I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 274 

To lift the trade embargo on Cuba, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 12, 2015 

Mr. RUSH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and 

Means, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, Financial Services, Oversight and Government Reform, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To lift the trade embargo on Cuba, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States-Cuba 

5 Normalization Act of 2015’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds that— 

8 (1) with the end of the cold war and the col9 lapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba is no longer a threat 

10 to the United States or the Western Hemisphere; 


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1 (2) the continuation of the embargo on trade 

2 between the United States and Cuba that was de3 clared in 1962 is not fulfilling the purpose for which 

4 it was established; 

5 (3) in the former Soviet Union, the Eastern 

6 bloc countries, China, and Vietnam, the United 

7 States is using diplomatic, economic, cultural, aca8 demic, and scientific engagement to support its pol9 icy of promoting democratic and human rights re10 forms; 

11 (4) extension to Cuba of unconditional normal 

12 trade relations treatment would assist Cuba in devel13 oping its economy based on free market principles 

14 and becoming competitive in the global marketplace; 

15 (5) the United States can best support demo16 cratic change and human rights in Cuba by pro17 moting trade and commerce, travel, communications, 

18 and cultural, academic, and scientific exchanges; 

19 (6) expanding bilateral trade relations is likely 

20 to promote further progress in Cuba on human 

21 rights and democratic rule and assist Cuba in adopt22 ing regional and world trading rules and principles; 

23 and 

24 (7) Cuba was one of the founding members of 

25 the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in 


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1 1947 and is an original member of the World Trade 

2 Organization, and extension of unconditional normal 

3 trade relations treatment to Cuba would enable the 

4 United States to avail itself of all rights under the 

5 World Trade Organization with respect to Cuba. 

6 SEC. 3. REMOVAL OF PROVISIONS RESTRICTING TRADE 

7 AND OTHER RELATIONS WITH CUBA. 

8 (a) AUTHORITY FOR EMBARGO AND SUGAR

9 QUOTA.—Section 620(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 

10 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2370(a)) is repealed. 

11 (b) TRADING WITH THE ENEMY ACT.—The authori12 ties conferred upon the President by section 5(b) of the 

13 Trading With the Enemy Act, which were being exercised 

14 with respect to Cuba on July 1, 1977, as a result of a 

15 national emergency declared by the President before that 

16 date, and are being exercised on the day before the effec17 tive date of this Act, may not be exercised on or after 

18 such effective date with respect to Cuba. Any regulations 

19 in effect on the day before such effective date pursuant 

20 to the exercise of such authorities shall cease to be effec21 tive on such date. 

22 (c) EXERCISE OF AUTHORITIES UNDER OTHER PRO23 VISIONS OF LAW.— 

24 (1) REMOVAL OF PROHIBITIONS.—Any prohibi25 tion on exports to Cuba that is in effect on the day 


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1 before the effective date of this Act under the Ex2 port Administration Act of 1979 (as continued in ef3 fect under the International Emergency Economic 

4 Powers Act) shall cease to be effective on such effec5 tive date. 

6 (2) AUTHORITY FOR NEW RESTRICTIONS.—The 

7 President may, on and after the effective date of this 

8 Act— 

9 (A) impose export controls with respect to 

10 Cuba under section 5, 6(j), 6(l), or 6(m) of the 

11 Export Administration Act of 1979 (as contin12 ued in effect under the International Emer13 gency Economic Powers Act); and 

14 (B) exercise the authorities the President 

15 has under the International Emergency Eco16 nomic Powers Act with respect to Cuba pursu17 ant to a declaration of national emergency re18 quired by that Act that is made on account of 

19 an unusual and extraordinary threat, that did 

20 not exist before the enactment of this Act, to 

21 the national security, foreign policy, or economy 

22 of the United States. 

23 (d) CUBAN DEMOCRACY ACT.—The Cuban Democ24 racy Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 6001 and following) is re25 pealed. 


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1 (e) REPEAL OF CUBAN LIBERTY AND DEMOCRATIC

2 SOLIDARITY (LIBERTAD) ACT OF 1996.— 

3 (1) REPEAL.—The Cuban Liberty and Demo4 cratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 is re5 pealed. 

6 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—(A) Section 

7 498A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 

8 U.S.C. 2295a) is amended— 

9 (i) in subsection (a)(11) by striking ‘‘and 

10 intelligence facilities, including the military and 

11 intelligence facilities at Lourdes and Cien12 fuegos,’’ and inserting ‘‘facilities,’’; 

13 (ii) in subsection (b)— 

14 (I) in paragraph (4), by adding ‘‘and’’ 

15 after the semicolon; 

16 (II) by striking paragraph (5); and 

17 (III) by redesignating paragraph (6) 

18 as paragraph (5); and 

19 (iii) by striking subsection (d). 

