly reported on the unacceptable human rights

situation in Cuba and has taken the extraordinary step of

appointing a Special Rapporteur.

(21) The Cuban Government has consistently refused access

to the Special Rapporteur and formally expressed its decision

not to ‘‘implement so much as one comma’’ of the United

Nations Resolutions appointing the Rapporteur.

(22) The United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 47–139 on December 18, 1992, Resolution 48–142 on

December 20, 1993, and Resolution 49–200 on December 23,

1994, referencing the Special Rapporteur’s reports to the United

Nations and condemning violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba.

(23) Article 39 of Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter

provides that the United Nations Security Council ‘‘shall determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the

peace, or act of aggression and shall make recommendations,

or decide what measures shall be taken . . ., to maintain

or restore international peace and security.’’.

(24) The United Nations has determined that massive and

systematic violations of human rights may constitute a ‘‘threat

to peace’’ under Article 39 and has imposed sanctions due

to such violations of human rights in the cases of Rhodesia,

South Africa, Iraq, and the former Yugoslavia.

(25) In the case of Haiti, a neighbor of Cuba not as close

to the United States as Cuba, the United States led an effort

to obtain and did obtain a United Nations Security Council

embargo and blockade against that country due to the existence

of a military dictatorship in power less than 3 years.

(26) United Nations Security Council Resolution 940 of

July 31, 1994, subsequently authorized the use of ‘‘all necessary

means’’ to restore the ‘‘democratically elected government of

Haiti’’, and the democratically elected government of Haiti was

restored to power on October 15, 1994.

(27) The Cuban people deserve to be assisted in a decisive

manner to end the tyranny that has oppressed them for 36

years, and the continued failure to do so constitutes ethically

improper conduct by the international community.

(28) For the past 36 years, the Cuban Government has

posed and continues to pose a national security threat to the

United States.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

The purposes of this Act are—

(1) to assist the Cuban people in regaining their freedom

and prosperity, as well as in joining the community of democratic countries that are flourishing in the Western Hemisphere;

(2) to strengthen international sanctions against the Castro

government;

(3) to provide for the continued national security of the

United States in the face of continuing threats from the Castro

government of terrorism, theft of property from United States

nationals by the Castro government, and the political manipulation by the Castro government of the desire of Cubans to

escape that results in mass migration to the United States;

22 USC 6022.

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 789

(4) to encourage the holding of free and fair democratic

elections in Cuba, conducted under the supervision of internationally recognized observers; (5) to provide a policy framework for United States support

to the Cuban people in response to the formation of a transition

government or a democratically elected government in Cuba;

and

(6) to protect United States nationals against confiscatory

takings and the wrongful trafficking in property confiscated

by the Castro regime.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

As used in this Act, the following terms have the following

meanings:

(1) AGENCY OR INSTRUMENTALITY OF A FOREIGN STATE.—

The term ‘‘agency or instrumentality of a foreign state’’ has

the meaning given that term in section 1603(b) of title 28,

United States Code.

(2) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term

‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means the Committee

on International Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on

Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of

the Senate.

(3) COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY.—The term ‘‘commercial activity’’

has the meaning given that term in section 1603(d) of title

28, United States Code.

(4) CONFISCATED.—As used in titles I and III, the term

‘‘confiscated’’ refers to—

(A) the nationalization, expropriation, or other seizure

by the Cuban Government of ownership or control of property, on or after January 1, 1959—

(i) without the property having been returned or

adequate and effective compensation provided; or

(ii) without the claim to the property having been

settled pursuant to an international claims settlement

agreement or other mutually accepted settlement

procedure; and

(B) the repudiation by the Cuban Government of, the

default by the Cuban Government on, or the failure of

the Cuban Government to pay, on or after January 1,

1959—

(i) a debt of any enterprise which has been

nationalized, expropriated, or otherwise taken by the

Cuban Government;

(ii) a debt which is a charge on property nationalized, expropriated, or otherwise taken by the Cuban

Government; or

(iii) a debt which was incurred by the Cuban

Government in satisfaction or settlement of a confiscated property claim.

(5) CUBAN GOVERNMENT.—(A) The term ‘‘Cuban Government’’ includes the government of any political subdivision of

Cuba, and any agency or instrumentality of the Government

of Cuba.

(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term ‘‘agency

or instrumentality of the Government of Cuba’’ means an

22 USC 6023.

110 STAT. 790 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

agency or instrumentality of a foreign state as defined in section

1603(b) of title 28, United States Code, with each reference

in such section to ‘‘a foreign state’’ deemed to be a reference

to ‘‘Cuba’’.

(6) DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT IN CUBA.—The

term ‘‘democratically elected government in Cuba’’ means a

government determined by the President to have met the

requirements of section 206.

(7) ECONOMIC EMBARGO OF CUBA.—The term ‘‘economic

embargo of Cuba’’ refers to—

(A) the economic embargo (including all restrictions

on trade or transactions with, and travel to or from, Cuba,

and all restrictions on transactions in property in which

Cuba or nationals of Cuba have an interest) that was

imposed against Cuba pursuant to section 620(a) of the

Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2370(a)), section

5(b) of the Trading with the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. App.

5(b)), the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 6001

and following), or any other provision of law; and

(B) the restrictions imposed by section 902(c) of the

Food Security Act of 1985.

(8) FOREIGN NATIONAL.—The term ‘‘foreign national’’

means—

(A) an alien; or

(B) any corporation, trust, partnership, or other juridical entity not organized under the laws of the United

States, or of any State, the District of Columbia, or any

commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United

States.

(9) KNOWINGLY.—The term ‘‘knowingly’’ means with knowledge or having reason to know.

(10) OFFICIAL OF THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT OR THE RULING

POLITICAL PARTY IN CUBA.—The term ‘‘official of the Cuban

Government or the ruling political party in Cuba’’ refers to

any member of the Council of Ministers, Council of State,

central committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, or the

Politburo of Cuba, or their equivalents.

(11) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ means any person or

entity, including any agency or instrumentality of a foreign

state.

(12) PROPERTY.—(A) The term ‘‘property’’ means any property (including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and any other

form of intellectual property), whether real, personal, or mixed,

and any present, future, or contingent right, security, or other

interest therein, including any leasehold interest.

(B) For purposes of title III of this Act, the term ‘‘property’’

does not include real property used for residential purposes

unless, as of the date of the enactment of this Act—

(i) the claim to the property is held by a United States

national and the claim has been certified under title V

of the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949; or

(ii) the property is occupied by an official of the Cuban

Government or the ruling political party in Cuba.

(13) TRAFFICS.—(A) As used in title III, and except as

provided in subparagraph (B), a person ‘‘traffics’’ in confiscated

property if that person knowingly and intentionally—

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 791

(i) sells, transfers, distributes, dispenses, brokers, manages, or otherwise disposes of confiscated property, or purchases, leases, receives, possesses, obtains control of, manages, uses, or otherwise acquires or holds an interest in

confiscated property,

(ii) engages in a commercial activity using or otherwise

benefiting from confiscated property, or

(iii) causes, directs, participates in, or profits from,

trafficking (as described in clause (i) or (ii)) by another

person, or otherwise engages in trafficking (as described

in clause (i) or (ii)) through another person,

without the authorization of any United States national who

holds a claim to the property.

(B) The term ‘‘traffics’’ does not include—

(i) the delivery of international telecommunication signals to Cuba;

(ii) the trading or holding of securities publicly traded

or held, unless the trading is with or by a person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to be a specially

designated national;

(iii) transactions and uses of property incident to lawful

travel to Cuba, to the extent that such transactions and

uses of property are necessary to the conduct of such travel;

or

(iv) transactions and uses of property by a person

who is both a citizen of Cuba and a resident of Cuba,

and who is not an official of the Cuban Government or

the ruling political party in Cuba.

(14) TRANSITION GOVERNMENT IN CUBA.—The term ‘‘transition government in Cuba’’ means a government that the President determines is a transition government consistent with

the requirements and factors set forth in section 205.

(15) UNITED STATES NATIONAL.—The term ‘‘United States

national’’ means—

(A) any United States citizen; or

(B) any other legal entity which is organized under

the laws of the United States, or of any State, the District

of Columbia, or any commonwealth, territory, or possession

of the United States, and which has its principal place

of business in the United States.

SEC. 5. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Act or the amendments made by this

Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is

held invalid, the remainder of this Act, the amendments made

by this Act, or the application thereof to other persons not similarly

situated or to other circumstances shall not be affected by such

invalidation.

TITLE I—STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST THE

CASTRO GOVERNMENT

SEC. 101. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

It is the sense of the Congress that—

22 USC 6031.

22 USC 6024.

110 STAT. 792 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

(1) the acts of the Castro government, including its massive,

systematic, and extraordinary violations of human rights, are

a threat to international peace;

(2) the President should advocate, and should instruct the

United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations

to propose and seek within the Security Council, a mandatory

international embargo against the totalitarian Cuban Government pursuant to chapter VII of the Charter of the United

Nations, employing efforts similar to consultations conducted

by United States representatives with respect to Haiti;

(3) any resumption of efforts by any independent state

of the former Soviet Union to make operational any nuclear

facilities in Cuba, and any continuation of intelligence activities

by such a state from Cuba that are targeted at the United

States and its citizens will have a detrimental impact on United

States assistance to such state; and

(4) in view of the threat to the national security posed

by the operation of any nuclear facility, and the Castro government’s continuing blackmail to unleash another wave of Cuban

refugees fleeing from Castro’s oppression, most of whom find

their way to United States shores, further depleting limited

humanitarian and other resources of the United States, the

President should do all in his power to make it clear to the

Cuban Government that—

(A) the completion and operation of any nuclear power

facility, or

(B) any further political manipulation of the desire

of Cubans to escape that results in mass migration to

the United States,

will be considered an act of aggression which will be met

with an appropriate response in order to maintain the security

of the national borders of the United States and the health

and safety of the American people.

SEC. 102. ENFORCEMENT OF THE ECONOMIC EMBARGO OF CUBA.

(a) POLICY.—

(1) RESTRICTIONS BY OTHER COUNTRIES.—The Congress

hereby reaffirms section 1704(a) of the Cuban Democracy Act

of 1992, which states that the President should encourage

foreign countries to restrict trade and credit relations with

Cuba in a manner consistent with the purposes of that Act.

(2) SANCTIONS ON OTHER COUNTRIES.—The Congress further urges the President to take immediate steps to apply

the sanctions described in section 1704(b)(1) of that Act against

countries assisting Cuba.

