D.C.- Congressman Ron Paul voted Thursday to support legislation designed to reduce trade and travel restrictions currently imposed on Cuba. Several amendments to an appropriations bill were proposed which would prohibit federal funds from being used to implement economic sanctions against Cuba. Paul supported two amendments approved by the House. One eliminates restrictions on medicine, food, and agricultural exports to Cuba, while the second lifts restrictions on travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens.
Economic sanctions punish Texas farmers who want to export their products to Cuba.
I have always supported true free trade because it makes sense for the farmers in my district. Paul also supported a broader amendment to the appropriations bill that would have effectively ended the Cuban embargo completely. Similarly, he introduced legislation in 1999 aimed at eliminating all trade restrictions with Cuba for any type of U.S. exports. The federal government should not tell Texas farmers they cannot export to any particular country. Trade embargoes simply benefit our export competitors, who stand ready to sell to market closed to our farmers.