20 (B) Section 498B(k) of the Foreign Assistance 

21 Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295b(k)) is amended by 

22 striking paragraphs (3) and (4). 

23 (C) Section 1611 of title 28, United States 

24 Code, is amended by striking subsection (c). 


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1 (D) Sections 514 and 515 of the International 

2 Claims Settlement Act of 1949 (22 U.S.C. 1643l 

3 and 1643m) are repealed. 

4 (f) TRADE SANCTIONS REFORM AND EXPORT EN5 HANCEMENT ACT OF 2000.—The Trade Sanctions Re6 form and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 

7 7201 et seq.) is amended— 

8 (1) in section 906(a)(1) (22 U.S.C. 

9 7205(a)(1))— 

10 (A) by striking ‘‘Cuba,’’; and 

11 (B) by inserting ‘‘(other than Cuba)’’ after 

12 ‘‘to the government of a country’’; 

13 (2) in section 908 (22 U.S.C. 7207)— 

14 (A) by striking subsection (b); 

15 (B) in subsection (a)— 

16 (i) by striking ‘‘PROHIBITION’’ and all 

17 that follows through ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.— 

18 ’’ and inserting ‘‘IN GENERAL.—’’; 

19 (ii) by striking ‘‘for exports to Cuba 

20 or’’; 

21 (iii) by striking paragraph (2); and 

22 (iv) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 

23 subsection (b) (and conforming the margin 

24 accordingly); and 


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1 (C) in subsection (b) (as redesignated), by 

2 striking ‘‘paragraph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub3 section (a)’’; 

4 (3) by striking section 909 (22 U.S.C. 7208); 

5 (4) by striking section 910 (22 U.S.C. 7209); 

6 and 

7 (5) by redesignating section 911 as section 909. 

8 (g) REPEAL OF PROHIBITION ON TRANSACTIONS OR

9 PAYMENTS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN UNITED STATES

10 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.—Section 211 of the Depart11 ment of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations 

12 Act, 1999 (as contained in section 101(b) of division A 

13 of Public Law 105–277; 112 Stat. 2681–88) is repealed. 

14 (h) TERMINATION OF DENIAL OF FOREIGN TAX

15 CREDIT WITH RESPECT TO CUBA.—Subparagraph (A) of 

16 section 901(j)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 

17 (relating to denial of foreign tax credit, etc., with respect 

18 to certain foreign countries) is amended by adding at the 

19 end the following new flush sentence: 

20 ‘‘Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, this 

21 subsection shall not apply to Cuba after the 

22 date which is 60 days after the date of the en23 actment of this sentence.’’. 


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1 (i) SUGAR QUOTA PROHIBITION UNDER FOOD SECU2 RITY ACT OF 1985.—Section 902(c) of the Food Security 

3 Act of 1985 is repealed. 

4 SEC. 4. TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND FACILI5 TIES. 

6 Any common carrier within the meaning of section 

7 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153) 

8 is authorized to install, maintain, and repair telecommuni9 cations equipment and facilities in Cuba, and otherwise 

10 provide telecommunications services between the United 

11 States and Cuba. The authority of this section includes 

12 the authority to upgrade facilities and equipment. 

13 SEC. 5. TRAVEL. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—Travel to and from Cuba by indi15 viduals who are citizens or residents of the United States, 

16 and any transactions ordinarily incident to such travel, 

17 may not be regulated or prohibited if such travel would 

18 be lawful in the United States. 

19 (b) TRANSACTIONS INCIDENT TO TRAVEL.—Any 

20 transactions ordinarily incident to travel which may not 

21 be regulated or prohibited under subsection (a) include, 

22 but are not limited to— 

23 (1) transactions ordinarily incident to travel or 

24 maintenance in Cuba; and 


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1 (2) normal banking transactions involving for2 eign currency drafts, traveler’s checks, or other ne3 gotiable instruments incident to such travel. 

4 SEC. 6. DIRECT MAIL DELIVERY TO CUBA. 

5 The United States Postal Service shall take such ac6 tions as are necessary to provide direct mail service to and 

7 from Cuba, including, in the absence of common carrier 

8 service between the 2 countries, the use of charter pro9 viders. 