(b) DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS.—The Secretary of State should ensure

that United States diplomatic personnel abroad understand and,

in their contacts with foreign officials, are communicating the reasons for the United States economic embargo of Cuba, and are

urging foreign governments to cooperate more effectively with the

embargo.

(c) EXISTING REGULATIONS.—The President shall instruct the

Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General to enforce

fully the Cuban Assets Control Regulations set forth in part 515

of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations.

(d) TRADING WITH THE ENEMY ACT.—

President.

22 USC 6032.

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 793

(1) CIVIL PENALTIES.—Subsection (b) of section 16 of the

Trading with the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. App. 16(b)), as added

by Public Law 102–484, is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(b)(1) A civil penalty of not to exceed $50,000 may be imposed

by the Secretary of the Treasury on any person who violates any

license, order, rule, or regulation issued in compliance with the

provisions of this Act.

‘‘(2) Any property, funds, securities, papers, or other articles

or documents, or any vessel, together with its tackle, apparel,

furniture, and equipment, that is the subject of a violation under

paragraph (1) shall, at the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury,

be forfeited to the United States Government.

‘‘(3) The penalties provided under this subsection may be

imposed only on the record after opportunity for an agency hearing

in accordance with sections 554 through 557 of title 5, United

States Code, with the right to prehearing discovery.

‘‘(4) Judicial review of any penalty imposed under this subsection may be had to the extent provided in section 702 of title

5, United States Code.’’.

(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT; CRIMINAL FORFEITURE.—Section 16 of the Trading with the Enemy Act is further amended

by striking subsection (b), as added by Public Law 102–393.

(3) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—Section 16 of the Trading with

the Enemy Act is further amended—

(A) by inserting ‘‘SEC. 16.’’ before ‘‘(a)’’; and

(B) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘participants’’ and

inserting ‘‘participates’’.

(e) DENIAL OF VISAS TO CERTAIN CUBAN NATIONALS.—It is

the sense of the Congress that the President should instruct the

Secretary of State and the Attorney General to enforce fully existing

regulations to deny visas to Cuban nationals considered by the

Secretary of State to be officers or employees of the Cuban Government or of the Communist Party of Cuba.

(f) COVERAGE OF DEBT-FOR-EQUITY SWAPS BY ECONOMIC EMBARGO OF CUBA.—Section 1704(b)(2) of the Cuban Democracy Act of

1992 (22 U.S.C. 6003(b)(2)) is amended—

(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (A);

(2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph

(C); and

(3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new

subparagraph:

‘‘(B) includes an exchange, reduction, or forgiveness

of Cuban debt owed to a foreign country in return for

a grant of an equity interest in a property, investment,

or operation of the Government of Cuba (including the

government of any political subdivision of Cuba, and any

agency or instrumentality of the Government of Cuba) or

of a Cuban national; and’’; and

(4) by adding at the end the following flush sentence:

‘‘As used in this paragraph, the term ‘agency or instrumentality

of the Government of Cuba’ means an agency or instrumentality

of a foreign state as defined in section 1603(b) of title 28,

United States Code, with each reference in such section to

‘a foreign state’ deemed to be a reference to ‘Cuba’.’’.

(g) TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.—Section 1705(e) of the

Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 6004(e)) is amended

by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

110 STAT. 794 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

‘‘(5) PROHIBITION ON INVESTMENT IN DOMESTIC TELE- COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize the investment by any United States

person in the domestic telecommunications network within

Cuba. For purposes of this paragraph, an ‘investment’ in the

domestic telecommunications network within Cuba includes the

contribution (including by donation) of funds or anything of

value to or for, and the making of loans to or for, such network. ‘‘(6) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—The President shall submit

to the Congress on a semiannual basis a report detailing payments made to Cuba by any United States person as a result

of the provision of telecommunications services authorized by

this subsection.’’.

(h) CODIFICATION OF ECONOMIC EMBARGO.—The economic

embargo of Cuba, as in effect on March 1, 1996, including all

restrictions under part 515 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations,

shall be in effect upon the enactment of this Act, and shall remain

in effect, subject to section 204 of this Act.

SEC. 103. PROHIBITION AGAINST INDIRECT FINANCING OF CUBA.

(a) PROHIBITION.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no loan, credit, or other financing may be extended knowingly

by a United States national, a permanent resident alien, or a

United States agency to any person for the purpose of financing

transactions involving any confiscated property the claim to which

is owned by a United States national as of the date of the enactment

of this Act, except for financing by the United States national

owning such claim for a transaction permitted under United States

law.

(b) SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION OF PROHIBITION.— (1) SUSPENSION.—The President is authorized to suspend the prohibition contained in subsection (a) upon a determination

made under section 203(c)(1) that a transition government in

Cuba is in power. (2) TERMINATION.—The prohibition contained in subsection (a) shall cease to apply on the date on which the economic

embargo of Cuba terminates as provided in section 204.

(c) PENALTIES.—Violations of subsection (a) shall be punishable

by such civil penalties as are applicable to violations of the Cuban

Assets Control Regulations set forth in part 515 of title 31, Code

of Federal Regulations. (d) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section—

(1) the term ‘‘permanent resident alien’’ means an alien

lawfully admitted for permanent residence into the United

States; and

(2) the term ‘‘United States agency’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘agency’’ in section 551(1) of title 5, United States

Code.

SEC. 104. UNITED STATES OPPOSITION TO CUBAN MEMBERSHIP IN

INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

(a) CONTINUED OPPOSITION TO CUBAN MEMBERSHIP IN INTER- NATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the

Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States

executive director of each international financial institution

to use the voice and vote of the United States to oppose the

admission of Cuba as a member of such institution until the

President.

22 USC 6034.

22 USC 6033.

Effective date.

President.

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 795

President submits a determination under section 203(c)(3) that

a democratically elected government in Cuba is in power. (2) TRANSITION GOVERNMENT.—Once the President submits

a determination under section 203(c)(1) that a transition

government in Cuba is in power— (A) the President is encouraged to take steps to support the processing of Cuba’s application for membership in

any international financial institution, subject to the membership taking effect after a democratically elected government in Cuba is in power, and (B) the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to instruct the United States executive director of each international financial institution to support loans or other

assistance to Cuba only to the extent that such loans

or assistance contribute to a stable foundation for a democratically elected government in Cuba. (b) REDUCTION IN UNITED STATES PAYMENTS TO INTERNATIONAL

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.—If any international financial institution approves a loan or other assistance to the Cuban Government

over the opposition of the United States, then the Secretary of

the Treasury shall withhold from payment to such institution an

amount equal to the amount of the loan or other assistance, with

respect to either of the following types of payment: (1) The paid-in portion of the increase in capital stock

of the institution.

(2) The callable portion of the increase in capital stock

of the institution.

(c) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘international financial institution’’ means the International Monetary

Fund, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development,

the International Development Association, the International

Finance Corporation, the Multilateral Investment Guaranty Agency,

and the Inter-American Development Bank.

SEC. 105. UNITED STATES OPPOSITION TO TERMINATION OF THE

SUSPENSION OF THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT FROM

PARTICIPATION IN THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN

STATES.

The President should instruct the United States Permanent

Representative to the Organization of American States to oppose

and vote against any termination of the suspension of the Cuban

Government from participation in the Organization until the President determines under section 203(c)(3) that a democratically

elected government in Cuba is in power.

SEC. 106. ASSISTANCE BY THE INDEPENDENT STATES OF THE FORMER

SOVIET UNION FOR THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT.

(a) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit

to the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing

progress toward the withdrawal of personnel of any independent

state of the former Soviet Union (within the meaning of section

3 of the FREEDOM Support Act (22 U.S.C. 5801)), including advisers, technicians, and military personnel, from the Cienfuegos

nuclear facility in Cuba. (b) CRITERIA FOR ASSISTANCE.—Section 498A(a)(11) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295a(a)(11)) is amended

by striking ‘‘of military facilities’’ and inserting ‘‘military and intelPresident.

22 USC 6036.

22 USC 6035.

110 STAT. 796 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

ligence facilities, including the military and intelligence facilities

at Lourdes and Cienfuegos’’.

(c) INELIGIBILITY FOR ASSISTANCE.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 498A(b) of that Act (22 U.S.C.

2295a(b)) is amended—

(A) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of paragraph (4);

(B) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and

(C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new

paragraph:

‘‘(5) for the government of any independent state effective

30 days after the President has determined and certified to

the appropriate congressional committees (and Congress has

not enacted legislation disapproving the determination within

that 30-day period) that such government is providing assistance for, or engaging in nonmarket based trade (as defined

in section 498B(k)(3)) with, the Cuban Government; or’’

(2) DEFINITION.—Subsection (k) of section 498B of that

Act (22 U.S.C. 2295b(k)) is amended by adding at the end

the following new paragraph:

‘‘(3) NONMARKET BASED TRADE.—As used in section

498A(b)(5), the term ‘nonmarket based trade’ includes exports,

imports, exchanges, or other arrangements that are provided

for goods and services (including oil and other petroleum products) on terms more favorable than those generally available

in applicable markets or for comparable commodities, including—

‘‘(A) exports to the Cuban Government on terms that

involve a grant, concessional price, guaranty, insurance,

or subsidy;

‘‘(B) imports from the Cuban Government at preferential tariff rates;

‘‘(C) exchange arrangements that include advance

delivery of commodities, arrangements in which the Cuban

Government is not held accountable for unfulfilled

exchange contracts, and arrangements under which Cuba

does not pay appropriate transportation, insurance, or

finance costs; and

‘‘(D) the exchange, reduction, or forgiveness of debt

of the Cuban Government in return for a grant by the

Cuban Government of an equity interest in a property,

investment, or operation of the Cuban Government or of

a Cuban national.

‘‘(4) CUBAN GOVERNMENT.—(A) The term ‘Cuban Government’ includes the government of any political subdivision of

Cuba, and any agency or instrumentality of the Government

of Cuba.

‘‘(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term ‘agency

or instrumentality of the Government of Cuba’ means an agency

or instrumentality of a foreign state as defined in section

1603(b) of title 28, United States Code, with each reference

in such section to ‘a foreign state’ deemed to be a reference

to ‘Cuba’.’’.

(3) EXCEPTION.—Section 498A(c) of the Foreign Assistance

Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295A(c)) is amended by inserting after

paragraph (3) the following new paragraph:

22 USC 2295a.

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 797

‘‘(4) The assistance is provided under the secondary school

exchange program administered by the United States Information Agency.’’.

(d) FACILITIES AT LOURDES, CUBA.—

(1) DISAPPROVAL OF CREDITS.—The Congress expresses its

strong disapproval of the extension by Russia of credits equivalent to $200,000,000 in support of the intelligence facility at

Lourdes, Cuba, in November 1994.

