Rep. Barbara Lee in Cuba on Congressional delegation to talk tourism and trade

[magbana]

Rep. Barbara Lee heading to Cuba to talk tourism and trade
San Jose Mercury News - April 2

By Angela Woodall / Oakland Tribune / 510-208-6413 or [email protected]

U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, will be heading to Cuba today with a congressional delegation to discuss thawing relations between the United States and the Caribbean island.

The diplomatic overture signals a possible easing off policies that had hardened under the Republican administration of former President George W. Bush.

"The election of President Barack Obama presents a great new opportunity to rethink U.S. foreign policy in many regions of the world," Lee said.

The purpose of the delegation is to review trade and commerce policies with Cuba and discuss cultural, health and academic exchanges, which are complicated by a ban on travel to Cuba for most U.S. citizens — the only country in the world to bar its citizens from visiting the island.

Lee also has joined Democratic and Republican House members in supporting a bill introduced Thursday to lift the travel restrictions.

Critics of the ban estimate that U.S. tourism to Cuba — just 90 miles from the southernmost point of the 48 contiguous states — could generate as much as $1.6 billion annually.

But there are fears that an influx of U.S. tourism would lead Cuba in an unwanted direction. Others oppose the move because they say it would bolster the Communist regime headed by Raul Castro.

Cuba's official response to the bill to lift travel restrictions has been cool, according to press accounts. The reason for the response may be that the bill does not advocate ending the economic, financial and commercial embargo that has been in place for 45 years.

The U.S. government imposed the blockade after Fidel Castro, who led the 1959 revolution that ousted the U.S.-backed Batista regime, took control of U.S. properties, particularly the American Fruit Co. Raul Castro, his brother, took over leadership in 2008.

Lee said she wants to send a message to Cubans that the U.S. public is interested in "building a new relationship."

"America's harsh approach toward our nearest Caribbean neighbor divides families, closes an important market to struggling U.S. farmers, harasses our allies, and is based on antiquated Cold War-era thinking," Lee said.

[EFerrari]

1. What a decent person Barbara Lee is. I miss being in her district. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

2. So glad Barbara Lee is going to Cuba. Very nice. It would do wonders for public relations, too.

They probably haven't seen too many decent American politicians there, especially intelligent, calm, strong, honest ones like the woman who dared to be the ONLY ONE in Congress to vote against _Bush's anticipated massive slaughter of innocents in Iraq.

Someone like Barbara Lee should be appointed as the first actual ambassador to Cuba when the relationship is cleansed, and healed, but I think her voters would prefer she continue to work for them in Washington.

[magbana]

3. UPDATE on the Congressional Black Caucus in Cuba

"US congressional delegation in Cuba
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By WILL WEISSERT
Associated Press Writer

HAVANA -- Seven members of the Congressional Black Caucus arrived in Cuba on Friday to discuss improving relations with the communist government amid speculation that Washington could ease travel restrictions to the island.

Delegation leader Rep. Barbara Lee, a California Democrat, said President Barack Obama has ushered in "a new era in our foreign policy" that could mean a thaw in ice-cold bilateral relations.

"We really hope to begin some dialogue so that members of Congress can understand some of the issues that we have to address when we get back," she said. "We want to engage in dialogue to see what the possibilities are in terms of normal relations between our two countries."

All Democrats, the lawmakers planned to be in the country six days and meet with new Foreign Relations Minister Bruno Rodriguez and Ricardo Alarcon, the head of parliament, among other officials. The group also was scheduled to take a day-trip to the beach resort of Varadero, 90 miles (140 kilometers) east of Havana.

There was no official word on whether they would see President Raul Castro, but conspicuous holes in their agenda appeared to suggest such a meeting was not out of the question.

Joining Lee were Reps. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, Mel Watt, D-N.C., Emanuel Cleaver, D-MO., and Bobby Rush, D-Ill.; as well as fellow California Democrats Mike Honda and Laura Richardson.

Jonathan Farrar, head of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, shook hands with delegation members outside the elegant Hotel Nacional. Inside, the caucus was greeted by the head of the Cuban Interests Section in Washington Jorge Bolanos and Dagoberto Rodriguez, Cuba's deputy foreign minister.

Both countries maintain interests sections - not embassies - in each other's territories because they have no diplomatic relations.

Visits to Cuba by members of the U.S. Congress are not new, but this one comes three days after a bipartisan group of senators proposed legislation that would prevent the president from stopping travel to Cuba except in extreme cases. An identical bill in the House has 120 co-sponsors.

Asked about lifting the travel ban, Lee said "many of us are supporting the travel bill and we're hoping that we'll get it passed very shortly."

The Obama administration has said it is not in favor of doing away with the 47-year-old trade embargo against Cuba entirely. Still, a provision of a catchall spending bill signed into law last month already made it easier for Cuban-Americans to come to the island, allowing those with relatives here to visit annually instead of once every three years. "
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/AP/story/983111.html