10 SEC. 7. NEGOTIATIONS WITH CUBA. 

11 (a) NEGOTIATIONS.—The President should take all 

12 necessary steps to conduct negotiations with the Govern13 ment of Cuba— 

14 (1) for the purpose of settling claims of nation15 als of the United States against the Government of 

16 Cuba for the taking of property by such government; 

17 and 

18 (2) for the purpose of securing the protection of 

19 internationally recognized human rights. 

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

21 ‘‘national of the United States’’ and ‘‘property’’ have the 

22 meanings given those terms in section 502 of the Inter23 national Claims Settlement Act of 1949 (22 U.S.C. 

24 1643a). 


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1 SEC. 8. EXTENSION OF NONDISCRIMINATORY TRADE 

2 TREATMENT. 

3 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—It is the sense of the Con5 gress that— 

6 (A) the United States should promote 

7 democratic change and economic reform by nor8 malizing trade relations with Cuba; and 

9 (B) upon the enactment of this Act, it will 

10 no longer be necessary for the United States to 

11 continue to use article XXI of the GATT 1994 

12 with respect to Cuba, understanding that the 

13 President retains full authority to invoke article 

14 XXI of the GATT 1994 and comparable provi15 sions in other Uruguay Round Agreements in 

16 the future in all appropriate circumstances. 

17 (2) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the term 

18 ‘‘GATT 1994’’ and ‘‘Uruguay Round Agreements’’ 

19 have the meanings given those terms in section 2 of 

20 the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 

21 3501). 

22 (b) EXTENSION OF NONDISCRIMINATORY TREAT23 MENT TO THE PRODUCTS OF CUBA.— 

24 (1) HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE AMEND25 MENTS.—General note 3(b) of the Harmonized Tar26 iff Schedule of the United States is amended— 


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1 (A) by striking ‘‘to section 401 of the Tar2 iff Classification Act of 1962,’’; and 

3 (B) by striking ‘‘Cuba’’. 

4 (2) REPEAL OF SECTION 401 OF THE TARIFF

5 CLASSIFICATION ACT OF 1962.—Section 401 of the 

6 Tariff Classification Act of 1962 (76 Stat. 78) is re7 pealed. 

8 (3) TERMINATION OF APPLICATION OF TITLE IV

9 OF THE TRADE ACT OF 1974 TO CUBA.— 

10 (A) EXTENSION OF NONDISCRIMINATORY

11 TREATMENT.—Nondiscriminatory treatment 

12 (normal trade relations treatment) shall apply 

13 to the products of Cuba. 

14 (B) TERMINATION OF APPLICATION OF

15 TITLE IV.—Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 

16 (19 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.) shall cease to apply to 

17 Cuba. 

18 (4) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section, and the 

19 amendments and repeal made by this section, shall 

20 apply with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn 

21 from warehouse for consumption, on or after the 

22 15th day after the effective date of this Act. 

23 (c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The President shall 

24 submit to the Congress, not later than 18 months after 


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1 the date of the enactment of this Act, a report on trade 

2 relations between the United States and Cuba. 

3 SEC. 9. PROHIBITION ON LIMITING ANNUAL REMITTANCES. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 

5 (b), the Secretary of the Treasury may not limit the 

6 amount of remittances to Cuba that may be made by any 

7 person who is subject to the jurisdiction of the United 

8 States, and the Secretary shall rescind all regulations in 

9 effect on the date of enactment of this Act that so limit 

10 the amount of those remittances. 

11 (b) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in sub12 section (a) may be construed to prohibit the prosecution 

13 or conviction of any person committing an offense de14 scribed in section 1956 of title 18, United States Code 

15 (relating to the laundering of monetary instruments) or 

16 section 1957 of such title (relating to engaging in mone17 tary transactions in property derived from specific unlaw18 ful activity). 

19 SEC. 10. REMOVAL OF CUBA FROM STATE SPONSORS OF 

20 TERRORISM LIST. 

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding the provisions of 

22 law described in subsection (b), any determination of the 

23 Secretary of State in effect on the date of the enactment 

24 of this Act that the Government of Cuba has repeatedly 


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1 provided support for acts of international terrorism pursu2 ant to such provisions of law is hereby rescinded. 

3 (b) PROVISIONS OF LAW DESCRIBED.—The provi4 sions of law referred to in subsection (a) are section 620A 

5 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2371), 

6 section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 

7 2780), and section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act 

8 of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2405(j)). 

9 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

10 on the effective date of this Act. 

11 SEC. 11. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

12 This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall 

13 take effect 60 days after the date of the enactment of this 

14 Act. 

Æ 


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