(2) REDUCTION IN ASSISTANCE.—Section 498A of the Foreign

Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295a) is amended by adding

at the end the following new subsection:

‘‘(d) REDUCTION IN ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORT OF INTELLIGENCE

FACILITIES IN CUBA.—

‘‘(1) REDUCTION IN ASSISTANCE.—Notwithstanding any

other provision of law, the President shall withhold from assistance provided, on or after the date of the enactment of this

subsection, for an independent state of the former Soviet Union

under this Act an amount equal to the sum of assistance

and credits, if any, provided on or after such date by such

state in support of intelligence facilities in Cuba, including

the intelligence facility at Lourdes, Cuba.

‘‘(2) WAIVER.—(A) The President may waive the requirement of paragraph (1) to withhold assistance if the President

certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the

provision of such assistance is important to the national security of the United States, and, in the case of such a certification

made with respect to Russia, if the President certifies that

the Russian Government has assured the United States Government that the Russian Government is not sharing intelligence

data collected at the Lourdes facility with officials or agents

of the Cuban Government.

‘‘(B) At the time of a certification made with respect to

Russia under subparagraph (A), the President shall also submit

to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing

the intelligence activities of Russia in Cuba, including the purposes for which the Lourdes facility is used by the Russian

Government and the extent to which the Russian Government

provides payment or government credits to the Cuban Government for the continued use of the Lourdes facility.

‘‘(C) The report required by subparagraph (B) may be

submitted in classified form.

‘‘(D) For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘appropriate

congressional committees’ includes the Permanent Select

Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives and

the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.

‘‘(3) EXCEPTIONS TO REDUCTIONS IN ASSISTANCE.—The

requirement of paragraph (1) to withhold assistance shall not

apply with respect to—

‘‘(A) assistance to meet urgent humanitarian needs,

including disaster and refugee relief;

‘‘(B) democratic political reform or rule of law activities;

‘‘(C) technical assistance for safety upgrades of civilian

nuclear power plants;

‘‘(D) the creation of private sector or nongovernmental

organizations that are independent of government control;

‘‘(E) the development of a free market economic system;

Reports.

President.

110 STAT. 798 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

‘‘(F) assistance under the secondary school exchange program administered by the United States Information

Agency; or ‘‘(G) assistance for the purposes described in the Cooperative Threat Reduction Act of 1993 (title XII of

Public Law 103–160).’’.

SEC. 107. TELEVISION BROADCASTING TO CUBA.

(a) CONVERSION TO UHF.—The Director of the United States

Information Agency shall implement a conversion of television

broadcasting to Cuba under the Television Marti Service to ultra

high frequency (UHF) broadcasting. (b) PERIODIC REPORTS.—Not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every three months thereafter

until the conversion described in subsection (a) is fully implemented,

the Director of the United States Information Agency shall submit

a report to the appropriate congressional committees on the progress

made in carrying out subsection (a). (c) TERMINATION OF BROADCASTING AUTHORITIES.—Upon transmittal of a determination under section 203(c)(3), the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act (22 U.S.C. 1465aa and following)

and the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act (22 U.S.C. 1465 and

following) are repealed.

SEC. 108. REPORTS ON COMMERCE WITH, AND ASSISTANCE TO, CUBA

FROM OTHER FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

(a) REPORTS REQUIRED.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and by January 1 of each year

thereafter until the President submits a determination under section 203(c)(1), the President shall submit a report to the appropriate

congressional committees on commerce with, and assistance to,

Cuba from other foreign countries during the preceding 12-month

period. (b) CONTENTS OF REPORTS.—Each report required by subsection (a) shall, for the period covered by the report, contain the following,

to the extent such information is available:

(1) A description of all bilateral assistance provided to

Cuba by other foreign countries, including humanitarian assistance.

(2) A description of Cuba’s commerce with foreign countries, including an identification of Cuba’s trading partners and the

extent of such trade.

(3) A description of the joint ventures completed, or under consideration, by foreign nationals and business firms involving

facilities in Cuba, including an identification of the location

of the facilities involved and a description of the terms of

agreement of the joint ventures and the names of the parties

that are involved.

(4) A determination as to whether or not any of the facilities

described in paragraph (3) is the subject of a claim against

Cuba by a United States national.

(5) A determination of the amount of debt of the Cuban

Government that is owed to each foreign country, including—

(A) the amount of debt exchanged, forgiven, or reduced

under the terms of each investment or operation in Cuba

involving foreign nationals; and

(B) the amount of debt owed the foreign country that

has been exchanged, forgiven, or reduced in return for

President.

22 USC 6038.

22 USC 6037.

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 799

a grant by the Cuban Government of an equity interest

in a property, investment, or operation of the Cuban

Government or of a Cuban national.

(6) A description of the steps taken to assure that raw

materials and semifinished or finished goods produced by facilities in Cuba involving foreign nationals do not enter the United

States market, either directly or through third countries or

parties.

(7) An identification of countries that purchase, or have

purchased, arms or military supplies from Cuba or that otherwise have entered into agreements with Cuba that have a

military application, including—

(A) a description of the military supplies, equipment,

or other material sold, bartered, or exchanged between

Cuba and such countries,

(B) a listing of the goods, services, credits, or other

consideration received by Cuba in exchange for military

supplies, equipment, or material, and

(C) the terms or conditions of any such agreement.

SEC. 109. AUTHORIZATION OF SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATIC AND

HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS AND INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS.

(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding any other provision of

law (including section 102 of this Act), except for section 634A

of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394–1) and

comparable notification requirements contained in any Act making

appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related

programs, the President is authorized to furnish assistance and

provide other support for individuals and independent nongovernmental organizations to support democracy-building efforts for

Cuba, including the following:

(1) Published and informational matter, such as books,

videos, and cassettes, on transitions to democracy, human

rights, and market economies, to be made available to independent democratic groups in Cuba.

(2) Humanitarian assistance to victims of political repression, and their families.

(3) Support for democratic and human rights groups in

Cuba.

(4) Support for visits and permanent deployment of

independent international human rights monitors in Cuba.

(b) OAS EMERGENCY FUND.—

(1) FOR SUPPORT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND ELECTIONS.—The

President shall take the necessary steps to encourage the

Organization of American States to create a special emergency

fund for the explicit purpose of deploying human rights observers, election support, and election observation in Cuba.

(2) ACTION OF OTHER MEMBER STATES.—The President

should instruct the United States Permanent Representative

to the Organization of American States to encourage other

member states of the Organization to join in calling for the

Cuban Government to allow the immediate deployment of

independent human rights monitors of the Organization

throughout Cuba and on-site visits to Cuba by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

22 USC 6039.

110 STAT. 800 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

(3) VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS FOR FUND.—Notwithstanding section 307 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22

U.S.C. 2227) or any other provision of law limiting the United

States proportionate share of assistance to Cuba by any international organization, the President should provide not less

than $5,000,000 of the voluntary contributions of the United

States to the Organization of American States solely for the

purposes of the special fund referred to in paragraph (1).

(c) DENIAL OF FUNDS TO THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT.—In

implementing this section, the President shall take all necessary

steps to ensure that no funds or other assistance is provided to

the Cuban Government.

SEC. 110. IMPORTATION SAFEGUARD AGAINST CERTAIN CUBAN PRODUCTS.

(a) PROHIBITION ON IMPORT OF AND DEALINGS IN CUBAN PRODUCTS.—The Congress notes that section 515.204 of title 31, Code

of Federal Regulations, prohibits the entry of, and dealings outside

the United States in, merchandise that—

(1) is of Cuban origin;

(2) is or has been located in or transported from or through

Cuba; or

(3) is made or derived in whole or in part of any article

which is the growth, produce, or manufacture of Cuba.

(b) EFFECT OF NAFTA.—The Congress notes that United States

accession to the North American Free Trade Agreement does not

modify or alter the United States sanctions against Cuba. The

statement of administrative action accompanying that trade agreement specifically states the following:

(1) ‘‘The NAFTA rules of origin will not in any way diminish

the Cuban sanctions program. . . . Nothing in the NAFTA

would operate to override this prohibition.’’.

(2) ‘‘Article 309(3) [of the NAFTA] permits the United

States to ensure that Cuban products or goods made from

Cuban materials are not imported into the United States from

Mexico or Canada and that United States products are not

exported to Cuba through those countries.’’.

(c) RESTRICTION OF SUGAR IMPORTS.—The Congress notes that

section 902(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (Public Law 99–

198) requires the President not to allocate any of the sugar import

quota to a country that is a net importer of sugar unless appropriate

officials of that country verify to the President that the country

does not import for reexport to the United States any sugar produced in Cuba.

(d) ASSURANCES REGARDING SUGAR PRODUCTS.—Protection of

essential security interests of the United States requires assurances

that sugar products that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse

for consumption, into the customs territory of the United States

are not products of Cuba.

SEC. 111. WITHHOLDING OF FOREIGN ASSISTANCE FROM COUNTRIES

SUPPORTING JURAGUA NUCLEAR PLANT IN CUBA.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the following findings:

(1) President Clinton stated in April 1993 that the United

States opposed the construction of the Juragua nuclear power

plant because of the concerns of the United States about Cuba’s

ability to ensure the safe operation of the facility and because

22 USC 6041.

22 USC 6040.

President.

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 801

of Cuba’s refusal to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

or ratify the Treaty of Tlatelolco.

(2) Cuba has not signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation

of Nuclear Weapons or ratified the Treaty of Tlatelolco, the

latter of which establishes Latin America and the Caribbean

as a nuclear weapons-free zone.

(3) The State Department, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Department of Energy have expressed concerns

about the construction and operation of Cuba’s nuclear reactors.

(4) In a September 1992 report to the Congress, the General

Accounting Office outlined concerns among nuclear energy

experts about deficiencies in the nuclear plant project in

Juragua, near Cienfuegos, Cuba, including—

(A) a lack in Cuba of a nuclear regulatory structure;

(B) the absence in Cuba of an adequate infrastructure

to ensure the plant’s safe operation and requisite maintenance;

(C) the inadequacy of training of plant operators;

(D) reports by a former technician from Cuba who,

by examining with x-rays weld sites believed to be part

of the auxiliary plumbing system for the plant, found that

10 to 15 percent of those sites were defective;

(E) since September 5, 1992, when construction on

the plant was halted, the prolonged exposure to the elements, including corrosive salt water vapor, of the primary

reactor components; and

(F) the possible inadequacy of the upper portion of

the reactors’ dome retention capability to withstand only

7 pounds of pressure per square inch, given that normal

atmospheric pressure is 32 pounds per square inch and

United States reactors are designed to accommodate pressures of 50 pounds per square inch.

