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Texas Agriculture Archive

November 7, 2003

Cuba travel measure praised

Saying the best way to effect change in Cuba is to engage that nation's people through trade and cultural exchange, the American Farm Bureau Federation praised Senate passage of a provision that would allow Americans to travel to that island nation.

As an amendment to the Transportation and Treasury appropriations bill, the Senate approved by voice vote a measure that would allow Americans to travel to Cuba. That vote follows a similar vote taken last month by the House to lift the Cuba travel ban. In addition, in a letter to senators regarding the 2004 omnibus appropriations bill, AFBF expressed support for a provision requiring authorization of a general license for all travel to Cuba that relates to selling agricultural goods.

As for the successful Senate vote that would generally allow Americans to travel to Cuba, AFBF said the provision was compatible with its support for resuming a normal trading relationship with Cuba. That provision now must survive House/Senate conference committee deliberations against the backdrop of a threatened presidential veto.

Cuba imports up to $1 billion in food and agricultural goods per year from countries other than the United States. Opening trade with the United States would help Cuban people increase their standard of living, and that is why AFBF supports policies that "promote rather than retard the growth of trade in all countries, including Cuba."