Freedom to Export to Cuba Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-491
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2015-02-12
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Agricultural trade

Caribbean area

Cuba

Foreign aid and international relief

Latin America

Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Sanctions

Terrorism

Trade restrictions
Latest action: action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S986-987)

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-02-12
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Freedom to Export to Cuba Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>This bill repeals or amends current laws restricting trade with Cuba. </p> <p>The prohibition on assistance to Cuba, and the President's authority for the embargo on Cuba, under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 are eliminated. </p> <p>The President's authority to continue direct restrictions on trade with Cuba under the Trading with the Enemy Act is eliminated, and any related regulations are no longer effective.</p> <p>The Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 is amended to eliminate: </p> <ul> <li>presidential authority to impose sanctions against Cuban trading partners, </li> <li>restrictions on transactions between U.S.-owned or controlled firms and Cuba, </li> <li>limitations on direct shipping between Cuban and U.S. ports, and </li> <li>restrictions on remittances. </li> </ul> <p> The Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 is amended to eliminate: </p> <ul> <li>the enforcement of an economic embargo of Cuban provisions, and </li> <li>the prohibition on indirect financing of Cuba.</li> </ul> <p> The Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 is amended to: </p> <ul> <li>remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism subject to agricultural and medical export restrictions; and </li> <li>repeal the prohibition on the U.S. entry of merchandise that is of Cuban origin, is or has been located in or transported from or through Cuba, or is made or derived in whole or in part of any article which is the growth, produce, or manufacture of Cuba.</li> </ul>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 491 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 12, 2015 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Enzi , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Flake , Mr. Leahy , and Mr. Durbin ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs A BILL To lift the trade embargo on Cuba.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Freedom to Export to Cuba Act of 2015 . 2. Removal of provisions restricting trade and other relations with Cuba (a) Authority for Embargo (1) In general Section 620(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2370(a) ) is amended by striking (1) No assistance and all that follows through (2) Except and inserting Except . (2) Conforming amendment Section 1709 of the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 ( 22 U.S.C. 6008 ) is amended by striking section 620(a)(2) and inserting section 620(a) . (b) Trading With the Enemy Act (1) In general The authorities conferred upon the President by section 5(b) of the Trading With the Enemy Act ( 50 U.S.C. App. 5(b) ), which were being exercised with respect to Cuba on July 1, 1977, as a result of a national emergency declared by the President before that date, and are being exercised on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, may not be relied upon on or after such date of enactment to continue the imposition of direct restrictions on trade with Cuba. (2) Regulations Any regulation that imposes direct restrictions on trade with Cuba in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act pursuant to the exercise of authorities described in paragraph (1) shall cease to be effective for that purpose on and after such date of enactment. (c) Cuban Democracy Act (1) In general The Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 ( 22 U.S.C. 6001 et seq. ) is amended— (A) by striking section 1704 ( 22 U.S.C. 6003 ); (B) by striking section 1706 ( 22 U.S.C. 6005 ); and (C) by striking section 1708 ( 22 U.S.C. 6007 ). (2) Conforming amendment Paragraph (3) of section 204(b) of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 ( 22 U.S.C. 6064(b) ) is amended to read as follows: (3) section 1705(d) of the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 ( 22 U.S.C. 6004(d) ); . (d) Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act The Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 ( 22 U.S.C. 6021 et seq. ) is amended— (1) by striking section 102 ( 22 U.S.C. 6032 ); (2) by striking section 103 ( 22 U.S.C. 6033 ); and (3) in section 109(a) ( 22 U.S.C. 6039(a) ), by striking (including section 102 of this Act) . (e) Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 The Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7201 et seq. ) is amended— (1) in section 906(a)(1) ( 22 U.S.C. 7205(a)(1) ), by striking Cuba, ; (2) in section 908 ( 22 U.S.C. 7207 )— (A) by striking subsection (b); (B) in subsection (a)— (i) by striking Prohibition and all that follows through (1) In general.— Notwithstanding and inserting In general.— Notwithstanding ; (ii) by striking for exports to Cuba or ; (iii) by striking paragraph (2); and (iv) by redesignating paragraph (3) as subsection (b) and by moving such subsection, as so redesignated, 2 ems to the left; and (C) in subsection (b), as redesignated by subparagraph (B)(iv), by striking paragraph (1) and inserting subsection (a) ; and (3) by striking section 909 ( 22 U.S.C. 7208 ).