(5) The United States Geological Survey claims that it

had difficulty determining answers to specific questions regarding earthquake activity in the area near Cienfuegos because

the Cuban Government was not forthcoming with information.

(6) The Geological Survey has indicated that the Caribbean

plate, a geological formation near the south coast of Cuba,

may pose seismic risks to Cuba and the site of the power

plant, and may produce large to moderate earthquakes.

(7) On May 25, 1992, the Caribbean plate produced an

earthquake numbering 7.0 on the Richter scale.

(8) According to a study by the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration, summer winds could carry radioactive pollutants from a nuclear accident at the power plant

throughout all of Florida and parts of the States on the coast

of the Gulf of Mexico as far as Texas, and northern winds

could carry the pollutants as far northeast as Virginia and

Washington, D.C.

(9) The Cuban Government, under dictator Fidel Castro,

in 1962 advocated the Soviets’ launching of nuclear missiles

to the United States, which represented a direct and dangerous

provocation of the United States and brought the world to

the brink of a nuclear conflict.

(10) Fidel Castro over the years has consistently issued

threats against the United States Government, most recently

110 STAT. 802 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

that he would unleash another perilous mass migration from

Cuba upon the enactment of this Act.

(11) Despite the various concerns about the plant’s safety

and operational problems, a feasibility study is being conducted

that would establish a support group to include Russia, Cuba,

and third countries with the objective of completing and operating the plant.

(b) WITHHOLDING OF FOREIGN ASSISTANCE.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of

law, the President shall withhold from assistance allocated,

on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, for any

country an amount equal to the sum of assistance and credits,

if any, provided on or after such date of enactment by that

country or any entity in that country in support of the completion of the Cuban nuclear facility at Juragua, near Cienfuegos,

Cuba.

(2) EXCEPTIONS.—The requirement of paragraph (1) to withhold assistance shall not apply with respect to—

(A) assistance to meet urgent humanitarian needs,

including disaster and refugee relief;

(B) democratic political reform or rule of law activities;

(C) the creation of private sector or nongovernmental

organizations that are independent of government control;

(D) the development of a free market economic system;

(E) assistance for the purposes described in the

Cooperative Threat Reduction Act of 1993 (title XII of

Public Law 103–160); or

(F) assistance under the secondary school exchange

program administered by the United States Information

Agency.

(3) DEFINITION.—As used in paragraph (1), the term ‘‘assistance’’ means assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of

1961, credits, sales, guarantees of extensions of credit, and

other assistance under the Arms Export Control Act, assistance

under titles I and III of the Agricultural Trade Development

and Assistance Act of 1954, assistance under the FREEDOM

Support Act, and any other program of assistance or credits

provided by the United States to other countries under other

provisions of law.

SEC. 112. REINSTITUTION OF FAMILY REMITTANCES AND TRAVEL TO

CUBA.

It is the sense of the Congress that the President should—

(1)(A) before considering the reinstitution of general

licenses for family remittances to Cuba, insist that, prior to

such reinstitution, the Cuban Government permit the unfettered operation of small businesses fully empowered with the

right to hire others to whom they may pay wages and to

buy materials necessary in the operation of the businesses,

and with such other authority and freedom as are required

to foster the operation of small businesses throughout Cuba;

and

(B) if licenses described in subparagraph (A) are

reinstituted, require a specific license for remittances described

in subparagraph (A) in amounts of more than $500; and

(2) before considering the reinstitution of general licenses

for travel to Cuba by individuals resident in the United States

22 USC 6042.

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 803

who are family members of Cuban nationals who are resident

in Cuba, insist on such actions by the Cuban Government

as abrogation of the sanction for departure from Cuba by refugees, release of political prisoners, recognition of the right of

association, and other fundamental freedoms.

SEC. 113. EXPULSION OF CRIMINALS FROM CUBA.

The President shall instruct all United States Government

officials who engage in official contacts with the Cuban Government

to raise on a regular basis the extradition of or rendering to the

United States all persons residing in Cuba who are sought by

the United States Department of Justice for crimes committed

in the United States.

SEC. 114. NEWS BUREAUS IN CUBA.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF NEWS BUREAUS.—The President is

authorized to establish and implement an exchange of news bureaus

between the United States and Cuba, if the exchange meets the

following conditions:

(1) The exchange is fully reciprocal.

(2) The Cuban Government agrees not to interfere with

the establishment of news bureaus or with the movement in

Cuba of journalists of any United States-based news organizations, including Radio Marti and Television Marti.

(3) The Cuban Government agrees not to interfere with

decisions of United States-based news organizations with

respect to individuals assigned to work as journalists in their

news bureaus in Cuba.

(4) The Department of the Treasury is able to ensure

that only accredited journalists regularly employed with a news

gathering organization travel to Cuba under this subsection.

(5) The Cuban Government agrees not to interfere with

the transmission of telecommunications signals of news bureaus

or with the distribution within Cuba of publications of any

United States-based news organization that has a news bureau

in Cuba.

(b) ASSURANCE AGAINST ESPIONAGE.—In implementing this section, the President shall take all necessary steps to ensure the

safety and security of the United States against espionage by Cuban

journalists it believes to be working for the intelligence agencies

of the Cuban Government.

(c) FULLY RECIPROCAL.—As used in subsection (a)(1), the term

‘‘fully reciprocal’’ means that all news services, news organizations,

and broadcasting services, including such services or organizations

that receive financing, assistance, or other support from a governmental or official source, are permitted to establish and operate

a news bureau in the United States and Cuba.

SEC. 115. EFFECT OF ACT ON LAWFUL UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

ACTIVITIES.

Nothing in this Act prohibits any lawfully authorized investigative, protective, or intelligence activity of a law enforcement agency,

or of an intelligence agency, of the United States.

SEC. 116. CONDEMNATION OF CUBAN ATTACK ON AMERICAN AIRCRAFT.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the following findings:

22 USC 6046.

22 USC 6045.

22 USC 6044.

President.

22 USC 6043.

110 STAT. 804 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

(1) Brothers to the Rescue is a Miami-based humanitarian

organization engaged in searching for and aiding Cuban refugees in the Straits of Florida, and was engaged in such a

mission on Saturday, February 24, 1996.

(2) The members of Brothers to the Rescue were flying

unarmed and defenseless planes in a mission identical to hundreds they have flown since 1991 and posed no threat whatsoever to the Cuban Government, the Cuban military, or the

Cuban people.

(3) Statements by the Cuban Government that Brothers

to the Rescue has engaged in covert operations, bombing campaigns, and commando operations against the Government of

Cuba have no basis in fact.

(4) The Brothers to the Rescue aircraft notified air traffic

controllers as to their flight plans, which would take them

south of the 24th parallel and close to Cuban airspace.

(5) International law provides a nation with airspace over

the 12-mile territorial sea.

(6) The response of Fidel Castro’s dictatorship to Saturday’s

afternoon flight was to scramble 2 fighter jets from a Havana

airfield.

(7) At approximately 3:24 p.m., the pilot of one of the

Cuban MiGs received permission and proceeded to shoot down

one Brothers to the Rescue airplane more than 6 miles north

of the Cuban exclusion zone, or 18 miles from the Cuban

coast.

(8) Approximately 7 minutes later, the pilot of the Cuban

fighter jet received permission and proceeded to shoot down

the second Brothers to the Rescue airplane almost 18.5 miles

north of the Cuban exclusion zone, or 30.5 miles from the

Cuban coast.

(9) The Cuban dictatorship, if it truly felt threatened by

the flight of these unarmed aircraft, could have and should

have pursued other peaceful options as required by international law.

(10) The response chosen by Fidel Castro, the use of lethal

force, was completely inappropriate to the situation presented

to the Cuban Government, making such actions a blatant and

barbaric violation of international law and tantamount to coldblooded murder.

(11) There were no survivors of the attack on these aircraft,

and the crew of a third aircraft managed to escape this criminal

attack by Castro’s Air Force.

(12) The crew members of the destroyed planes, Pablo

Morales, Carlos Costa, Mario de la Pena, and Armando

Alejandre, were United States citizens from Miami flying with

Brothers to the Rescue on a voluntary basis.

(13) It is incumbent upon the United States Government

to protect the lives and livelihoods of United States citizens

as well as the rights of free passage and humanitarian missions.

(14) This premeditated act took place after a week-long

wave of repression by the Cuban Government against Concilio

Cubano, an umbrella organization of human rights activists,

dissidents, independent economists, and independent journalists, among others.

(15) The wave of repression against Concilio Cubano, whose

membership is committed to peaceful democratic change in

Concillio Cubano.

Pablo Morales.

Carlos Costa.

Mario de la Pena.

Armondo

Alejandre.

Brothers to the

Rescue.

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 805

Cuba, included arrests, strip searches, house arrests, and in

some cases sentences to more than 1 year in jail.

(b) STATEMENTS BY THE CONGRESS.—(1) The Congress strongly

condemns the act of terrorism by the Castro regime in shooting

down the Brothers to the Rescue aircraft on February 24, 1996.

(2) The Congress extends its condolences to the families of

Pablo Morales, Carlos Costa, Mario de la Pena, and Armando

Alejandre, the victims of the attack.

(3) The Congress urges the President to seek, in the International Court of Justice, indictment for this act of terrorism by

Fidel Castro.

TITLE II—ASSISTANCE TO A FREE AND

INDEPENDENT CUBA

SEC. 201. POLICY TOWARD A TRANSITION GOVERNMENT AND A DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT IN CUBA.

The policy of the United States is as follows:

(1) To support the self-determination of the Cuban people.

(2) To recognize that the self-determination of the Cuban

people is a sovereign and national right of the citizens of

Cuba which must be exercised free of interference by the

government of any other country.

(3) To encourage the Cuban people to empower themselves

with a government which reflects the self-determination of

the Cuban people.

(4) To recognize the potential for a difficult transition from

the current regime in Cuba that may result from the initiatives

taken by the Cuban people for self-determination in response

to the intransigence of the Castro regime in not allowing any

substantive political or economic reforms, and to be prepared

to provide the Cuban people with humanitarian, developmental,

and other economic assistance.

(5) In solidarity with the Cuban people, to provide appropriate forms of assistance—

(A) to a transition government in Cuba;

(B) to facilitate the rapid movement from such a transition government to a democratically elected government

in Cuba that results from an expression of the self-determination of the Cuban people; and

(C) to support such a democratically elected government.

(6) Through such assistance, to facilitate a peaceful transition to representative democracy and a market economy in

Cuba and to consolidate democracy in Cuba.

(7) To deliver such assistance to the Cuban people only

through a transition government in Cuba, through a democratically elected government in Cuba, through United States

Government organizations, or through United States, international, or indigenous nongovernmental organizations.

(8) To encourage other countries and multilateral organizations to provide similar assistance, and to work cooperatively

with such countries and organizations to coordinate such assistance.

22 USC 6061.

110 STAT. 806 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

(9) To ensure that appropriate assistance is rapidly provided and distributed to the people of Cuba upon the institution

of a transition government in Cuba.

(10) Not to provide favorable treatment or influence on

behalf of any individual or entity in the selection by the Cuban

people of their future government.

(11) To assist a transition government in Cuba and a

democratically elected government in Cuba to prepare the

Cuban military forces for an appropriate role in a democracy.

(12) To be prepared to enter into negotiations with a democratically elected government in Cuba either to return the

United States Naval Base at Guantanamo to Cuba or to renegotiate the present agreement under mutually agreeable terms.

(13) To consider the restoration of diplomatic recognition

and support the reintegration of the Cuban Government into

Inter-American organizations when the President determines

that there exists a democratically elected government in Cuba.

(14) To take steps to remove the economic embargo of

Cuba when the President determines that a transition to a

democratically elected government in Cuba has begun.

(15) To assist a democratically elected government in Cuba

to strengthen and stabilize its national currency.

(16) To pursue trade relations with a free, democratic,

and independent Cuba.

SEC. 202. ASSISTANCE FOR THE CUBAN PEOPLE.

(a) AUTHORIZATION.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall develop a plan for

providing economic assistance to Cuba at such time as the

President determines that a transition government or a democratically elected government in Cuba (as determined under

section 203(c)) is in power.

(2) EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.—Assistance may be provided

under this section subject to an authorization of appropriations

and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(b) PLAN FOR ASSISTANCE.—

(1) DEVELOPMENT OF PLAN.—The President shall develop

a plan for providing assistance under this section—

(A) to Cuba when a transition government in Cuba

is in power; and

(B) to Cuba when a democratically elected government

in Cuba is in power.

(2) TYPES OF ASSISTANCE.—Assistance under the plan developed under paragraph (1) may, subject to an authorization

of appropriations and subject to the availability of appropriations, include the following:

(A) TRANSITION GOVERNMENT.—(i) Except as provided

in clause (ii), assistance to Cuba under a transition government shall, subject to an authorization of appropriations

and subject to the availability of appropriations, be limited

to—

(I) such food, medicine, medical supplies and equipment, and assistance to meet emergency energy needs,

as is necessary to meet the basic human needs of

the Cuban people; and

(II) assistance described in subparagraph (C).

President.

22 USC 6062.

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 807

(ii) Assistance in addition to assistance under clause

(i) may be provided, but only after the President certifies

to the appropriate congressional committees, in accordance

with procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications

under section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961,

that such assistance is essential to the successful completion of the transition to democracy.

(iii) Only after a transition government in Cuba is

in power, freedom of individuals to travel to visit their

relatives without any restrictions shall be permitted.

(B) DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT.—Assistance to a democratically elected government in Cuba may,

subject to an authorization of appropriations and subject

to the availability of appropriations, consist of economic

assistance in addition to assistance available under

subparagraph (A), together with assistance described in

subparagraph (C). Such economic assistance may include—

(i) assistance under chapter 1 of part I (relating

to development assistance), and chapter 4 of part II

(relating to the economic support fund), of the Foreign

Assistance Act of 1961;

(ii) assistance under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954;

(iii) financing, guarantees, and other forms of

assistance provided by the Export-Import Bank of the

United States;

(iv) financial support provided by the Overseas

Private Investment Corporation for investment projects

in Cuba;

(v) assistance provided by the Trade and Development Agency;

(vi) Peace Corps programs; and

(vii) other appropriate assistance to carry out the

policy of section 201.

(C) MILITARY ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE.—Assistance to

a transition government in Cuba and to a democratically

elected government in Cuba shall also include assistance

in preparing the Cuban military forces to adjust to an

appropriate role in a democracy.

(c) STRATEGY FOR DISTRIBUTION.—The plan developed under

subsection (b) shall include a strategy for distributing assistance

under the plan.

(d) DISTRIBUTION.—Assistance under the plan developed under

subsection (b) shall be provided through United States Government

organizations and nongovernmental organizations and private and

voluntary organizations, whether within or outside the United

States, including humanitarian, educational, labor, and private sector organizations.

(e) INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS.—The President shall take the necessary steps—

(1) to seek to obtain the agreement of other countries

and of international financial institutions and multilateral

organizations to provide to a transition government in Cuba,

and to a democratically elected government in Cuba, assistance

comparable to that provided by the United States under this

Act; and

110 STAT. 808 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

(2) to work with such countries, institutions, and organizations to coordinate all such assistance programs.

(f) COMMUNICATION WITH THE CUBAN PEOPLE.—The President

shall take the necessary steps to communicate to the Cuban people

the plan for assistance developed under this section.

(g) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days after the

date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit

to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing

in detail the plan developed under this section.

(h) REPORT ON TRADE AND INVESTMENT RELATIONS.—

(1) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The President, following the

transmittal to the Congress of a determination under section

203(c)(3) that a democratically elected government in Cuba

is in power, shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means

of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance

of the Senate and the appropriate congressional committees

a report that describes—

(A) acts, policies, and practices which constitute significant barriers to, or distortions of, United States trade in

goods or services or foreign direct investment with respect

to Cuba;

(B) policy objectives of the United States regarding

trade relations with a democratically elected government

in Cuba, and the reasons therefor, including possible—

(i) reciprocal extension of nondiscriminatory trade

treatment (most-favored-nation treatment);

(ii) designation of Cuba as a beneficiary developing

country under title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (relating

to the Generalized System of Preferences) or as a beneficiary country under the Caribbean Basin Economic

Recovery Act, and the implications of such designation

with respect to trade with any other country that is

such a beneficiary developing country or beneficiary

country or is a party to the North American Free

Trade Agreement; and

(iii) negotiations regarding free trade, including

the accession of Cuba to the North American Free

Trade Agreement;

(C) specific trade negotiating objectives of the United

States with respect to Cuba, including the objectives

described in section 108(b)(5) of the North American Free

Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C.

3317(b)(5)); and

(D) actions proposed or anticipated to be undertaken,

and any proposed legislation necessary or appropriate, to

achieve any of such policy and negotiating objectives.

(2) CONSULTATION.—The President shall consult with the

Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives

and the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the appropriate congressional committees and shall seek advice from

the appropriate advisory committees established under section

135 of the Trade Act of 1974 regarding the policy and negotiating objectives and the legislative proposals described in paragraph (1).

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 809

SEC. 203. COORDINATION OF ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; IMPLEMENTATION AND REPORTS TO CONGRESS; REPROGRAMMING.

(a) COORDINATING OFFICIAL.—The President shall designate a coordinating official who shall be responsible for— (1) implementing the strategy for distributing assistance described in section 202(b);

(2) ensuring the speedy and efficient distribution of such assistance; and

(3) ensuring coordination among, and appropriate oversight by, the agencies of the United States that provide assistance

described in section 202(b), including resolving any disputes

among such agencies.

(b) UNITED STATES-CUBA COUNCIL.—Upon making a determina- tion under subsection (c)(3) that a democratically elected government in Cuba is in power, the President, after consultation with

the coordinating official, is authorized to designate a United StatesCuba council—

(1) to ensure coordination between the United States

Government and the private sector in responding to change

in Cuba, and in promoting market-based development in Cuba;

and

(2) to establish periodic meetings between representatives

of the United States and Cuban private sectors for the purpose

of facilitating bilateral trade.

(c) IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN; REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—

(1) IMPLEMENTATION WITH RESPECT TO TRANSITION GOVERNMENT.—Upon making a determination that a transition government in Cuba is in power, the President shall transmit that

determination to the appropriate congressional committees and

shall, subject to an authorization of appropriations and subject

to the availability of appropriations, commence the delivery

and distribution of assistance to such transition government

under the plan developed under section 202(b).

(2) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—(A) The President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report setting

forth the strategy for providing assistance described in section

202(b)(2) (A) and (C) to the transition government in Cuba

under the plan of assistance developed under section 202(b),

the types of such assistance, and the extent to which such

assistance has been distributed in accordance with the plan.

(B) The President shall transmit the report not later than

90 days after making the determination referred to in paragraph (1), except that the President shall transmit the report

in preliminary form not later than 15 days after making that

determination.

(3) IMPLEMENTATION WITH RESPECT TO DEMOCRATICALLY

ELECTED GOVERNMENT.—The President shall, upon determining

that a democratically elected government in Cuba is in power,

submit that determination to the appropriate congressional

committees and shall, subject to an authorization of appropriations and subject to the availability of appropriations, commence the delivery and distribution of assistance to such democratically elected government under the plan developed under

section 202(b).

(4) ANNUAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 60

days after the end of each fiscal year, the President shall

transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report

President.

22 USC 6063.

110 STAT. 810 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

on the assistance provided under the plan developed under

section 202(b), including a description of each type of assistance,

the amounts expended for such assistance, and a description

of the assistance to be provided under the plan in the current

fiscal year.

(d) REPROGRAMMING.—Any changes in the assistance to be provided under the plan developed under section 202(b) may not be

made unless the President notifies the appropriate congressional

committees at least 15 days in advance in accordance with the

procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications under section

634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394–1).

SEC. 204. TERMINATION OF THE ECONOMIC EMBARGO OF CUBA.

(a) PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS.—Upon submitting a determination

to the appropriate congressional committees under section 203(c)(1)

that a transition government in Cuba is in power, the President,

after consultation with the Congress, is authorized to take steps

to suspend the economic embargo of Cuba and to suspend the

right of action created in section 302 with respect to actions thereafter filed against the Cuban Government, to the extent that such

steps contribute to a stable foundation for a democratically elected

government in Cuba.

(b) SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF LAW.—In carrying

out subsection (a), the President may suspend the enforcement

of—

(1) section 620(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961

(22 U.S.C. 2370(a));

(2) section 620(f) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961

(22 U.S.C. 2370(f)) with respect to the ‘‘Republic of Cuba’’;

(3) sections 1704, 1705(d), and 1706 of the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 6003, 6004(d), and 6005);

(4) section 902(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985; and

(5) the prohibitions on transactions described in part 515

of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations.

(c) ADDITIONAL PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS.—Upon submitting a

determination to the appropriate congressional committees under

section 203(c)(3) that a democratically elected government in Cuba

is in power, the President shall take steps to terminate the economic

embargo of Cuba, including the restrictions under part 515 of title

31, Code of Federal Regulations.

(d) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—On the date on which the

President submits a determination under section 203(c)(3)—

(1) section 620(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961

(22 U.S.C. 2370(a)) is repealed;

(2) section 620(f) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961

(22 U.S.C. 2370(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘Republic of Cuba’’;

(3) sections 1704, 1705(d), and 1706 of the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 6003, 6004(d), and 6005) are

repealed; and

(4) section 902(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 is

repealed.

(e) REVIEW OF SUSPENSION OF ECONOMIC EMBARGO.—

(1) REVIEW.—If the President takes action under subsection

(a) to suspend the economic embargo of Cuba, the President

shall immediately so notify the Congress. The President shall

report to the Congress no less frequently than every 6 months

thereafter, until he submits a determination under section

7 USC 1446g

note.

22 USC 6064.

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 811

203(c)(3) that a democratically elected government in Cuba

is in power, on the progress being made by Cuba toward the

establishment of such a democratically elected government.

The action of the President under subsection (a) shall cease

to be effective upon the enactment of a joint resolution described

in paragraph (2).

(2) JOINT RESOLUTIONS.—For purposes of this subsection,

the term ‘‘joint resolution’’ means only a joint resolution of

the 2 Houses of Congress, the matter after the resolving clause

of which is as follows: ‘‘That the Congress disapproves the

action of the President under section 204(a) of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 to

suspend the economic embargo of Cuba, notice of which was

submitted to the Congress on ll.’’, with the blank space

being filled with the appropriate date.

(3) REFERRAL TO COMMITTEES.—Joint resolutions introduced in the House of Representatives shall be referred to

the Committee on International Relations and joint resolutions

introduced in the Senate shall be referred to the Committee

on Foreign Relations.

(4) PROCEDURES.—(A) Any joint resolution shall be considered in the Senate in accordance with the provisions of section

601(b) of the International Security Assistance and Arms

Export Control Act of 1976.

(B) For the purpose of expediting the consideration and

enactment of joint resolutions, a motion to proceed to the consideration of any joint resolution after it has been reported by

the appropriate committee shall be treated as highly privileged

in the House of Representatives.

(C) Not more than 1 joint resolution may be considered

in the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 6-

month period beginning on the date on which the President

notifies the Congress under paragraph (1) of the action taken

under subsection (a), and in each 6-month period thereafter.

SEC. 205. REQUIREMENTS AND FACTORS FOR DETERMINING A TRANSITION GOVERNMENT.

(a) REQUIREMENTS.—For the purposes of this Act, a transition

government in Cuba is a government that—

(1) has legalized all political activity;

(2) has released all political prisoners and allowed for investigations of Cuban prisons by appropriate international human

rights organizations;

(3) has dissolved the present Department of State Security

in the Cuban Ministry of the Interior, including the Committees

for the Defense of the Revolution and the Rapid Response

Brigades; and

(4) has made public commitments to organizing free and

fair elections for a new government—

(A) to be held in a timely manner within a period

not to exceed 18 months after the transition government

assumes power;

(B) with the participation of multiple independent

political parties that have full access to the media on

an equal basis, including (in the case of radio, television,

or other telecommunications media) in terms of allotments

22 USC 6065.

President.

Notification.

110 STAT. 812 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

of time for such access and the times of day such allotments

are given; and (C) to be conducted under the supervision of internationally recognized observers, such as the Organization

of American States, the United Nations, and other election

monitors;

(5) has ceased any interference with Radio Marti or Television Marti broadcasts;

(6) makes public commitments to and is making demonstrable progress in—

(A) establishing an independent judiciary;

(B) respecting internationally recognized human rights

and basic freedoms as set forth in the Universal Declaration

of Human Rights, to which Cuba is a signatory nation;

(C) allowing the establishment of independent trade

unions as set forth in conventions 87 and 98 of the International Labor Organization, and allowing the establishment of independent social, economic, and political associations;

(7) does not include Fidel Castro or Raul Castro; and

(8) has given adequate assurances that it will allow the

speedy and efficient distribution of assistance to the Cuban

people.

(b) ADDITIONAL FACTORS.—In addition to the requirements in

subsection (a), in determining whether a transition government

in Cuba is in power, the President shall take into account the

extent to which that government—

(1) is demonstrably in transition from a communist totalitarian dictatorship to representative democracy;

(2) has made public commitments to, and is making demonstrable progress in—

(A) effectively guaranteeing the rights of free speech

and freedom of the press, including granting permits to

privately owned media and telecommunications companies

to operate in Cuba;

(B) permitting the reinstatement of citizenship to

Cuban-born persons returning to Cuba;

(C) assuring the right to private property; and

(D) taking appropriate steps to return to United States

citizens (and entities which are 50 percent or more beneficially owned by United States citizens) property taken

by the Cuban Government from such citizens and entities

on or after January 1, 1959, or to provide equitable compensation to such citizens and entities for such property;

(3) has extradited or otherwise rendered to the United

States all persons sought by the United States Department

of Justice for crimes committed in the United States; and

(4) has permitted the deployment throughout Cuba of

independent and unfettered international human rights monitors.

SEC. 206. REQUIREMENTS FOR DETERMINING A DEMOCRATICALLY

ELECTED GOVERNMENT.

For purposes of this Act, a democratically elected government

in Cuba, in addition to meeting the requirements of section 205(a),

is a government which—

(1) results from free and fair elections—

22 USC 6066.

President.

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 813

(A) conducted under the supervision of internationally

recognized observers; and (B) in which—

(i) opposition parties were permitted ample time

to organize and campaign for such elections; and

(ii) all candidates were permitted full access to

the media;

(2) is showing respect for the basic civil liberties and human

rights of the citizens of Cuba;

(3) is substantially moving toward a market-oriented economic system based on the right to own and enjoy property;

(4) is committed to making constitutional changes that

would ensure regular free and fair elections and the full enjoyment of basic civil liberties and human rights by the citizens

of Cuba;

(5) has made demonstrable progress in establishing an

independent judiciary; and

(6) has made demonstrable progress in returning to United

States citizens (and entities which are 50 percent or more

beneficially owned by United States citizens) property taken

by the Cuban Government from such citizens and entities on

or after January 1, 1959, or providing full compensation for

such property in accordance with international law standards

and practice.

SEC. 207. SETTLEMENT OF OUTSTANDING UNITED STATES CLAIMS TO

CONFISCATED PROPERTY IN CUBA.

(a) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days after the

date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall

provide a report to the appropriate congressional committees

containing an assessment of the property dispute question in Cuba,

including—

(1) an estimate of the number and amount of claims to

property confiscated by the Cuban Government that are held

by United States nationals in addition to those claims certified

under section 507 of the International Claims Settlement Act

of 1949;

(2) an assessment of the significance of promptly resolving

confiscated property claims to the revitalization of the Cuban

economy;

(3) a review and evaluation of technical and other assistance that the United States could provide to help either a

transition government in Cuba or a democratically elected

government in Cuba establish mechanisms to resolve property

questions;

(4) an assessment of the role and types of support the

United States could provide to help resolve claims to property

confiscated by the Cuban Government that are held by United

States nationals who did not receive or qualify for certification

under section 507 of the International Claims Settlement Act

of 1949; and

(5) an assessment of any areas requiring legislative review

or action regarding the resolution of property claims in Cuba

prior to a change of government in Cuba.

(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Congress that

the satisfactory resolution of property claims by a Cuban Government recognized by the United States remains an essential condition

22 USC 6067.

110 STAT. 814 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

for the full resumption of economic and diplomatic relations between

the United States and Cuba.

TITLE III—PROTECTION OF PROPERTY

RIGHTS OF UNITED STATES NATIONALS

SEC. 301. FINDINGS.

The Congress makes the following findings:

(1) Individuals enjoy a fundamental right to own and enjoy

property which is enshrined in the United States Constitution.

(2) The wrongful confiscation or taking of property belonging to United States nationals by the Cuban Government, and

the subsequent exploitation of this property at the expense

of the rightful owner, undermines the comity of nations, the

free flow of commerce, and economic development.

(3) Since Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba in 1959—

(A) he has trampled on the fundamental rights of the

Cuban people; and

(B) through his personal despotism, he has confiscated

the property of—

(i) millions of his own citizens;

(ii) thousands of United States nationals; and

(iii) thousands more Cubans who claimed asylum

in the United States as refugees because of persecution

and later became naturalized citizens of the United

States.

(4) It is in the interest of the Cuban people that the

Cuban Government respect equally the property rights of

Cuban nationals and nationals of other countries.

(5) The Cuban Government is offering foreign investors

the opportunity to purchase an equity interest in, manage,

or enter into joint ventures using property and assets some

of which were confiscated from United States nationals.

(6) This ‘‘trafficking’’ in confiscated property provides badly

needed financial benefit, including hard currency, oil, and

productive investment and expertise, to the current Cuban

Government and thus undermines the foreign policy of the

United States—

(A) to bring democratic institutions to Cuba through

the pressure of a general economic embargo at a time

when the Castro regime has proven to be vulnerable to

international economic pressure; and

(B) to protect the claims of United States nationals

who had property wrongfully confiscated by the Cuban

Government.

(7) The United States Department of State has notified

other governments that the transfer to third parties of properties confiscated by the Cuban Government ‘‘would complicate

any attempt to return them to their original owners’’.

(8) The international judicial system, as currently structured, lacks fully effective remedies for the wrongful

confiscation of property and for unjust enrichment from the

use of wrongfully confiscated property by governments and

private entities at the expense of the rightful owners of the

property.

Fidel Castro.

22 USC 6081.

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 815

(9) International law recognizes that a nation has the ability to provide for rules of law with respect to conduct outside

its territory that has or is intended to have substantial effect

within its territory.

(10) The United States Government has an obligation to

its citizens to provide protection against wrongful confiscations

by foreign nations and their citizens, including the provision

of private remedies.

(11) To deter trafficking in wrongfully confiscated property,

United States nationals who were the victims of these

confiscations should be endowed with a judicial remedy in

the courts of the United States that would deny traffickers

any profits from economically exploiting Castro’s wrongful seizures.

SEC. 302. LIABILITY FOR TRAFFICKING IN CONFISCATED PROPERTY

CLAIMED BY UNITED STATES NATIONALS.

(a) CIVIL REMEDY.—

(1) LIABILITY FOR TRAFFICKING.—(A) Except as otherwise

provided in this section, any person that, after the end of

the 3-month period beginning on the effective date of this

title, traffics in property which was confiscated by the Cuban

Government on or after January 1, 1959, shall be liable to

any United States national who owns the claim to such property

for money damages in an amount equal to the sum of—

(i) the amount which is the greater of—

(I) the amount, if any, certified to the claimant

by the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission under

the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949, plus

interest;

(II) the amount determined under section

303(a)(2), plus interest; or

(III) the fair market value of that property, calculated as being either the current value of the property, or the value of the property when confiscated

plus interest, whichever is greater; and

(ii) court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.

(B) Interest under subparagraph (A)(i) shall be at the rate

set forth in section 1961 of title 28, United States Code, computed by the court from the date of confiscation of the property

involved to the date on which the action is brought under

this subsection.

(2) PRESUMPTION IN FAVOR OF THE CERTIFIED CLAIMS.—

There shall be a presumption that the amount for which a

person is liable under clause (i) of paragraph (1)(A) is the

amount that is certified as described in subclause (I) of that

clause. The presumption shall be rebuttable by clear and

convincing evidence that the amount described in subclause

(II) or (III) of that clause is the appropriate amount of liability

under that clause.

(3) INCREASED LIABILITY.—(A) Any person that traffics in

confiscated property for which liability is incurred under paragraph (1) shall, if a United States national owns a claim with

respect to that property which was certified by the Foreign

Claims Settlement Commission under title V of the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949, be liable for damages

computed in accordance with subparagraph (C).

22 USC 6082.

110 STAT. 816 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

(B) If the claimant in an action under this subsection

(other than a United States national to whom subparagraph

(A) applies) provides, after the end of the 3-month period

described in paragraph (1) notice to—

(i) a person against whom the action is to be initiated,

or

(ii) a person who is to be joined as a defendant in

the action,

at least 30 days before initiating the action or joining such

person as a defendant, as the case may be, and that person,

after the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date the

notice is provided, traffics in the confiscated property that

is the subject of the action, then that person shall be liable

to that claimant for damages computed in accordance with

subparagraph (C).

(C) Damages for which a person is liable under subparagraph (A) or subparagraph (B) are money damages in an

amount equal to the sum of—

(i) the amount determined under paragraph (1)(A)(ii),

and

(ii) 3 times the amount determined applicable under

paragraph (1)(A)(i).

(D) Notice to a person under subparagraph (B)—

(i) shall be in writing;

(ii) shall be posted by certified mail or personally delivered to the person; and

(iii) shall contain—

(I) a statement of intention to commence the action

under this section or to join the person as a defendant

(as the case may be), together with the reasons therefor;

(II) a demand that the unlawful trafficking in the

claimant’s property cease immediately; and

(III) a copy of the summary statement published

under paragraph (8).

(4) APPLICABILITY.—(A) Except as otherwise provided in

this paragraph, actions may be brought under paragraph (1)

with respect to property confiscated before, on, or after the

date of the enactment of this Act.

(B) In the case of property confiscated before the date

of the enactment of this Act, a United States national may

not bring an action under this section on a claim to the confiscated property unless such national acquires ownership of

the claim before such date of enactment.

(C) In the case of property confiscated on or after the

date of the enactment of this Act, a United States national

who, after the property is confiscated, acquires ownership of

a claim to the property by assignment for value, may not

bring an action on the claim under this section.

(5) TREATMENT OF CERTAIN ACTIONS.—(A) In the case of

a United States national who was eligible to file a claim with

the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission under title V of

the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949 but did not

so file the claim, that United States national may not bring

an action on that claim under this section.

(B) In the case of any action brought under this section

by a United States national whose underlying claim in the

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 817

action was timely filed with the Foreign Claims Settlement

Commission under title V of the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949 but was denied by the Commission, the

court shall accept the findings of the Commission on the claim

as conclusive in the action under this section.

(C) A United States national, other than a United States

national bringing an action under this section on a claim certified under title V of the International Claims Settlement

Act of 1949, may not bring an action on a claim under this

section before the end of the 2-year period beginning on the

date of the enactment of this Act.

(D) An interest in property for which a United States

national has a claim certified under title V of the International

Claims Settlement Act of 1949 may not be the subject of a

claim in an action under this section by any other person.

Any person bringing an action under this section whose claim

has not been so certified shall have the burden of establishing

for the court that the interest in property that is the subject

of the claim is not the subject of a claim so certified.

(6) INAPPLICABILITY OF ACT OF STATE DOCTRINE.—No court

of the United States shall decline, based upon the act of state

doctrine, to make a determination on the merits in an action

brought under paragraph (1) .

(7) LICENSES NOT REQUIRED.—(A) Notwithstanding any

other provision of law, an action under this section may be

brought and may be settled, and a judgment rendered in such

action may be enforced, without obtaining any license or other

permission from any agency of the United States, except that

this paragraph shall not apply to the execution of a judgment

against, or the settlement of actions involving, property blocked

under the authorities of section 5(b) of the Trading with the

Enemy Act that were being exercised on July 1, 1977, as

a result of a national emergency declared by the President

before such date, and are being exercised on the date of the

enactment of this Act.

(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and for

purposes of this title only, any claim against the Cuban Government shall not be deemed to be an interest in property the

transfer of which to a United States national required before

the enactment of this Act, or requires after the enactment

of this Act, a license issued by, or the permission of, any

agency of the United States.

(8) PUBLICATION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.—Not later than

60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney

General shall prepare and publish in the Federal Register

a concise summary of the provisions of this title, including

a statement of the liability under this title of a person trafficking in confiscated property, and the remedies available to

United States nationals under this title.

(b) AMOUNT IN CONTROVERSY.—An action may be brought under

this section by a United States national only where the amount

in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $50,000, exclusive of

interest, costs, and attorneys’ fees. In calculating $50,000 for purposes of the preceding sentence, the applicable amount under

subclause (I), (II), or (III) of subsection (a)(1)(A)(i) may not be

tripled as provided in subsection (a)(3).

(c) PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS.—

Federal Register,

publication.

110 STAT. 818 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in this title, the provisions of title 28, United States Code, and the rules of the

courts of the United States apply to actions under this section

to the same extent as such provisions and rules apply to any

other action brought under section 1331 of title 28, United

States Code.

(2) SERVICE OF PROCESS.—In an action under this section,

service of process on an agency or instrumentality of a foreign

state in the conduct of a commercial activity, or against individuals acting under color of law, shall be made in accordance

with section 1608 of title 28, United States Code.

(d) ENFORCEABILITY OF JUDGMENTS AGAINST CUBAN GOVERNMENT.—In an action brought under this section, any judgment

against an agency or instrumentality of the Cuban Government

shall not be enforceable against an agency or instrumentality of

either a transition government in Cuba or a democratically elected

government in Cuba.

(e) CERTAIN PROPERTY IMMUNE FROM EXECUTION.—Section

1611 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at

the end the following new subsection:

‘‘(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1610 of this chapter, the property of a foreign state shall be immune from attachment

and from execution in an action brought under section 302 of

the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of

1996 to the extent that the property is a facility or installation

used by an accredited diplomatic mission for official purposes.’’.

(f) ELECTION OF REMEDIES.—

(1) ELECTION.—Subject to paragraph (2)—

(A) any United States national that brings an action

under this section may not bring any other civil action

or proceeding under the common law, Federal law, or the

law of any of the several States, the District of Columbia,

or any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United

States, that seeks monetary or nonmonetary compensation

by reason of the same subject matter; and

(B) any person who brings, under the common law

or any provision of law other than this section, a civil

action or proceeding for monetary or nonmonetary compensation arising out of a claim for which an action would

otherwise be cognizable under this section may not bring

an action under this section on that claim.

(2) TREATMENT OF CERTIFIED CLAIMANTS.—(A) In the case

of any United States national that brings an action under

this section based on a claim certified under title V of the

International Claims Settlement Act of 1949—

(i) if the recovery in the action is equal to or greater

than the amount of the certified claim, the United States

national may not receive payment on the claim under any

agreement entered into between the United States and

Cuba settling claims covered by such title, and such

national shall be deemed to have discharged the United

States from any further responsibility to represent the

United States national with respect to that claim;

(ii) if the recovery in the action is less than the amount

of the certified claim, the United States national may

receive payment under a claims agreement described in

clause (i) but only to the extent of the difference between

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 819

the amount of the recovery and the amount of the certified

claim; and

(iii) if there is no recovery in the action, the United

States national may receive payment on the certified claim

under a claims agreement described in clause (i) to the

same extent as any certified claimant who does not bring

an action under this section.

(B) In the event some or all actions brought under this

section are consolidated by judicial or other action in such

manner as to create a pool of assets available to satisfy the

claims in such actions, including a pool of assets in a proceeding

in bankruptcy, every claimant whose claim in an action so

consolidated was certified by the Foreign Claims Settlement

Commission under title V of the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949 shall be entitled to payment in full of its

claim from the assets in such pool before any payment is

made from the assets in such pool with respect to any claim

not so certified.

(g) DEPOSIT OF EXCESS PAYMENTS BY CUBA UNDER CLAIMS

AGREEMENT.—Any amounts paid by Cuba under any agreement

entered into between the United States and Cuba settling certified

claims under title V of the International Claims Settlement Act

of 1949 that are in excess of the payments made on such certified

claims after the application of subsection (f) shall be deposited

into the United States Treasury.

(h) TERMINATION OF RIGHTS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—All rights created under this section to

bring an action for money damages with respect to property

confiscated by the Cuban Government—

(A) may be suspended under section 204(a); and

(B) shall cease upon transmittal to the Congress of

a determination of the President under section 203(c)(3)

that a democratically elected government in Cuba is in

power.

(2) PENDING SUITS.—The suspension or termination of

rights under paragraph (1) shall not affect suits commenced

before the date of such suspension or termination (as the case

may be), and in all such suits, proceedings shall be had, appeals

taken, and judgments rendered in the same manner and with

the same effect as if the suspension or termination had not

occurred.

(i) IMPOSITION OF FILING FEES.—The Judicial Conference of

the United States shall establish a uniform fee that shall be imposed

upon the plaintiff or plaintiffs in each action brought under this

section. The fee should be established at a level sufficient to recover

the costs to the courts of actions brought under this section. The

fee under this subsection is in addition to any other fees imposed

under title 28, United States Code.

SEC. 303. PROOF OF OWNERSHIP OF CLAIMS TO CONFISCATED PROPERTY.

(a) EVIDENCE OF OWNERSHIP.—

(1) CONCLUSIVENESS OF CERTIFIED CLAIMS.—In any action

brought under this title, the court shall accept as conclusive

proof of ownership of an interest in property a certification

of a claim to ownership of that interest that has been made

by the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission under title V

22 USC 6083.

110 STAT. 820 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

of the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949 (22 U.S.C.

1643 and following).

(2) CLAIMS NOT CERTIFIED.—If in an action under this

title a claim has not been so certified by the Foreign Claims

Settlement Commission, the court may appoint a special master, including the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, to

make determinations regarding the amount and ownership of

the claim. Such determinations are only for evidentiary purposes in civil actions brought under this title and do not constitute certifications under title V of the International Claims

Settlement Act of 1949.

(3) EFFECT OF DETERMINATIONS OF FOREIGN OR INTERNATIONAL ENTITIES.—In determining the amount or ownership

of a claim in an action under this title, the court shall not

accept as conclusive evidence any findings, orders, judgments,

or decrees from administrative agencies or courts of foreign

countries or international organizations that declare the value

of or invalidate the claim, unless the declaration of value or

invalidation was found pursuant to binding international

arbitration to which the United States or the claimant submitted the claim.

(b) AMENDMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CLAIMS SETTLEMENT

ACT OF 1949.—Title V of the International Claims Settlement Act

of 1949 (22 U.S.C. 1643 and following) is amended by adding

at the end the following new section:

‘‘DETERMINATION OF OWNERSHIP OF CLAIMS REFERRED BY DISTRICT

COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES

‘‘SEC. 514. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act

and only for purposes of section 302 of the Cuban Liberty and

Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996, a United State

district court, for fact-finding purposes, may refer to the Commission, and the Commission may determine, questions of the amount

and ownership of a claim by a United States national (as defined

in section 4 of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity

(LIBERTAD) Act of 1996), resulting from the confiscation of property by the Government of Cuba described in section 503(a), whether

or not the United States national qualified as a national of the

United States (as defined in section 502(1)) at the time of the

action by the Government of Cuba.’’.

(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act or in section

514 of the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949, as added

by subsection (b), shall be construed—

(1) to require or otherwise authorize the claims of Cuban

nationals who became United States citizens after their property was confiscated to be included in the claims certified

to the Secretary of State by the Foreign Claims Settlement

Commission for purposes of future negotiation and espousal

of claims with a friendly government in Cuba when diplomatic

relations are restored; or

(2) as superseding, amending, or otherwise altering certifications that have been made under title V of the International

Claims Settlement Act of 1949 before the date of the enactment

of this Act.

22 USC 1643l.

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 821

SEC. 304. EXCLUSIVITY OF FOREIGN CLAIMS SETTLEMENT COMMISSION CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE.

Title V of the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949

(22 U.S.C. 1643 and following), as amended by section 303, is

further amended by adding at the end the following new section:

‘‘EXCLUSIVITY OF FOREIGN CLAIMS SETTLEMENT COMMISSION

CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE

‘‘SEC. 515. (a) Subject to subsection (b), neither any national

of the United States who was eligible to file a claim under section

503 but did not timely file such claim under that section, nor

any person who was ineligible to file a claim under section 503,

nor any national of Cuba, including any agency, instrumentality,

subdivision, or enterprise of the Government of Cuba or any local

government of Cuba, nor any successor thereto, whether or not

recognized by the United States, shall have a claim to, participate

in, or otherwise have an interest in, the compensation proceeds

or nonmonetary compensation paid or allocated to a national of

the United States by virtue of a claim certified by the Commission

under section 507, nor shall any district court of the United States

have jurisdiction to adjudicate any such claim.

‘‘(b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to detract

from or otherwise affect any rights in the shares of capital stock

of nationals of the United States owning claims certified by the

Commission under section 507.’’.

SEC. 305. LIMITATION OF ACTIONS.

An action under section 302 may not be brought more than

2 years after the trafficking giving rise to the action has ceased

to occur.

SEC. 306. EFFECTIVE DATE.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsections (b) and (c), this title

and the amendments made by this title shall take effect on August

1, 1996.

(b) SUSPENSION AUTHORITY.—

(1) SUSPENSION AUTHORITY.—The President may suspend

the effective date under subsection (a) for a period of not

more than 6 months if the President determines and reports

in writing to the appropriate congressional committees at least

15 days before such effective date that the suspension is necessary to the national interests of the United States and will

expedite a transition to democracy in Cuba.

(2) ADDITIONAL SUSPENSIONS.—The President may suspend

the effective date under subsection (a) for additional periods

of not more than 6 months each, each of which shall begin

on the day after the last day of the period during which a

suspension is in effect under this subsection, if the President

determines and reports in writing to the appropriate congressional committees at least 15 days before the date on which

the additional suspension is to begin that the suspension is

necessary to the national interests of the United States and

will expedite a transition to democracy in Cuba.

(c) OTHER AUTHORITIES.—

(1) SUSPENSION.—After this title and the amendments of

this title have taken effect—

22 USC 6085.

22 USC 6084.

22 USC 1643m.

110 STAT. 822 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

(A) no person shall acquire a property interest in any

potential or pending action under this title; and (B) the President may suspend the right to bring an

action under this title with respect to confiscated property

for a period of not more than 6 months if the President

determines and reports in writing to the appropriate

congressional committees at least 15 days before the

suspension takes effect that such suspension is necessary

to the national interests of the United States and will

expedite a transition to democracy in Cuba.

(2) ADDITIONAL SUSPENSIONS.—The President may suspend

the right to bring an action under this title for additional

periods of not more than 6 months each, each of which shall

begin on the day after the last day of the period during which

a suspension is in effect under this subsection, if the President

determines and reports in writing to the appropriate congressional committees at least 15 days before the date on which

the additional suspension is to begin that the suspension is

necessary to the national interests of the United States and

will expedite a transition to democracy in Cuba.

(3) PENDING SUITS.—The suspensions of actions under paragraph (1) shall not affect suits commenced before the date

of such suspension, and in all such suits, proceedings shall

be had, appeals taken, and judgments rendered in the same

manner and with the same effect as if the suspension had

not occurred.

(d) RESCISSION OF SUSPENSION.—The President may rescind

any suspension made under subsection (b) or (c) upon reporting

to the appropriate congressional committees that doing so will expedite a transition to democracy in Cuba.

TITLE IV—EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN

ALIENS

SEC. 401. EXCLUSION FROM THE UNITED STATES OF ALIENS WHO

HAVE CONFISCATED PROPERTY OF UNITED STATES

NATIONALS OR WHO TRAFFIC IN SUCH PROPERTY.

(a) GROUNDS FOR EXCLUSION.—The Secretary of State shall

deny a visa to, and the Attorney General shall exclude from the

United States, any alien who the Secretary of State determines

is a person who, after the date of the enactment of this Act—

(1) has confiscated, or has directed or overseen the

confiscation of, property a claim to which is owned by a United

States national, or converts or has converted for personal gain

confiscated property, a claim to which is owned by a United

States national;

(2) traffics in confiscated property, a claim to which is

owned by a United States national;

(3) is a corporate officer, principal, or shareholder with

a controlling interest of an entity which has been involved

in the confiscation of property or trafficking in confiscated

property, a claim to which is owned by a United States national;

or

(4) is a spouse, minor child, or agent of a person excludable

under paragraph (1), (2), or (3).

22 USC 6091.

PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 823

(b) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the following terms

have the following meanings:

(1) CONFISCATED; CONFISCATION.—The terms ‘‘confiscated’’

and ‘‘confiscation’’ refer to—

(A) the nationalization, expropriation, or other seizure

by the Cuban Government of ownership or control of property—

(i) without the property having been returned or

adequate and effective compensation provided; or

(ii) without the claim to the property having been

settled pursuant to an international claims settlement

agreement or other mutually accepted settlement

procedure; and

(B) the repudiation by the Cuban Government of, the

default by the Cuban Government on, or the failure of

the Cuban Government to pay—

(i) a debt of any enterprise which has been

nationalized, expropriated, or otherwise taken by the

Cuban Government;

(ii) a debt which is a charge on property nationalized, expropriated, or otherwise taken by the Cuban

Government; or

(iii) a debt which was incurred by the Cuban

Government in satisfaction or settlement of a confiscated property claim.

(2) TRAFFICS.—(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B),

a person ‘‘traffics’’ in confiscated property if that person knowingly and intentionally—

(i)(I) transfers, distributes, dispenses, brokers, or otherwise disposes of confiscated property,

(II) purchases, receives, obtains control of, or otherwise

acquires confiscated property, or

(III) improves (other than for routine maintenance),

invests in (by contribution of funds or anything of value,

other than for routine maintenance), or begins after the

date of the enactment of this Act to manage, lease, possess,

use, or hold an interest in confiscated property,

(ii) enters into a commercial arrangement using or

otherwise benefiting from confiscated property, or

(iii) causes, directs, participates in, or profits from,

trafficking (as described in clause (i) or (ii)) by another

person, or otherwise engages in trafficking (as described

in clause (i) or (ii)) through another person,

without the authorization of any United States national who

holds a claim to the property.

(B) The term ‘‘traffics’’ does not include—

(i) the delivery of international telecommunication signals to Cuba;

(ii) the trading or holding of securities publicly traded

or held, unless the trading is with or by a person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to be a specially

designated national;

(iii) transactions and uses of property incident to lawful

travel to Cuba, to the extent that such transactions and

uses of property are necessary to the conduct of such travel;

or

110 STAT. 824 PUBLIC LAW 104–114—MAR. 12, 1996

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 927:

HOUSE REPORTS: Nos. 104–202, Pt. 1 (Comm. on International Relations) and

104–468 (Comm. of Conference).

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:

Vol. 141 (1995): Sept. 20, 21, considered and passed House.

Oct. 11–13, 17–19, considered and passed Senate, amended.

Vol. 142 (1996): Mar. 5, Senate agreed to conference report.

Mar. 6, House agreed to conference report.

WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 32 (1996):

Mar. 12, Presidential remarks and statement.

Æ

(iv) transactions and uses of property by a person

who is both a citizen of Cuba and a resident of Cuba,

and who is not an official of the Cuban Government or

the ruling political party in Cuba.

(c) EXEMPTION.—This section shall not apply where the Secretary of State finds, on a case by case basis, that the entry

into the United States of the person who would otherwise be

excluded under this section is necessary for medical reasons or

for purposes of litigation of an action under title III.

(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—This section applies to aliens seeking

to enter the United States on or after the date of the enactment

of this Act.

(2) TRAFFICKING.—This section applies only with respect

to acts within the meaning of ‘‘traffics’’ that occur on or after

the date of the enactment of this Act.

Approved March 12, 1996.